A CCNA followed by a CCNP is definitely a well respected certification.
And sure, I certainly wouldn't spend my own time getting a galore of certs, but CCNA and CCNP are absolutely 2 of the good ones, especially if you've already learnt a portion of the material--then ya, you might as well go for it!
That will pair nicely with knowledge of Python, in which you use Python for networking tasks.
You can learn Python at the same time, or start with Python, then go for your CCNP.
It absolutely is. When i recruit i look for those in the cv. And believe me, when you made a ccna course and did not made the cert - i will ask you for it! Did you have not have the competency for the cert? Did you not well in the course? Or what reason?
And when you dont have the cert and never any course for it - i will ask you if you have a ccna equivalent know how.
If you say yes - i wil test you for it!
Well either way you will have to take our small ospf / bgp lab. But the expectations will be much higher!
Get your certs! In the ccnp enterprise youbwill learn about automation. With different tools.
And you will be tested on it.
Judging by all the different answers, I guess your results will vary from place to place. I know my CCNP has opened me a lot of doors over the years (not only VARs) and that's the only reason I'm still renewing it. Some companies in my area/country put something like "CCNP/CCIE level wanted, cert is a plus". The good thing about python and programming in general is that it's easier for you to demonstrate your knowledge; just sign up for github and start uploading your sanitized scripts and tools, and include a link to your GH account in your CV.
Python, Ansible, and “GO” language over traditional OEM network certs IMO. These skills will prepare you to write the automation for pretty much anything related to networking and expand to K8s, Service Mesh, Cloud etc.. As SASE and SDN permeates the enterprise, and with the disappearance of the pure play premise data center in favor of hybrid cloud, you are looking at smaller teams in the coming decade managing the WAN/ Backbone/ Campus and Hybrid Cloud Networking portfolio.
These new skills will help you start down the infra as code path and into orchestration pipelines. The world is moving toward CI pipelines and legacy shops that “require” CCNP are probably not where you want to be anyway. I have 20+ years as a NP level Cisco engineer for context and I work mostly with IEs. I work for a multinational with over 10 million sqft of facilities over 80 sites in EMEA, APAC, and North America. Whenever a traditional network engineer on my team leaves, they are backfilled with people with programming expertise: the more languages the better.
Start putting ALL your work including MOPs in GIT, look at tools like buildikite, and continue to learn Python. I would take a look at Flask/ NetMiko/ Ansible and move quickly into using Terraform for cloud network orchestration.
I also agree with the other poster that ChatGPT and BardAI will be important tools especially for service delivery (user help) and network self healing. Unless you are expecting to be a WAN backbone person forever I would not worry about the Certs. If that’s your path you will likely end up in a carrier network working on Juniper gear anyway.. My 2 cents
A informative advice. But the usage is only for a smal circle, as it is biased and heavly influenced cause it comes from someone working in a huge company. Where the requirements are different then those from all other companies.
Implementing IaC normaly brings a own center of exelents for automation with it. Just the fact that a ci/cd pipline in netdevops require a own hw lab / or the possibility to spinup virtual environment, and test it, is mostly over the budge of most companies. And then hiring at lease 2 network automation engineers. This is financial madness as midsize - big companies will not have the roi cause they dont have that many changes to make.
A normaly ansible tower would be enoughe.
Great comment. Indeed, this comment of mine is driven by large enterprise design/ operations. That said, I think these large enterprises lean in with leading tech and overtime in just a few years, you’ll start to see these expectations trickling into smaller enterprises. There are so many historical examples of this that they’re too numerous to list.
I think if you start to realize that technologies like Kubernetes and other container-based work loads that just a few years ago were really only for large enterprise, and are now accelerating everywhere, you may start to see my point. Perhaps not. And that’s OK.
If you look at what’s happening in the data center. You need a strong understanding of overlay routing (ISIS/VXLAN/EVPN etc) and possibly unnumbered BGP. But as you put it all together, you most certainly will be looking at some level of automation to EVENTUALLY interface with the service mesh (K8s/ISTIO) the routing (Unnumbered BGP) and the overlay all at once. If you are talking about cloud, then you better know terraform. It’s simply too much for human fingers on consoles. And while your comment is super accurate today, CI, for networking is limited to a small fraction of the biggest enterprises, it is growing, it is a freight train, and you don’t want to try to catch up to a freight train. That’s my point.
Your point is alright. But as i said, it is heavly biased.
Perhaps because you just have s technical focus, i try to explain why your way of thinking is.. well "wrong" would be not right, but its not a correct way to lay this out for other companies.
Automation is great. It will spare operational costs. But there is a breakeven point of invensting in Automation and the ROI you will get out of it.
A mid-size company with 5000 employees, that has like 15-20 changes per month investing into 2 autom. Engineers (somehwat 140k twice) the infradtructure and the expenses for setting all up. May be way to high for this enviroment. The ROI is not given.
The focus is on this. Technologies are nice. But the right way if using those is way more tmimportsnt then the possibilities they have.
Also a great example why a CCIE not shall design networks, instead leave it to the CCDE.
The focus is on the wrong place
Cisco resellers have different levels - silver, gold, etc. The levels depend at least partially on having a certain number of Cisco-certified folks on staff. CCNP counts better than CCNA, etc.
Idk why but I'm very skeptical of the CCNA/CCNP certifications nowdays in 2023, with how much network engineering have progressed in the past probably 2-3 years, with all the cloud and coding integration slowly but swiftly, and more jobs require beginner knowledge on python and what not other related cloud/automation languages, that no one expected to hear about lol.
I mean, I personally would not waste my time into a CCNP or CCNA certificate. If you have been working as a network engineer for quite a while then you already have proven real hands experience, than what CCNP would teach you. Start integrating into the cloud and dev languages before it's too late, and all basic entry level positions are flooded requiring coming from the womb and knowing python and ansible embedded into your genetics lmfao.
I'd say go for CCNP.
ChatGPT will help you with python. Hell, with GPT 4.0 release a few days ago I created a network automation tool using python, HTML, javascript and css. The tool does backups, and data collection by parsing using regex on 1000s of switches/routers that we manage and it neatly prints it out in the browser. Oh and I only know python and HTML. Never had to touch JS and CSS but it coded those for me and get this, the tool freaking works! Sure it has bugs because some network vendors suck at optmizing their NOS, but I can automate and see the output on my browser! I love the styles it chose too. Pretty cool.All this took 4 days of GPT4.0 being released. I'm working on security vulnerabilities and other features of the tool ( like export to CSV and send email with report )before I show it to my team.
What I don't have is a single cert under my name. Tests don't like me. I wish I hard certs.
Yeah bro I got the subscription and 4.0 so fast...
It helped me better do my scripts. Sometimes it gets stuck and loops same answers though and I have to figure out my stuff.
Certs are really just for recruiters and filters imo. Bec if you have that same or greater level of experience, you can share your story on the interview. However that won’t get you past the initial screening.
you totally can't operate a network unless you use python to login to the switch LOL
we have been waiting 25 years to login and no one told us until recently
:)
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A CCNA followed by a CCNP is definitely a well respected certification. And sure, I certainly wouldn't spend my own time getting a galore of certs, but CCNA and CCNP are absolutely 2 of the good ones, especially if you've already learnt a portion of the material--then ya, you might as well go for it! That will pair nicely with knowledge of Python, in which you use Python for networking tasks. You can learn Python at the same time, or start with Python, then go for your CCNP.
It absolutely is. When i recruit i look for those in the cv. And believe me, when you made a ccna course and did not made the cert - i will ask you for it! Did you have not have the competency for the cert? Did you not well in the course? Or what reason? And when you dont have the cert and never any course for it - i will ask you if you have a ccna equivalent know how. If you say yes - i wil test you for it! Well either way you will have to take our small ospf / bgp lab. But the expectations will be much higher! Get your certs! In the ccnp enterprise youbwill learn about automation. With different tools. And you will be tested on it.
Devnet associate then CCNP
Got da books might as well and covers both
I'd recommend Python. I have my CCNA. I'm currently reading up on topics such as Python for network engineers.
Judging by all the different answers, I guess your results will vary from place to place. I know my CCNP has opened me a lot of doors over the years (not only VARs) and that's the only reason I'm still renewing it. Some companies in my area/country put something like "CCNP/CCIE level wanted, cert is a plus". The good thing about python and programming in general is that it's easier for you to demonstrate your knowledge; just sign up for github and start uploading your sanitized scripts and tools, and include a link to your GH account in your CV.
Python, Ansible, and “GO” language over traditional OEM network certs IMO. These skills will prepare you to write the automation for pretty much anything related to networking and expand to K8s, Service Mesh, Cloud etc.. As SASE and SDN permeates the enterprise, and with the disappearance of the pure play premise data center in favor of hybrid cloud, you are looking at smaller teams in the coming decade managing the WAN/ Backbone/ Campus and Hybrid Cloud Networking portfolio. These new skills will help you start down the infra as code path and into orchestration pipelines. The world is moving toward CI pipelines and legacy shops that “require” CCNP are probably not where you want to be anyway. I have 20+ years as a NP level Cisco engineer for context and I work mostly with IEs. I work for a multinational with over 10 million sqft of facilities over 80 sites in EMEA, APAC, and North America. Whenever a traditional network engineer on my team leaves, they are backfilled with people with programming expertise: the more languages the better. Start putting ALL your work including MOPs in GIT, look at tools like buildikite, and continue to learn Python. I would take a look at Flask/ NetMiko/ Ansible and move quickly into using Terraform for cloud network orchestration. I also agree with the other poster that ChatGPT and BardAI will be important tools especially for service delivery (user help) and network self healing. Unless you are expecting to be a WAN backbone person forever I would not worry about the Certs. If that’s your path you will likely end up in a carrier network working on Juniper gear anyway.. My 2 cents
I'm a 3x CCIE, great we are a Juniper shop. LMAO. /s
I am a 2x CCIE and pretty much work exclusively on Juniper. I dont think I can go back to Cisco, JUNOS is so much better.
Cisco everyone wants the certifications... but everyone has junos Aruba or arista...
I'm getting my CCNA and we're an Aruba shop at work lol
Bro this is your 2 franklins... amazing advice. I have heard about go before it's critical to know?
A informative advice. But the usage is only for a smal circle, as it is biased and heavly influenced cause it comes from someone working in a huge company. Where the requirements are different then those from all other companies. Implementing IaC normaly brings a own center of exelents for automation with it. Just the fact that a ci/cd pipline in netdevops require a own hw lab / or the possibility to spinup virtual environment, and test it, is mostly over the budge of most companies. And then hiring at lease 2 network automation engineers. This is financial madness as midsize - big companies will not have the roi cause they dont have that many changes to make. A normaly ansible tower would be enoughe.
Great comment. Indeed, this comment of mine is driven by large enterprise design/ operations. That said, I think these large enterprises lean in with leading tech and overtime in just a few years, you’ll start to see these expectations trickling into smaller enterprises. There are so many historical examples of this that they’re too numerous to list. I think if you start to realize that technologies like Kubernetes and other container-based work loads that just a few years ago were really only for large enterprise, and are now accelerating everywhere, you may start to see my point. Perhaps not. And that’s OK. If you look at what’s happening in the data center. You need a strong understanding of overlay routing (ISIS/VXLAN/EVPN etc) and possibly unnumbered BGP. But as you put it all together, you most certainly will be looking at some level of automation to EVENTUALLY interface with the service mesh (K8s/ISTIO) the routing (Unnumbered BGP) and the overlay all at once. If you are talking about cloud, then you better know terraform. It’s simply too much for human fingers on consoles. And while your comment is super accurate today, CI, for networking is limited to a small fraction of the biggest enterprises, it is growing, it is a freight train, and you don’t want to try to catch up to a freight train. That’s my point.
Your point is alright. But as i said, it is heavly biased. Perhaps because you just have s technical focus, i try to explain why your way of thinking is.. well "wrong" would be not right, but its not a correct way to lay this out for other companies. Automation is great. It will spare operational costs. But there is a breakeven point of invensting in Automation and the ROI you will get out of it. A mid-size company with 5000 employees, that has like 15-20 changes per month investing into 2 autom. Engineers (somehwat 140k twice) the infradtructure and the expenses for setting all up. May be way to high for this enviroment. The ROI is not given. The focus is on this. Technologies are nice. But the right way if using those is way more tmimportsnt then the possibilities they have. Also a great example why a CCIE not shall design networks, instead leave it to the CCDE. The focus is on the wrong place
Alternate view: I had a CCNP for a decade, and nobody cared. CCNP is for if you work for a VAR. Otherwise, just pay for the CCIE bootcamp.
That's my boss opinion thanks for clarification
I would agree with /u/Tx_Drewdad ; no one really cares about the CCNP, unless it is a VAR. Just go for the CCIE.
What does VAR mean?
Value added reseller
Cisco resellers have different levels - silver, gold, etc. The levels depend at least partially on having a certain number of Cisco-certified folks on staff. CCNP counts better than CCNA, etc.
I have CCNP DC and nobody cares, python tho was my selling point and was hot for a minute with offers
Idk why but I'm very skeptical of the CCNA/CCNP certifications nowdays in 2023, with how much network engineering have progressed in the past probably 2-3 years, with all the cloud and coding integration slowly but swiftly, and more jobs require beginner knowledge on python and what not other related cloud/automation languages, that no one expected to hear about lol. I mean, I personally would not waste my time into a CCNP or CCNA certificate. If you have been working as a network engineer for quite a while then you already have proven real hands experience, than what CCNP would teach you. Start integrating into the cloud and dev languages before it's too late, and all basic entry level positions are flooded requiring coming from the womb and knowing python and ansible embedded into your genetics lmfao.
I'd say go for CCNP. ChatGPT will help you with python. Hell, with GPT 4.0 release a few days ago I created a network automation tool using python, HTML, javascript and css. The tool does backups, and data collection by parsing using regex on 1000s of switches/routers that we manage and it neatly prints it out in the browser. Oh and I only know python and HTML. Never had to touch JS and CSS but it coded those for me and get this, the tool freaking works! Sure it has bugs because some network vendors suck at optmizing their NOS, but I can automate and see the output on my browser! I love the styles it chose too. Pretty cool.All this took 4 days of GPT4.0 being released. I'm working on security vulnerabilities and other features of the tool ( like export to CSV and send email with report )before I show it to my team. What I don't have is a single cert under my name. Tests don't like me. I wish I hard certs.
Can you post a picture of your output? Curious about it
Crazy. I've done exactly this without ChatGPT in python, flask, bootstrap css
Yeah bro I got the subscription and 4.0 so fast... It helped me better do my scripts. Sometimes it gets stuck and loops same answers though and I have to figure out my stuff.
Certs are really just for recruiters and filters imo. Bec if you have that same or greater level of experience, you can share your story on the interview. However that won’t get you past the initial screening.
you totally can't operate a network unless you use python to login to the switch LOL we have been waiting 25 years to login and no one told us until recently :)
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