Professionals interested in knowing and implementing solutions using the automation tools.

This course is a automation introduction and pre-requesite for these trainings:
• Implementing Automation for Cisco Enterprise Solutions (ENAUI);
• Implementing Automation for Cisco Data Center Solutions (DCAUI);
• Implementing Automation for Cisco Security Solutions (SAUI);
• Implementing Automation for Cisco Service Provider Solutions (SPAUI);
• Implementing Automation for Cisco Collaboration Solutions (CLAUI).

Upon completing this course, students will be able to meet these objectives:
• Explain the need for Network Engineers to learn how to program and how it relates to the journey into NetworkAutomation and Programmability;
• Create a Python script;
• Describe data types that are commonly used in Python coding;
• Describe Python strings and their use cases;
• Describe Python loops, conditionals, operators, and their purpose and use cases;
• Describe Python classes, methods, functions, namespaces, and scopes;
• Describe the options for Python data manipulation and storage;
• Describe Python modules and packages, their uses, and their benefits;
• Explain how to manipulate user input in Python;
• Describe error and exception management in Python;
• Describe Python code debugging methods.

The knowledge and skills that students should have before attending this course are as follows:
• Familiarity with Cisco IOS-XE software or other Cisco network device configuration and operation skills;
• Basic network management knowledge;
• Cisco CCNA or equivalent knowledge.

Course Introduction
Overview
Course Goal and Objectives
Course Flow
Your Training Curriculum
Learner Introductions

Introducing Programmability and Python for Network Engineers
Describe programmability basics
Continued Importance of the CLI
Describe the importance of Python
Describe and demonstrate a Python program

Scripting with Python
Create a Python script
Running a Python Script
Describe the procedure for initiating Python
Python Interactive Shell
Describe the Python interpreter
Editors and IDEs
Describe editors and IDEs

Examining Python Data Types
Describe data types that are commonly used in Python coding
Describe the string data type
Describe the integer data type
Describe the float data type
Describe the Boolean data type
Describe the Python type() function
Explain types of variables used in Python coding
Analyze the features of lists
Describe the tuple data type
Describe data sets
Describe the Python dictionary
Describe nested data types
Explain how to navigate complex data structures

Manipulating Strings
Describe Python strings and their use cases
Describe string manipulation
Describe string splitting
Describe string modification
Describe string concatenation
Describe whitespace stripping
Explain formatting and templating
Describe the use of escape characters
Describe regular expressions
Explain string methods

Describing Conditionals, Loops, and Operators
Describe Python loops, conditionals, operators, and their purpose and use cases
Describe whitespace and its properties as provided in the PEP 8 style guide
Describe conditional statements
Describe operators and their uses
Describe an example of using conditionals
Describe loops and their uses
Loops with Lists, Dicts, and Ranges

Exploring Classes, Methods, Functions, Namespaces, and Scopes
Describe Python classes, methods, functions, namespaces, and scopes
Practical Reuse of Code
Describe functions
Code Commenting
Describe namespaces and scopes
Define classes and methods
Using Inheritance to Extend Functionality
Describe the main construct

Exploring Data Storage Options
Describe the options for Python data manipulation and storage
Describe various data formats
Reading Data from a Simple Text and CSV File
Writing Data to a Simple Text and CSV File
Reading Data from a JSON Text File
Explain how to read data from a JSON text file
Writing Data to a JSON Text File
Data Access in Raw or Unstructured Format

Exploring Python Modules and Packages
Describe Python modules and packages, their uses, and their benefits
Python Standard Library Modules
Reusable Code with Modules and Packages

Gathering and Validating User Input
Explain how to manipulate user input in Python
Describe methods for obtaining user input
Command-Line Arguments
Describe the format of an argument

Analyzing Exceptions and Error Management
Describe error and exception management in Python
Describe common error types
Explain the uses for exceptions
Describe assertions

Examining Debugging Methods
Describe Python code debugging methods
Describe the Python code debugging process
Describe Python functions that can be used for debugging
Describe code debuggers
Describe the Python debugger
Describe common pdb commands

Course Summary
Provide a brief description of what you have learned in this course
Explain how to further develop your programming skills after having completed this course

Lab outline

Discovery 1: Execute Your First Python Program
Task 1: Execute a simple Python script to gather the device software version

Discovery 2: Use the Python Interactive Shell
Task 1: Launch the Python Interactive Shell
Task 2: Hello, Network!
Task 3: Exit the Python Interactive Shell
Task 4: Check Your Python Version

Discovery 3: Explore Foundational Python Data Types
Task 1: Experiment with String Data
Task 2: Experiment with Integer Data
Task 3: Experiment with Float (Floating-Point Integer) Data
Task 4: Experiment with Boolean Data

Discovery 4: Explore Complex Python Data Types
Task 1: Experiment with Lists
Task 2: Experiment with Tuples
Task 3: Experiment with Sets
Task 4: Experiment with Dictionaries
Task 5: Optimizing the Dictionary Code

Discovery 5: Use Standard String Operations
Task 1: Store and Read a String
Task 2: Split a String
Task 3: Concatenate a String
Task 4: Explore Formatting Outputs with f-Strings
Task 5: Use Escape Characters to Format a String
Task 6: Use String Methods to Modify a String

Discovery 6: Use Basic Pattern Matching
Task 1: Read and Store a String
Task 2: Split a String Based on RegEx Pattern Matching
Task 3: Concatenate a String Based on RegEx Pattern Matching
Task 4: Extract Specific Keyword Values Within a Line
Task 5: Extract Lines with Specific Keywords

Discovery 7: Reformat MAC Addresses
Task 1: Read a MAC Address and Store it as a String
Task 2: Manipulate and Concatenate MAC Addresses with RegEx
Task 3: Convert MAC Addresses From EUI-48 to EUI-64

Discovery 8: Use the if-else Construct
Task 1: Create a Simple Conditional Block Using if and else
Task 2: Create a Simple Conditional Block Using if, elif, and else Statements

Discovery 9: Use for Loops
Task 1: Use for Loops to Iterate Over Different Data Types

Discovery 10: Use while Loops
Task 1: Create a Simple Script Using a While Loop

Discovery 11: Create and Use Functions
Task 1: Create a Simple Script Using Functions
Task 2: Modify the Network Audit Tool to Include Functions for Repetitive Tasks

Discovery 12: Create and Use Classes
Task 1: Create a Class

Discovery 13: Use the Python main() Construct
Task 1: Create a Simple Script that Incorporates the main() Construct
Task 2: Modify the Network Audit Tool to Use a main() Function

Discovery 14: Traverse the File Structure
Task 1: Write a Simple Script to Navigate the File System

Discovery 15: Read Data in CSV Format
Task 1: Create a Simple Script to Read CSV Data
Task 2: Modify a Simple Script to Manipulate CSV Data
Task 3: Modify a Simple Script to Store CSV Data

Discovery 16: Read, Store, and Retrieve Data in XML Format
Task 1: Create a Simple Script to Read Raw XML Data
Task 2: Modify a Simple Script to Manipulate XML Data

Discovery 17: Read, Store, and Retrieve Data in JSON Format
Task 1: Create a Simple Script to Read JSON Data
Task 2: Modify a Simple Script to Manipulate JSON Data
Task 3: Modify a Simple Script to Store JSON Data
Task 4: Modify the Network Audit Tool to Retrieve Results and Store Them in a JSON Data Structure

Discovery 18: Read, Store, and Retrieve Data in a Raw or Unstructured Format
Task 1: Create a Simple Script to Read Raw Data
Task 2: Modify a Simple Script to Manipulate Raw Data
Task 3: Modify a Simple Script to Store Raw Data

Discovery 19: Import Modules from the Python Standard Library
Task 1: Explore How to Import Libraries such as sys and os from the Python Standard Library

Discovery 20: Import External Libraries
Task 1: Import Specific Functions from a Library
Task 2: Explore Renaming Packages When Imported
Task 3: Explore PIP for Package Management

Discovery 21: Create a Python Module
Task 1: Add Functions and Documentation to a Simple Script to Create a Module

Discovery 22: Prompt the User for Input
Task 1: Create a Script that Prompts the User for Input
Task 2: Modify the Script to Validate Input from the User

Discovery 23: Use Command-Line Arguments
Task 1: Accept Arguments that are Added to the Command Line
Task 2: Modify the Network Audit Tool to Accept Command-Line Options

Discovery 24: Manage Exceptions with the try-except Structure
Task 1: Create a Simple Script Using try-except
Task 2: Modify the Network Audit Tool to Include Exception Management Using try-except to AddressPotential Failures

Discovery 25: Manage Exceptions with the try-except-finally Structure
Task 1: Create a Simple Script Using try-except-finally
Task 2: Modify the Network Audit Tool to Include Exception Management Using try-except-finally to AddressPotential Failures

Discovery 26: Use Assertions
Task 1: Define a Valid Assertion Test and Observe the Results
Task 2: Define an Invalid Assertion Test and Observe the Results

Discovery 27: Use Simple Debugging Methods
Task 1: Create a Simple Script Using the Print Function to Debug a Variable
Task 2: Add the Print Function to the Network Audit Tool to Debug Steps in Script Execution
Task 3: Debug Code with the Python Interactive Interpreter

Discovery 28: Use the Python Debugger
Task 1: Import pdb into a Script and Insert a Breakpoint
Task 2: Run a Script in the Python Debugger Using the Command Line

Discovery 29: Code a Practical Debugging Script
Task 1: Resolve the Bugs in a Sample Script