If you have been studying for the CCNA 200-301, you have probably muttered this sentence while staring at a block of JSON code:
“I signed up to be a Network Engineer, not a Developer.”
For decades, the path to a networking career was clear: master the Command Line Interface (CLI), learn your subnetting, and memorize administrative distances. But when Cisco updated the CCNA to version 200-301, they threw a curveball. Suddenly, about 10% of the exam was dedicated to Automation and Programmability.
For many “traditional” infrastructure pros, seeing Python scripts and REST APIs on a networking exam feels intimidating. But here is the good news: You do not need to become a software developer to pass the CCNA.
Here is the reality of what the exam demands, and why mastering these concepts will actually make your job easier.
The Reality Check: What Do You Actually Need to Know?
Take a deep breath. Cisco does not expect you to write complex applications from scratch during the exam. They are not testing your ability to code; they are testing your ability to read and understand data structures.
For the CCNA 200-301, your focus should be on three main pillars:
- Interpreting JSON: Can you look at a block of code and identify the keys and values?
- Understanding APIs: Do you know what a REST API is and how it uses HTTP verbs (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)?
- SDN Architecture: Do you understand the difference between the Control Plane and the Data Plane?
The “Scary” Code: It’s Just Organized Data
The biggest source of anxiety is usually JSON (JavaScript Object Notation). It looks like code, but it is really just a way to format information so machines can read it easily.
Think of it this way:
- CLI is designed for humans to read.
- JSON is designed for computers to read.
Example: A Standard Interface
If you type show ip interface brief in the CLI, you get a text table. If you ask a machine for that same info, it looks like this:
{
"interface": {
"name": "GigabitEthernet0/1",
"description": "Uplink to Core",
"enabled": true,
"ipv4": {
"address": "192.168.10.1",
"mask": "255.255.255.0"
}
}
}
If you look closely, you can read that just as easily as the CLI output. The CCNA just wants to ensure you know that "address" is the key and "192.168.10.1" is the value. That’s it.
Why This Matters for Your Career
Why did Cisco force this into the curriculum? Scale.
In the old days, if you needed to update the VLAN configuration on 5 switches, you SSH’d into 5 switches. It took 20 minutes. Today, if you work in a data center with 500 switches, SSHing into them individually takes a week.
Automation tools (like Ansible, Puppet, and Chef) allow you to push that configuration to all 500 switches instantly using the concepts you learn in this exam.
- Traditional Networking: “I configure boxes one by one.”
- Modern Networking: “I write a script that configures the boxes for me.”
How to Practice (Without Spending Money)
You don’t need to build a massive lab to practice automation.
- Cisco DevNet Sandbox: Cisco offers free, reserved labs where you can mess around with APIs and controllers without breaking anything.
- Postman: Download this free tool. It allows you to send “GET” requests to websites and see the data that comes back. It’s a great way to visualize how APIs work.
Summary
Don’t let the “Automation” domain scare you away from your certification. You are still a Network Engineer. You are just upgrading your toolkit. The CLI isn’t going away, but adding automation knowledge to your resume is what separates a Junior Admin from a Network Architect.
