Configuration of Cisco devices (e.g. routers and switches) has traditionally been performed at the command line. However, an industry-wide paradigm shift is now underway, where more and more configuration is being performed by software, an approach commonly referred to as Software Defined Networking (SDN). SDN is an emerging architecture that is makes it easier and more cost-effective to implement network policies and manage network resources. It does this by decoupling the network control from the network hardware (which continues to manage forwarding functions), allowing network control to become directly programmable and the underlying network infrastructure to be managed by applications and network services rather than individually configured.

Network Programmability Fundamentals LiveLessons introduces the theory surrounding SDN networks and examines components found in a Cisco ACI network. Additionally, this course covers Python programming, a key skill required for network programmability. Finally, this course walks through multiple network programmability exercises, which can be performed (for free) at Cisco’s DevNet site.