This is a list of materials I used to study that include the 10-week study guide found on Nick Russo’s site and the course offered on Cisco Digital Learning.
This requires access to Pluralsight or the paid CDL course. I think they 10-week guide will over prepare where the CDL course is on target. There is also a practice test that is $80.
The Table below is from the excel file downloaded above from Nick Russo.
Week | Topic | Hours | Recommended Resource | Blueprint topics addressed |
1 | Initial Skills Assessment | 0.25 | Understanding DevNet/Net Prog | Subset of the blueprint |
Python Fundamentals | 4 | Getting Started: Python Core (Full Course) | None (Critical prerequisite skills) | |
Python skills check | 1 | Divisors Challenge | None (Critical prerequisite skills) | |
Python skills check | 1 | String Lists Challenge | None (Critical prerequisite skills) | |
Python skills check | 1 | Rock Paper Scissors Challenge | None (Critical prerequisite skills) | |
Python skills check | 1 | Birthday JSON Challenge | 1.1, 1.2 | |
Python skills check | 1 | Decode a Web Page 1 Challenge | 2.9 | |
Python skills check | 1 | Decode a Web Page 2 Challenge | 2.9 | |
2 | Using the flask package | 0.5 | Flask framework – Modules 2 and 3 | 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 |
SW lifecycle strategies and design patterns | 0.5 | Getting started with SW Dev – Module 2 | 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 4.11 | |
Agile SW dev strategy | 0.1 | Reading – Agile Manifesto | 1.4 | |
Scrum (agile) SW dev strategy | 0.75 | Introducing Scrum – Full Course | 1.4 | |
Kanban (lean) SW dev strategy | 1.5 | Kanban Fundamentals – Full Course | 1.4 | |
Good coding techniques | 1.5 | Writing Clean Code – First 5 Modules | 1.5 | |
Building Bash shell skills | 1 | Introduction to the Bash Shell – Modules 2, 3, 4 | 4.11 | |
Structured data and basic Git | 1 | Getting started with SW Dev – Modules 3, 4 | 1.1, 1.2, 1.7, 1.8, 5.12, 5.13 | |
Self-study: Manually convert between JSON and YAML | 0.5 | json2yaml conversion tool | 1.1, 1.2 | |
Basic Git skills | 2.5 | Getting started with Git – Full Course | 1.7, 1.8 | |
Basic Git skills | 0.4 | DevNet LL – Git Intro | 1.7, 1.8 | |
Basic Git skills | 0.5 | DevNet LL – Git Branching | 1.7, 1.8 | |
Basic Git skills | 0.5 | DevNet LL – Git Remote Repo | 1.7, 1.8, 5.13 | |
Pull Request Tutorial and practice | 0.75 | thinkful.com PR tutorial | 1.8.d | |
3 | APIs Basics and DevNet Resources | 0.5 | Getting started with SW Dev – Module 5 | 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 3.2, 3.7, 3.9.a, 5.14 |
HTTP Fundamentals | 3 | HTTP Fundamentals | 2.4 | |
REST Fundamentals | 1 | REST Fundamentals – Modules 2, 3 | 2.3, 2.4, 2.8 | |
Postman Fundamentals | 1 | Postman Fundamentals Modules 2, 3, 4 | 2.3, 2.4 | |
Working with cURL | 0.25 | YouTube – Working with cURL | 2.3, 2.4 | |
DNA Center API Hands-on | 0.5 | DevNet DNA Center API Lab | 3.2, 3.7, 3.9.a, 5.7 | |
Using Python requests with DNA Center | 0.5 | Getting started with SW Dev – Module 6 | 2.5, 2.7, 2.9, 3.2, 3.7, 3.9.a, 3.9.c, 5.7 | |
Self-study challenge 1: Get list of DNAC Center devices | 1 | Getting started with SW Dev – Module 6 Challenge 1 | 2.5, 2.7, 2.9, 3.2, 3.7, 3.9.a, 3.9.c, 5.7 | |
Self-study challenge 1: Add a device to DNAC Center | 2 | Getting started with SW Dev – Module 6 Challenge 2 | 2.5, 2.7, 2.9, 3.2, 3.7, 3.9.a, 3.9.c, 5.7 | |
Review and test code to “delete” a device | 0.5 | Getting started with SW Dev – Module 6 | 2.5, 2.7, 2.9, 3.2, 3.7, 3.9.a, 3.9.c, 5.7 | |
Self-study: Craft Postman, cURL, and Python requests | 1 | Deck of Cards API | 2.3, 2.4 | |
4 | Introducing NSO and the DNA Center SDK | 0.5 | Cisco APIs / App DevOps – Module 2 | 3.1, 3.2, 3.8, 3.9.a |
Introduction to model-driven programmability | 0.5 | DevNet LL – Model-driven Programmability | 3.8 | |
Cisco NSO basics | 0.5 | DevNet LL – NSO Operations | 3.2, 3.9.a | |
Cisco NSO basics | 0.5 | DevNet LL – NSO for Network Engineers | 3.2, 3.9.a | |
Cisco NSO basics | 0.5 | DevNet LL – NSO Provisioning | 3.2, 3.9.a | |
Cisco NSO basics | 1.5 | DevNet Sandbox: NSO API Testing | 3.2, 3.9.a | |
Self-study: Explore dnacentersdk documentation | 0.5 | Python dnacentersdk official docs | 3.1, 3.2, 3.9.a | |
Variety of Cisco product APIs | 0.5 | Cisco APIs / App DevOps – Module 3 | 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.9, 5.7 | |
Cisco Meraki Basics | 0.75 | YouTube – Cloud-based IT with Meraki | 3.2, 3.9.c | |
Cisco Meraki Basics | 0.5 | DevNet LL – Meraki Integrations | 3.2, 3.9.c | |
Cisco Meraki Basics | 0.5 | DevNet LL – Meraki Dashboard API via Postman | 3.2, 3.9.c, 5.7 | |
Cisco UCS Basics | 0.25 | YouTube – Introduction to Cisco UCS | 3.3 | |
Cisco Intersight Basics | 0.5 | YouTube – Cisco Intersight | 3.3 | |
Cisco ACI Basics | 0.5 | DevNet LL – Intro to ACI Programmability | 3.3, 3.9.a, 5.7 | |
Cisco ACI Basics | 0.5 | DevNet LL – Intro to ACI Toolkit | 3.3, 3.9.a, 5.7 | |
Cisco Umbrella Basics | 0.2 | YouTube – Cisco Umbrella | 3.5 | |
Cisco ISE Basics | 0.2 | YouTube – Cisco ISE | 3.5 | |
Cisco AMP and ThreatGrid basics | 0.5 | YouTube – Malware with Cisco AMP/ThreatGrid | 3.5 | |
Cisco Firepower Basics | 0.2 | DevNet LL – Firepower REST API 101 | 3.5 | |
Cisco Firepower Basics | 0.2 | DevNet LL – Firepower REST API 102 | 3.5 | |
Cisco Firepower Basics | 0.5 | DevNet LL – Firepower REST API 107 | 3.5 | |
Cisco Webex Teams Basics | 0.3 | DevNet LL – Tour of Webex Teams | 3.4, 3.9.b | |
Cisco Webex Teams Basics | 0.3 | DevNet LL – Using Postman with Webex Teams | 3.4, 3.9.b | |
Cisco Webex Teams Basics | 0.4 | DevNet LL – Using requests with Webex Teams | 3.4, 3.9.b | |
Cisco Webex Meetings Basics | 0.2 | DevNet LL – Webex Meetings API | 3.4 | |
Cisco General Collab Basics | 0.5 | DevNet LL – Webex xAPI for Collab Devices | 3.4 | |
5 | Application Deployment Environments | 0.5 | Cisco APIs / App DevOps – Module 4 | 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.6, 4.7 |
Cloud options | 0.1 | YouTube – Public vs Private Clouds | 4.2 | |
Cloud options | 0.5 | YouTube – Cloud Service Models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) | 4.2 | |
Cloud options | 0.1 | YouTube – Hybrid Cloud Explained | 4.2 | |
Cloud options | 1 | Understanding SaaS – Full Course | 4.2 | |
Edge Computing | 0.25 | YouTube – Edge Computing Discussion | 4.1 | |
Basic cloud skills | 1 | acloudguru – AWS Technical Essentials – Full Course | 4.2 | |
Basic cloud skills | 1 | Introduction to Microsoft Cloud – Full Course | 4.2 | |
Virtualization options | 0.2 | YouTube – Comparing Virtual Machines and Containers | 4.3 | |
Docker containers | 1.5 | Getting Started with Docker – Modules 2, 3, 4 | 4.3, 4.6, 4.7 | |
Docker containers | 1.5 | DevNet LL – Docker 101 | 4.6, 4.7 | |
Docker containers | 0.25 | YouTube – docker-compose Demo | 4.6, 4.7 | |
Introduction to DevOps | 0.5 | Cisco APIs / App DevOps – Module 5 | 1.3, 1.8, 4.4, 4.5, 4.12, 5.4 | |
Basic DevOps knowledge | 0.25 | YouTube – DevOps for Beginners | 4.12 | |
Basic DevOps knowledge | 0.75 | YouTube – Network DevOps CI/CD Pipeline | 4.4, 4.12, 5.4 | |
Basic DevOps knowledge | 0.75 | YouTube – Security DevOps Discussion | 4.4, 4.12 | |
Test-driven development (TDD) | 0.25 | YouTube – Test-driven Development Example | 1.3 | |
Midterm Skills Assessment | 0.25 | Understanding DevNet/Net Prog | Subset of the blueprint | |
6 | CI/CD overview | 1 | CI/CD Big Picture – Full Course | 4.4, 5.4 |
Software testing (CI/CD components) | 0.75 | YouTube – Regression Testing | 4.4, 5.4 | |
Software testing (CI/CD components) | 1.5 | Unit Testing in Python – First 3 Modules | 4.4, 4.5, 5.4 | |
Software testing (CI/CD components) | 0.5 | YouTube – Integration Testing | 4.4, 5.4 | |
Software testing (CI/CD components) | 0.5 | YouTube – Smoke vs Sanity Testing | 4.4, 5.4 | |
CI/CD unique example – Maintaining a website | 0.75 | YouTube – Website as Code (AWS CI/CD) | 1.8, 4.4, 5.4, 4.12 | |
CI/CD unique example – Publishing a book | 0.75 | YouTube – Book as Code (Travis CI/CD) | 1.8, 4.4, 5.4, 4.12 | |
General programming security | 0.5 | Cisco APIs / App DevOps – Module 6 | 4.8, 4.9, 4.10 | |
Web security – Design patterns | 1.5 | Web Security Patterns – Full Course | 4.10 | |
Web security – Threats | 1.25 | OWASP Top 10 in 2017 – Full Course | 4.10 | |
Web security – Threats | 1 | SQL Injection Attacks – First 3 Modules | 4.10 | |
Web security – Threats | 0.25 | YouTube – Cross-site Request Forgery (CSRF) | 4.10 | |
Web security – Threats | 0.25 | YouTube – Cross-site Scripting (XSS) | 4.10 | |
Secret management | 0.5 | YouTube – Hashicorp Vault Demonstration | 4.8 | |
Secret management | 0.1 | YouTube – Env Vars for Secrets in Python | 4.8 | |
Auxiliary network devices | 0.2 | YouTube – Basic Load Balancing | 4.9 | |
Auxiliary network devices | 0.2 | YouTube – Basic Network Proxy | 4.9 | |
Auxiliary network devices | 0.2 | YouTube – Basic Network Reverse Proxy | 4.9 | |
7 | Mastering Network Fundamentals | 0.5 | Cisco Network IAC – Module 2 | 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.7 |
Basic network skills – implement/operate | 5.5 | Networking Concepts – Full Course | 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.7 | |
Basic network skills – design | 1 | Network Design Building Blocks – Full Course | 4.2, 4.3, 6.3, 6.9 | |
Deploying Common Network Services | 0.5 | Cisco Network IAC – Module 3 | 6.6, 6.8, 6.9 | |
IP Services – DHCP | 0.5 | DHCP Deep Dive – Module 2 | 6.6 | |
IP Services – DNS | 0.25 | DNS Deep Dive – Module 2 | 6.6 | |
IP Services – NAT | 0.25 | NAT Deep Dive – Module 2 | 6.6, 6.8 | |
IP Services – SNMP | 0.5 | SNMP Deep Dive – Modules 2, 3 | 6.6 | |
IP Services – NTP | 0.25 | YouTube – NTP On Linux | 6.6 | |
Network impact on applications | 0.25 | YouTube – Web Performance Case Study | 6.9 | |
Network impact on applications | 0.5 | VPNs and Transit Security – Modules 2, 3 | 4.8, 6.8 | |
8 | Introducing Infrastructure as Code | 0.5 | Cisco Network IAC – Module 4 | 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.5, 5.6, 5.8, 5.9, 5.11 |
IAC Examples | 0.75 | YouTube – Network DevOps/IAC | 5.2, 5.4, 5.5 | |
Cisco-specific tools: VIRL | 0.75 | VIRL for Cisco Exams – Modules 4,5 | 5.3 | |
Cisco-specific tools: pyATS | 0.25 | DevNet LL – Intro to pyATS | 5.3 | |
Commercial tools: Ansible | 0.5 | Automating Networks with Ansible – Module 2 | 5.6 | |
Commercial tools: Puppet | 0.5 | Introduction to Puppet – Module 1 | 5.6 | |
Commercial tools: Chef | 0.5 | Getting Productive with Chef – Module 2 | 5.6 | |
Code review details | 1 | YouTube – Code Review Best Practices | 5.13 | |
Moderning Network Management using NETCONF | 0.5 | Cisco Network IAC – Module 5 | 5.10, 5.11 | |
Deploying RESTCONF for Lightweight Network Management | 0.5 | Cisco Network IAC – Module 6 | 5.7, 5.10, 5.11 | |
YANG | 0.5 | YouTube – YANG for Networks | 5.11 | |
NETCONF/YANG | 0.5 | DevNet LL – NETCONF/YANG | 5.10, 5.11 | |
RESTCONF/YANG | 0.5 | DevNet LL – RESTCONF/YANG | 5.10, 5.11 | |
Reorienting Ansible for networks + NETCONF/RESTCONF | 1 | Automating Networks with Ansible – Modules 3, 7 | 5.7, 5.8, 5.10 | |
Reorienting Python for networks + NETCONF/RESTCONF | 1.5 | Automating Networks with Python – Modules 2, 3, 7 | 5.7, 5.10 | |
9 | From network engineer to network automation engineer | 10 | DevNet Video – Network Programmability Basics | 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.9, 3.2, 3.8, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 5.11 |
10 | A textbook perspective on new tech | 4 | Cisco CCIE/CCDE Evolving Tech Guide – Sections 1, 2, 3 | Most of the blueprint |
DEVASC Course 1 of 3 – Second viewing | 2.5 | Getting started with SW Dev – Full Course | Most of sections 1.0 and 2.0 | |
DEVASC Course 2 of 3 – Second viewing | 2.5 | Cisco APIs / App DevOps – Full Course | Most of sections 3.0 and 4.0 | |
DEVASC Course 3 of 3 – Second viewing | 2.5 | Cisco Network IAC – Full Course | Most of sections 5.0 and 6.0 | |
Final Skills Assessment | 0.25 | Understanding DevNet/Net Prog | Subset of the blueprint | |
Other experiences | 0.1 | My DEVASC Journey | None |