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Cisco Coaching Bootcamps: Get the Scoop from Topic Matter Specialists

by HealthMatters December 7, 2023, 1:56 am 1.9k Views

Cisco Coaching Bootcamps have been on the scene for a pair years now. One of many issues that makes them so common is their depth and real-world software. We sat down with Topic Matter Specialists (SMEs) John Capobianco, Bootcamp Developer Advocate, Joe Rinehart, Engineering Chief, and Palmer Pattern, Software program Engineering Technical Chief, to search out out what makes Cisco Coaching Bootcamps so particular.

Plus, we obtained a sneak peek at what they’ll cowl within the upcoming Cisco Coaching Bootcamp webinar on December 13, 2023, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

Why are Cisco Coaching Bootcamps so common?

John: I believe it’s the best way they align with market traits. Enterprises around the globe are searching for methods to undertake community automation and get the utmost worth out of their Cisco investments. A Cisco Coaching Bootcamp gives a direct path towards cultural modifications, serving to organizations undertake automation and programmability.

Joe: In addition they tackle vital enterprise and technical wants like automation and sophisticated product competence. The instructing methodology is well-suited to fast studying and creating abilities that engineers can apply now, not solely sooner or later. Having two studying occasions shut collectively (the Teacher-led Coaching [ILT] lessons and the deep dive labs) amplifies the educational at each degree. It’s just like the expression, ‘one-two punch.’

Palmer: I believe folks like our bootcamps as a result of they reply the query, “Now what?” Right this moment’s aggressive enterprise setting requires agile networks that may adapt to mission goals with out impacting stakeholders. As our prospects deploy fashionable infrastructure, they discover that the issue shouldn’t be that the expertise is simply too complicated however that it’s completely different from what we’ve all labored with for thus many many years.

We’ve heard:

“We have now deployed Software program-Outlined Entry…”
“We’re working ACI however haven’t moved to an application-centric mannequin…”
“Our group must embrace NetDevOps ideas and be taught automation…”

Now what?

Cisco Coaching Bootcamps take away complexity and give attention to what’s vital. Whether or not it’s an Operations and Troubleshooting Bootcamp for Software program-Outlined Campus and Information Heart Options, or an Automation Bootcamp, our prospects go away with the boldness they should remodel community operations and contribute to their group’s success.

You guys are within the excellent place to know what prospects want. What are you listening to from the entrance traces? What automation wants do prospects imagine these Coaching Bootcamps may resolve?

Joe: Prospects want to unravel issues now, which is why the hands-on part of the expertise is so important. The Bootcamps not solely encourage college students to be taught ideas and configuration, however additionally they present the crucial for college kids to use them instantly of their environments.

Palmer: Whereas prospects are desperate to automate, they face widespread challenges, reminiscent of guaranteeing their groups can communicate a typical language, which automation expertise they need to select, and maybe most significantly, what they will really do with automation. A Cisco Coaching Bootcamp addresses these challenges with a novel instructing format. The 5-day coaching covers a broad vary of prerequisite data to make sure college students acquire a typical skillset. The actual-world use instances and deep-dive labs present what prospects can do with community automation. These labs are designed to progress from the fundamentals, reminiscent of studying Git, to common instruments, together with REST API Purchasers and Python. Lastly, most studying tracks culminate with a CI/CD pipeline. After the Bootcamp, prospects keep entry to code they will instantly use once they return to the workplace. The general expertise requires focus and teamwork, however the buyer response has been overwhelmingly optimistic.

John: A few of our former college students keep in contact with us for over a yr after their Automation Coaching Bootcamp! The size and complexity of the trendy community can not be operated manually. Automation is not only about pace and transferring quick; it’s about safety, repeatability, testing and validation, and creating CI/CD pipelines as full options. In the end, most prospects are searching for a spot to begin with confidence. Cisco Coaching Bootcamps present them these preliminary stepping stones towards success.

What are the weather of a Bootcamp that make it so intense?

John: The labs! Within the 4-day, deep-dive lab portion, 80 p.c of the category is lab work primarily based on actual conditions and situations. College students really observe what they’ve discovered throughout the 5-day ILT with precise gear and actual issues to unravel. There are a number of ‘spice ranges’ (issue ranges) to problem even probably the most superior scholar. For example, they be taught issues like version and supply management with Git and Ansible playbooks and automate options with Ansible, Python and Cisco pyATS, and CI/CD pipelines.

Joe: The Deep Dive Labs (DDLs) are all about utilizing the instruments, writing code, and making issues occur. The labs are action-oriented, and the ratio of lecture versus lab within the DDL is about 20 p.c lecture, leaving 80 p.c for labs.

Palmer: I believe the depth lies in the quantity of content material we cowl in such a brief time frame. Coupled with the labs, which get progressively tougher, it’s loads to be taught—particularly for college kids who’re comparatively new to the expertise observe they’ve chosen. The excellent news is that they have a devoted group of instructors to help their studying expertise. In flip, we’ve observed our lessons typically embrace a group mindset, serving to one another succeed. Sure, the expertise is intense, but it surely’s not inconceivable! On the finish of the deep-dive lab week, college students are exhausted however impressed to proceed their journey.

Between the 2 sorts of Cisco Coaching Bootcamps, automation and product (operations and troubleshooting), what are you discovering hottest and helpful?

John: Each tracks are very fashionable and tackle completely different wants. Some prospects discover the Ops and Troubleshooting Bootcamps extra sensible for his or her present day-to-day wants, whereas others are forward-looking, making an attempt to remodel these operations into absolutely automated options.

Joe: Every has their area of interest, with automation and product Bootcamps typically working across the identical variety of instances. Whereas we launched the DevNet Automation Bootcamps first, the Operations & Troubleshooting tracks got here alongside later and stay wildly common.

Palmer: It relies upon. Some prospects have a devoted group managing infrastructure, whereas one other focuses on automation. Some prospects are simply deploying a expertise reminiscent of Software program-Outlined Entry. In the meantime, others have realized that automation is right here to remain, so they should upskill.

The Bootcamps additionally complement one another and supply a path for our prospects to evolve as their necessities change. For instance, a buyer new to ACI would profit from the Operations and Troubleshooting Bootcamp. Then, they will broaden their data by taking the Cisco DevNet Automation for ACI once they transfer to a NetDevOps mannequin.

Might you inform us extra in regards to the new Cisco Coaching Bootcamp for Enterprise Networking (EN)?

John: I’m actually enthusiastic about this bootcamp! Whereas we do have an SDA Bootcamp for these with Catalyst Heart and a controller-based strategy, the EN Bootcamp will allow these prospects with out SDN to completely embrace automation and programmability. We discover applied sciences like Ansible and Cisco pyATS, and construct towards a full CI/CD pipeline resolution that college students construct over the course of the DDL. And did I point out the lab is IPv6-based round OSPFv3?!

Palmer: The Cisco DevNet Automation Bootcamp for Enterprise Networking, or as we name it, ‘EN-A,’ is within the remaining phases of testing. It’s primarily based on Cisco IOS XE software program, which is current in switches, routers, and wi-fi gadgets and is the spine of our prospects’ enterprise networks.

After the 5-day instructor-led coaching, college students start the Deep-Dive Lab (DDL) with a topology consisting of Cisco Catalyst 8000V Edge gadgets, that are solely configured with administration interface connectivity. After being launched to NetDevOps and Git, college students will use quite a lot of fashionable strategies to incrementally configure the simulated department topology. They acquire hands-on expertise with test-driven automation, Ansible, Python, Cisco’s pyATS automation framework, REST API purchasers, YANG fashions, model-driven programmability, streaming telemetry, and CI/CD pipelines. On the finish of the Bootcamp, the simulated department might be absolutely configured and IPv6-enabled, with OSPFv3 and BGP within the combine for added pleasure. We are able to’t wait to share the expertise!

What’s the preferred Coaching Bootcamp to date? Why?

Joe: Cisco ACI has emerged as probably the most common subject areas. First, the automation bootcamp, adopted by the operations and troubleshooting bootcamp. Naturally, there are fluctuations about which observe is the preferred, however these two are practically at all times on the high.

John: Persons are drawn to ACI and software-defined networking basically, primarily for simplicity, scale, and automation capabilities. ACI was constructed from the bottom up with APIs and programmability in thoughts, however additionally it is a departure from basic enterprise networking. There’s a little bit of a studying curve as issues are finished in another way.

What’s the benefit of Coaching Bootcamps for people?

John: I believe it’s the talents they may purchase with real-world examples and the brand new appreciation for the way accessible and simple it’s to get began with community automation. It’s additionally the Cisco Persevering with Training (CE) credit they may obtain upon profitable completion.

Joe: Many shoppers don’t have 12 engineers devoted to the applied sciences coated in Cisco bootcamps. The Coaching Bootcamps for people presents the flexibleness of accommodating smaller numbers of scholars. As well as, we frequently hear that having all the group out for coaching can affect enterprise productiveness, so sending the group in waves can mitigate that subject.

And the way is a person Bootcamp completely different from the Cisco Coaching Bootcamps for groups?

John: The group Bootcamps (aka closed enrollments) supply a personal setting for group members from organizations to take the Bootcamp collectively. One of many pure aspect advantages of those enrollments is the group constructing that goes on over the course of the week. Teammates from organizations turn into nearer as they be taught these new abilities and applied sciences. They be taught, battle, fail, and succeed collectively.

Particular person Cisco Coaching Bootcamps have their very own allure, as a variety of people come collectively to attain the identical targets. Folks from around the globe be taught collectively and make associates. It’s fairly exceptional.

Joe: Bootcamps for Groups are structured on a per-class foundation, from pricing to challenge administration and tailoring. These Bootcamps can have the content material and labs tailor-made particularly to a single buyer, which we don’t present for the Bootcamps for People, a.okay.a. open enrollment.

The place do you see Cisco Coaching Bootcamps going within the subsequent yr?

John: I’m very excited in regards to the EN providing in addition to the continued curiosity in ACI, NSO, SDA, and Meraki. I hope demand goes up. I hope our group grows. We’re having a tangible affect on the trade, and I believe our days as Cisco’s best-kept secret are numbered.

Joe: We’re releasing a brand new observe referred to as Cisco DevNet Automation for Enterprise Networks, which can be a mouthful, but it surely addresses the biggest put in base of put in gadgets—particularly, those who run the IOS-XE working system. This has been fairly the endeavor, but it surely hits a related space of focus that just about each buyer wants. Past that, we’re at all times updates and enhancements to current content material and labs and increasing into new content material areas.

Palmer: It’s going to be a busy yr, for certain. I anticipate that the Enterprise Networking Automation Bootcamps might be very fashionable, and we have now various returning prospects trying to broaden their abilities and practice new groups. We’ll even be reviewing our present Bootcamps to determine alternatives so as to add new content material and showcase new applied sciences and capabilities. Nothing on this trade ever stands nonetheless, and we search for “power multipliers” to include into the content material so our prospects keep aggressive. Additionally, our group is continuously accepted to current at occasions reminiscent of Cisco Stay! That’s a beautiful alternative to satisfy former and future college students in individual.

Inform us extra about this upcoming webinar: What can prospects anticipate throughout the occasion?

John: We’ll cowl all six Bootcamps. Prospects will get to know us as instructors in the event that they haven’t met us but. They’ll get to know our distinct ‘Edutainer’ types. We might be masking every Bootcamp for about 5 minutes every to present you a way of the fabric coated. You’ll have an opportunity to ask us any questions alongside the best way.

Palmer: We’ll additionally cowl the Enterprise Networking Automation Bootcamp, which is within the remaining phases of testing. We stay up for answering questions that come up.