Cisco Coaching Bootcamps have been on the scene for a pair years now. One of many issues that makes them so widespread 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 received 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 widespread?
John: I believe it’s the best way they align with market tendencies. Enterprises all over the world are on the lookout 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 educating methodology is well-suited to speedy studying and creating expertise that engineers can apply now, not solely sooner or later. Having two studying occasions shut collectively (the Teacher-led Coaching [ILT] courses 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?” At this time’s aggressive enterprise setting requires agile networks that may adapt to mission goals with out impacting stakeholders. As our prospects deploy trendy infrastructure, they discover that the issue just isn’t that the know-how is just too advanced however that it’s completely different from what we’ve all labored with for thus many a long time.
We’ve heard:
- “We’ve got deployed Software program-Outlined Entry…”
- “We’re working ACI however haven’t moved to an application-centric mannequin…”
- “Our crew must embrace NetDevOps rules and be taught automation…”
Now what?
Cisco Coaching Bootcamps take away complexity and concentrate on what’s essential. Whether or not it’s an Operations and Troubleshooting Bootcamp for Software program-Outlined Campus and Knowledge Heart Options, or an Automation Bootcamp, our prospects go away with the arrogance they should rework community operations and contribute to their crew’s success.
You guys are within the good place to know what prospects want. What are you listening to from the entrance traces? What automation wants do prospects consider these Coaching Bootcamps may clear up?
Joe: Clients 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 frequent challenges, reminiscent of making certain their groups can communicate a typical language, which automation know-how they need to select, and maybe most significantly, what they’ll truly do with automation. A Cisco Coaching Bootcamp addresses these challenges with a singular educating format. The 5-day coaching covers a broad vary of prerequisite data to make sure college students achieve 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 widespread instruments, together with REST API Shoppers and Python. Lastly, most studying tracks culminate with a CI/CD pipeline. After the Bootcamp, prospects keep entry to code they’ll instantly use once they return to the workplace. The general expertise requires focus and teamwork, however the buyer response has been overwhelmingly constructive.
John: A few of our former college students keep in contact with us for over a 12 months after their Automation Coaching Bootcamp! The dimensions and complexity of the fashionable community can now not be operated manually. Automation is not only about velocity and shifting quick; it’s about safety, repeatability, testing and validation, and creating CI/CD pipelines as full options. Finally, most prospects are on the lookout for a spot to start out 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 truly observe what they’ve discovered in the course of 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 pupil. As an example, they be taught issues like version and supply management with Git and Ansible playbooks and the way to 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 more difficult, it’s so much to be taught—particularly for college kids who’re comparatively new to the know-how observe they’ve chosen. The excellent news is that they have a devoted crew of instructors to help their studying expertise. In flip, we’ve observed our courses usually embrace a crew mindset, serving to one another succeed. Sure, the expertise is intense, however it’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 forms of Cisco Coaching Bootcamps, automation and product (operations and troubleshooting), what are you discovering hottest and helpful?
John: Each tracks are very talked-about 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 rework these operations into absolutely automated options.
Joe: Every has their area of interest, with automation and product Bootcamps usually working across the similar variety of instances. Whereas we launched the DevNet Automation Bootcamps first, the Operations & Troubleshooting tracks got here alongside later and stay wildly widespread.
Palmer: It relies upon. Some prospects have a devoted crew managing infrastructure, whereas one other focuses on automation. Some prospects are simply deploying a know-how 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’ll increase 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 levels 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 a wide range of trendy strategies to incrementally configure the simulated department topology. They achieve hands-on expertise with test-driven automation, Ansible, Python, Cisco’s pyATS automation framework, REST API shoppers, YANG fashions, model-driven programmability, streaming telemetry, and CI/CD pipelines. On the finish of the Bootcamp, the simulated department shall be absolutely configured and IPv6-enabled, with OSPFv3 and BGP within the combine for added pleasure. We will’t wait to share the expertise!
What’s the preferred Coaching Bootcamp to this point? Why?
Joe: Cisco ACI has emerged as one of the vital widespread 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 prime.
John: Individuals are drawn to ACI and software-defined networking generally, primarily for simplicity, scale, and automation capabilities. ACI was constructed from the bottom up with APIs and programmability in thoughts, however it’s also a departure from traditional enterprise networking. There’s a little bit of a studying curve as issues are performed in a different way.
What’s the benefit of Coaching Bootcamps for people?
John: I believe it’s the abilities they are going to purchase with real-world examples and the brand new appreciation for the way accessible and straightforward it’s to get began with community automation. It’s additionally the Cisco Persevering with Schooling (CE) credit they are going to obtain upon profitable completion.
Joe: Many purchasers wouldn’t have 12 engineers devoted to the applied sciences coated in Cisco bootcamps. The Coaching Bootcamps for people affords the flexibleness of accommodating smaller numbers of scholars. As well as, we regularly hear that having all the crew out for coaching can affect enterprise productiveness, so sending the crew in waves can mitigate that challenge.
And the way is a person Bootcamp completely different from the Cisco Coaching Bootcamps for groups?
John: The crew Bootcamps (aka closed enrollments) provide a personal setting for crew members from organizations to take the Bootcamp collectively. One of many pure aspect advantages of those enrollments is the crew constructing that goes on over the course of the week. Teammates from organizations change into nearer as they be taught these new expertise and applied sciences. They be taught, wrestle, fail, and succeed collectively.
Particular person Cisco Coaching Bootcamps have their very own attraction, as a variety of people come collectively to attain the identical objectives. Folks from all over the world be taught collectively and make pals. It’s fairly exceptional.
Joe: Bootcamps for Groups are structured on a per-class foundation, from pricing to undertaking 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.ok.a. open enrollment.
The place do you see Cisco Coaching Bootcamps going within the subsequent 12 months?
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 crew 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 known as Cisco DevNet Automation for Enterprise Networks, which can be a mouthful, however it addresses the most important put in base of put in gadgets—particularly, people who run the IOS-XE working system. This has been fairly the enterprise, however it hits a related space of focus that nearly each buyer wants. Past that, we’re at all times taking a look at updates and enhancements to current content material and labs and increasing into new content material areas.
Palmer: It’s going to be a busy 12 months, for certain. I anticipate that the Enterprise Networking Automation Bootcamps shall be very talked-about, and we’ve various returning prospects trying to increase their expertise and prepare 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 “pressure multipliers” to include into the content material so our prospects keep aggressive. Additionally, our crew is steadily accepted to current at occasions reminiscent of Cisco Dwell! That’s an exquisite alternative to satisfy former and future college students in particular person.
Inform us extra about this upcoming webinar: What can prospects count on in the course of the occasion?
John: We’ll cowl all six Bootcamps. Clients 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’ kinds. We shall be masking every Bootcamp for about 5 minutes every to offer 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 levels of testing. We sit up for answering questions that come up.
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