Arista Automation increases proficiency both conceptually and operationally for the deployment, operation, and management of various Arista EOS based networks using several tools such as CloudVision, Python with EOS APIs and the open-source Arista AVD (Architect, Validate, Deploy). Arista AVD uses Arista best practices to generate configurations for various types of environments and topologies, including Layer 2 Leaf/Spine, Layer 3 Leaf/Spine with EVPN/VXLAN, and MPLS. Candidates will learn how to build data models, deploy configurations through Arista CloudVision, and perform post-deployment validations using the AVD validation tools.
Arista Certified Engineer Specialist – Automation Foundations
Instructor-Led Classroom, Virtual Instructor-Led
5 Days
AVAILABLE SESSIONS
Arista Certified Engineer Specialist - Automation Foundations
$ .00 USD
COURSE OVERVIEW
Arista Automation increases proficiency both conceptually and operationally for the deployment, operation, and management of various Arista EOS based networks using several tools such as CloudVision, Python with EOS APIs and the open-source Arista AVD (Architect, Validate, Deploy). Arista AVD uses Arista best practices to generate configurations for various types of environments and topologies, including Layer 2 Leaf/Spine, Layer 3 Leaf/Spine with EVPN/VXLAN, and MPLS. Candidates will learn how to build data models, deploy configurations through Arista CloudVision, and perform post-deployment validations using the AVD validation tools.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Learn basics of automation using CloudVision, Ansible and Python
Automating EOS and CloudVision with Ansible and AVD
Automate through various methods such as Python & EOS APIs, AVD with GitHub, and PyAVD (AVD with Python)
Integrate Arista's CloudVision to automate and orchestrate network operations
Course Outline
Automation & NetOps foundations
Network automation foundations
- Introduction to network automation
- Approaches to network automation
- History of network automation
Core principles of network automation
- Software development and network automation
- Network automation concepts and practices
Automation tools
- Automation tools and data formats
- Programmability IDEs overview
VS Code development environment
- Introduction to Visual Studio Code
- VS Code themes, fonts and icons
- Customizing VS Code layout
- VS Code extensions
- VS Code debugger
- Reviewing VS Code
- LAB – Explore VS Code IDE
Git version control
- Understanding Git version control
- Git demo
- GitHub demo
- LAB – Working with Git
- LAB – Collaborate using GitHub
Python fundamentals
- Why Python matters for network automation
- Understanding Python variables
- Advanced Python concepts
- Working with Python variables, lists and dictionaries
- Introduction to Python and eAPI
- Getting information from EOS devices
- Parsing CLI output with Python
- Parsing JSON with Python
- LAB – Python fundamentals
- LAB – Understanding structured data
Understanding APIs
- APIs in network automation
- The history of HTTP and its role in networking
- Understanding HTTP messages
- HTTP authentication
Securing APIs with PKI
- TLS and SSL overview
- TLS certificates and trust chains
- Why use certificates in network automation
- Creating and installing TLS certificates
- Client TLS certificates for API authentication
Using REST API clients
- Introduction to EchoAPI
- REST API client requests and responses
- HTTP Auth with REST API client
- Organizing requests in REST API clients
- REST API client scripts
- LAB – Using REST API clients
Ansible fundamentals
- Introduction to Ansible
- Ansible use cases
- Understanding Ansible files
- Working with Ansible variables
- Ansible variables demo
- Using Ansible debug
- Ansible debug demo
- LAB – Ansible fundamentals
CloudVision fundamentals
CloudVision overview
- Introduction to CloudVision
- CloudVision deployment
- CloudVision and device communication
CloudVision high availability
- CloudVision cluster redundancy
- CloudVision dual cluster deployment
- CloudVision backups
CloudVision portal setup and operations
- CloudVision multi-node OVA installation demo
- Upgrading CloudVision demo
- CloudVision backup and restore demo
- Getting familiar with CloudVision interface demo
- LAB – Navigating CloudVision
CloudVision network provisioning
- CloudVision device management overview
- Legacy provisioning overview and demo
- MLAG configuration demo
- CloudVision snapshots
- LAB – Configlets
- LAB – Snapshots
REST APIs
REST API fundamentals
- Introducing RESTful APIs
- RESTful API constraints
- REST vs. SOAP
- REST tools overview
- REST APIs summary
REST API requests and responses
- Introducing REST API requests and responses
- Request and response
- HTTP request method
- HTTP response codes
- HTTP headers
- Requests and responses summary
Parameters and payloads for REST APIs
- Introduction to HTTP parameters and payloads
- HTTP Query strings
- HTTP payloads
- Query strings and payloads in action
- Parameters and payloads summary
Authentication with HTTP and REST
- Introduction to REST authentication
- Base64 encoding vs encryption
- HTTP basic authentication
- API key authentication
- Token Authentication
- HTTP authentication summary
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q1. Does an Arista training course include individual lab access, and can I still access the labs after the training?
Yes. Each course includes up to 60 hours of hands-on lab access, designed for real-world configuration and troubleshooting using Arista EOS. Lab access remains valid for up to one (1) year after the training to support continued practice and review.
Q2.Do Arista training courses align directly with specific ACE certification tracks?
Yes. Arista training courses are mapped to specific ACE certification tracks (such as Data Center, Campus, Routing, and Automation) and are designed to prepare learners for the corresponding ACE certification exams.
Q3. Is prior hands-on experience with Arista EOS required before attending the course?
No. The course is hands-on and lab-driven, teaching foundational networking concepts using Arista EOS. Participants gain practical experience through labs that cover switching fundamentals and leaf–spine architecture, even without prior EOS experience.
Q4. I am planning to obtain the ACE Data Center Professional certification. Which training course should I take?
To earn ACE Data Center Professional, you must pass two separate Specialist exams: Operations and Engineering. Correspondingly, Arista provides two separate training courses, each aligned to prepare you for the respective Operations and Engineering exams within the Data Center track.
Q5. Is basic networking knowledge required to attend the ACE Foundation training course?
No. The ACE Foundation course covers foundational and basic networking concepts, making it suitable for learners who are new to networking or new to Arista technologies.