CCNA 200-301 Cheat Sheet: 6.0 Automation and Programmability (10%)

by

May 29, 2025

·

In the past, network engineers primarily worked with command-line interfaces and manual configurations. But today’s networks are growing faster, more complex, and increasingly dynamic. To keep up, organizations are turning to network automation and programmability—two key themes shaping the future of networking.

This final domain of the CCNA introduces the foundational concepts behind programmable and automated networks. While you’re not expected to code at a professional level, you will need to understand how these tools and architectures work and where they fit into a modern infrastructure.

6.1 Automation in Network Management

Manual configuration of hundreds or thousands of devices is inefficient and error-prone. Network automation aims to simplify and accelerate tasks such as:

Device provisioning
Configuration updates
Monitoring and alerting
Compliance enforcement

Automation helps reduce operational costs, increase uptime, and minimize human error. For example, instead of logging into ten switches individually to apply a change, a single script can update all of them at once.

6.2 Traditional vs. Controller-Based Networking

There are two primary networking models you should understand:

Traditional Networking:
- Each device is configured individually (CLI-driven).
- Control and data planes are tied together on the same device.
- Troubleshooting and scaling are more complex.
Controller-Based (Software-Defined) Networking (SDN):
- Centralized controller manages multiple network devices.
- Abstracts configuration and policies from the underlying hardware.
- Enables automation and orchestration across the entire network.

Think of traditional networking as manual driving, and SDN as a form of automated traffic control.

6.3 SDN Architecture

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a major shift in how networks are designed and operated.

Key architectural components:

Overlay Networks: Logical (virtual) networks built on top of physical infrastructure.
Underlay Networks: The physical hardware and links.
Control Plane: Makes routing and policy decisions. In SDN, this is centralized.
Data Plane: Forwards packets based on decisions made by the control plane.
Northbound APIs: Allow communication between the SDN controller and applications (e.g., dashboards, automation platforms).
Southbound APIs: Interface between the controller and the physical devices (e.g., OpenFlow).

Understanding how SDN decouples control from hardware is central to managing scalable, flexible networks.

6.4 AI and ML in Network Operations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are beginning to shape modern network management strategies:

Predictive AI: Detects anomalies, predicts failures, or optimizes routing based on usage patterns.
Generative AI: Can assist in writing scripts, generating policies, or suggesting configuration changes.

Examples include AI-driven analytics platforms, self-healing networks, and AI-assisted troubleshooting. While not deeply technical in CCNA, familiarity with the concept is important.

6.5 REST APIs

RESTful APIs (Representational State Transfer) are the backbone of network programmability.

Core concepts:

CRUD Operations: Create, Read, Update, Delete resources.
HTTP Methods:
- GET: Retrieve data
- POST: Create new data
- PUT/PATCH: Modify existing data
- DELETE: Remove data
Authentication: Typically handled via tokens, keys, or OAuth.
Data Formats: Most REST APIs use JSON or XML for data exchange.

You may not be writing API calls at this stage, but understanding the structure and purpose of REST APIs prepares you for tools like Cisco DNA Center or Meraki dashboards.

6.6 Configuration Management Tools

Rather than manually applying configurations, engineers now rely on configuration management tools that define infrastructure as code.

Popular examples:

Ansible: Agentless automation tool that uses YAML playbooks.
Terraform: Used for infrastructure provisioning and management, especially in cloud environments.
Puppet / Chef / SaltStack: Other automation frameworks, though not CCNA-level in depth.

These tools allow you to manage and audit your network consistently and repeatably.

6.7 JSON Data Structure

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format commonly used in APIs and automation tools.

Basic structure:

{
  "hostname": "switch1",
  "ip": "192.168.1.1",
  "interfaces": [
    {
      "name": "GigabitEthernet0/1",
      "status": "up"
    }
  ]
}

Key-Value Pairs: "hostname": "switch1"
Arrays: Lists of items (e.g., interfaces)
Nested Objects: JSON can contain other JSON structures.

Even if you’re not writing scripts, understanding how to read and interpret JSON is essential when working with APIs and automation platforms.

The Automation and Programmability domain introduces the future of network engineering. While CLI skills remain critical, the industry is moving toward abstracted, software-defined, and automated environments.

Even at the CCNA level, Cisco expects candidates to be aware of these trends and understand their implications. This knowledge sets the stage for more advanced certifications like DevNet Associate, CCNP Enterprise Automation, or cloud-related roles.

Congratulations on Reaching the Final Section

With this final section, you’ve covered all six CCNA 200-301 domains. Whether you’re prepping for your exam or brushing up to stay relevant in your job, this foundation puts you in a strong position.

Would you like a complete downloadable PDF version of the entire CCNA cheat sheet series? Or perhaps an email capture page to grow your blog audience using these tutorials? Let me know—I can help with both.