Cisco Coaching Bootcamps have been on the scene for a pair years now. One of many issues that makes them so standard is their depth and real-world software. We sat down with Topic Matter Consultants (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 standard? 

John: I believe it’s the best way they align with market developments. Enterprises all over the world are in search of methods to undertake community automation and get the utmost worth out of their Cisco investments. A Cisco Coaching Bootcamp offers a direct path towards cultural modifications, serving to organizations undertake automation and programmability. 

Joe: In addition they deal with vital enterprise and technical wants like automation and complicated product competence. The instructing methodology is well-suited to fast 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 stage. It’s just like the expression, ‘one-two punch.’

Palmer: I believe individuals 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 clients deploy trendy infrastructure, they discover that the issue isn’t that the know-how is just too advanced however that it’s totally different from what we’ve all labored with for therefore 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 workforce must embrace NetDevOps rules and study automation…” 

Now what? 

Cisco Coaching Bootcamps take away complexity and deal with what’s necessary. Whether or not it’s an Operations and Troubleshooting Bootcamp for Software program-Outlined Campus and Knowledge Heart Options, or an Automation Bootcamp, our clients depart with the boldness they should remodel community operations and contribute to their workforce’s success. 

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

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

Palmer: Whereas clients are wanting to automate, they face widespread challenges, akin to guaranteeing their groups can communicate a standard 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 instructing format. The 5-day coaching covers a broad vary of prerequisite data to make sure college students acquire a standard skillset. The actual-world use instances and deep-dive labs present what clients can do with community automation. These labs are designed to progress from the fundamentals, akin to studying Git, to standard instruments, together with REST API Purchasers and Python. Lastly, most studying tracks culminate with a CI/CD pipeline. After the Bootcamp, clients preserve entry to code they’ll instantly use after 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 12 months after their Automation Coaching Bootcamp! The size and complexity of the trendy community can not be operated manually. Automation isn’t just about pace and transferring quick; it’s about safety, repeatability, testing and validation, and creating CI/CD pipelines as full options. Finally, most clients are in search of 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 % of the category is lab work primarily based on actual conditions and situations. College students truly apply what they’ve realized through the 5-day ILT with precise tools and actual issues to unravel. There are a number of ‘spice ranges’ (issue ranges) to problem even probably the most superior scholar. As an illustration, they study 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 % lecture, leaving 80 % 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 quite a bit to study—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 workforce of instructors to help their studying expertise. In flip, we’ve observed our courses typically embrace a workforce mindset, serving to one another succeed. Sure, the expertise is intense, but it surely’s not not possible! On the finish of the deep-dive lab week, college students are exhausted however impressed to proceed their journey. 

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

John: Each tracks are very fashionable and deal with totally different wants. Some clients discover the Ops and Troubleshooting Bootcamps extra sensible for his or her present day-to-day wants, whereas others are forward-looking, attempting to remodel these operations into totally automated options.  

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

Palmer: It relies upon. Some clients have a devoted workforce managing infrastructure, whereas one other focuses on automation. Some clients are simply deploying a know-how akin to 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 clients to evolve as their necessities change. For instance, a buyer new to ACI would profit from the Operations and Troubleshooting Bootcamp. Then, they’ll broaden their data by taking the Cisco DevNet Automation for ACI after 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 method, the EN Bootcamp will allow these clients 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 ultimate 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 clients’ 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 acquire 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 will likely be totally 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 most well-liked Coaching Bootcamp to this point? Why? 

Joe: Cisco ACI has emerged as probably the most standard matter areas. First, the automation bootcamp, adopted by the operations and troubleshooting bootcamp. Naturally, there are fluctuations about which observe is the most well-liked, however these two are practically at all times on the prime. 

John: Persons are drawn to ACI and software-defined networking on the whole, 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 traditional enterprise networking. There’s a little bit of a studying curve as issues are carried out otherwise. 

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 a way accessible and straightforward it’s to get began with community automation. It’s additionally the Cisco Persevering with Training (CE) credit they are going to obtain upon profitable completion. 

Joe: Many shoppers do not need 12 engineers devoted to the applied sciences lined in Cisco bootcamps. The Coaching Bootcamps for people gives the flexibleness of accommodating smaller numbers of scholars. As well as, we regularly hear that having the whole workforce out for coaching can affect enterprise productiveness, so sending the workforce in waves can mitigate that concern. 

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

John: The workforce Bootcamps (aka closed enrollments) supply a personal setting for workforce members from organizations to take the Bootcamp collectively. One of many pure facet advantages of those enrollments is the workforce constructing that goes on over the course of the week. Teammates from organizations change into nearer as they study these new expertise and applied sciences. They study, wrestle, fail, and succeed collectively.

Particular person Cisco Coaching Bootcamps have their very own appeal, as a variety of people come collectively to realize the identical objectives. Individuals from all over the world study collectively and make pals. It’s fairly exceptional. 

Joe: Bootcamps for Groups are structured on a per-class foundation, from pricing to venture 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 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 workforce grows. We’re having a tangible affect on the business, 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, but it surely addresses the most important put in base of put in gadgets—specifically, people who run the IOS-XE working system. This has been fairly the enterprise, but it surely 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 positive. I anticipate that the Enterprise Networking Automation Bootcamps will likely be very fashionable, and we’ve got various returning clients seeking to broaden their expertise and prepare new groups. We’ll even be reviewing our present Bootcamps to establish alternatives so as to add new content material and showcase new applied sciences and capabilities. Nothing on this business ever stands nonetheless, and we search for “drive multipliers” to include into the content material so our clients keep aggressive. Additionally, our workforce is continuously accepted to current at occasions akin to Cisco Reside! That’s a beautiful alternative to satisfy former and future college students in particular person. 

Inform us extra about this upcoming webinar: What can clients anticipate through 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 will likely be protecting every Bootcamp for about 5 minutes every to offer you a way of the fabric lined. 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 ultimate levels of testing. We stay up for answering questions that come up. 

Observe Cisco Studying & Certifications

Twitter | Fb | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

Use #CiscoCert to affix the dialog.

Share: