Automating & Programming Cisco Enterprise Solutions (300-435 ENAUTO)

This learning path is designed to prepare you for the Cisco 300-435 Automating and Programming Cisco Enterprise Solutions v2.0 exam by guiding you through a progressive journey of network automation skills. You will begin with the foundations of network automation, where you will learn about OpenConfig, IETF, and native YANG models, understand how to use protocols such as NETCONF and RESTCONF, and practice building JSON and XML payloads. You will also become comfortable interpreting YANG module trees and working with tools such as YANG Suite and pyang. Once you have a solid foundation, you will move into device-level network automation, focusing on hands-on automation with Python libraries like Netmiko and ncclient, as well as RESTCONF and Ansible. Here you will practice device provisioning, explore Day Zero automation, and troubleshoot NETCONF, RESTCONF, and YANG-based solutions. You will also learn on-box automation methods such as Embedded Event Manager (EEM), Guest Shell, and on-box Python scripting. The path then progresses to controller-based network automation, which is the largest portion of the exam. You will explore Day Zero provisioning through controllers, and apply both Python and Ansible to configuration and monitoring tasks. You will also create advanced Jinja2 templates using loops, filters, and conditionals, and dive into automation of security policies, compliance, and segmentation. Additionally, you will strengthen your ability to troubleshoot REST API–based automation solutions. Next, you will expand into network operations automation. At this stage, you will use Cisco platform APIs to validate configurations, simulate topologies, and automate device software management. You will configure and monitor model-driven telemetry subscriptions on IOS XE devices through CLI, NETCONF, and RESTCONF, and set up webhook-based monitoring solutions to enhance operational visibility and health monitoring. Finally, the path introduces you to the emerging field of AI in automation. You will study how AI is integrated into controller-driven platforms, explore AI-assisted code development for network automation, and evaluate security risks associated with AI-based solutions. You will also practice building an MCP server using Python FastMCP to relay network information to AI agents. By following this structured path, you will gradually build expertise from foundational concepts through device and controller automation, operational use cases, and AI-driven innovations. This balanced approach ensures that you are prepared not only for the exam but also for real-world enterprise network automation challenges.