Cisco Certified DevNet Associate (200-901 DEVASC) Practice Exam

The Cisco Certified DevNet Associate (200-901 DEVASC) certification validates your understanding of fundamental network automation principles and your ability to apply them using Cisco DevNet tools and technologies. Earning this credential demonstrates your proficiency in integrating automation into network management tasks, making you a valuable asset in today's increasingly automated networking environments.

Who Should Take This Exam?

This Cisco DevNet Associate certification is ideal for IT professionals, including:

• Network Administrators: Seeking to automate routine network management tasks and improve operational efficiency.
• Network Engineers: Looking to integrate programmability and automation into network design and implementation.
• DevOps Professionals: Expanding their skillset to encompass network automation and collaboration with network engineers.
• Anyone New to Network Automation: Individuals interested in gaining foundational knowledge and practical skills in automating network workflows.

Are There Prerequisites?

There are no formal prerequisites for taking the Cisco DevNet Associate (200-901 DEVASC) exam. However, a basic understanding of networking concepts and some experience with scripting languages like Python would be beneficial.

Roles and Responsibilities

With a Cisco DevNet Associate certification, you might qualify for roles such as:

• Network Automation Engineer: Developing and implementing network automation solutions using Cisco DevNet tools and APIs.
• DevOps Engineer (Network Focus): Automating network configurations and deployments as part of a DevOps pipeline.
• Network Analyst (Automation Focus): Analyzing network data and automating tasks to streamline network operations.
• IT Professional Transitioning to Network Automation: Demonstrating your foundational knowledge and commitment to this growing field.

Exam Pattern 

• Exam Name: DevNet Associate
• Exam Code: DEVASC 200-901
• Length of Time:  120 Minutes
• Registration Fee: $300 USD
• Exam Language English

Course Structure

Developing Applications and Automating Workflows using Cisco Core Platforms (200-901 DEVASC) covers the following topics - 

1. Software Development and Design 15%

• 1.1 Compare data formats (XML, JSON, and YAML)
• 1.2 Describe parsing of common data format (XML, JSON, and YAML) to Python data structures
• 1.3 Describe the concepts of test-driven development
• 1.4 Compare software development methods (agile, lean, and waterfall)
• 1.5 Explain the benefits of organizing code into methods/functions, classes, and modules
• 1.6 Identify the advantages of common design patterns (MVC and Observer)
• 1.7 Explain the advantages of version control
• 1.8 Utilize common version control operations with Git

2. Understanding and Using APIs 20%

• 2.1 Construct a REST API request to accomplish a task given API documentation
• 2.2 Describe common usage patterns related to webhooks
• 2.3 Identify the constraints when consuming APIs
• 2.4 Explain common HTTP response codes associated with REST APIs
• 2.5 Troubleshoot a problem given the HTTP response code, request and API documentation
• 2.6 Identify the parts of an HTTP response (response code, headers, body)
• 2.7 Utilize common API authentication mechanisms: basic, custom token, and API keys
• 2.8 Compare common API styles (REST, RPC, synchronous, and asynchronous)
• 2.9 Construct a Python script that calls a REST API using the requests library

3. Cisco Platforms and Development 15%

• 3.1 Construct a Python script that uses a Cisco SDK given SDK documentation
• 3.2 Describe the capabilities of Cisco network management platforms and APIs (Meraki, Cisco DNA Center, ACI, Cisco SD-WAN, and NSO)
• 3.3 Describe the capabilities of Cisco compute management platforms and APIs (UCS Manager, UCS Director, and Intersight)
• 3.4 Describe the capabilities of Cisco collaboration platforms and APIs (Webex Teams, Webex devices, Cisco Unified Communication Manager including AXL and UDS interfaces, and Finesse)
• 3.5 Describe the capabilities of Cisco security platforms and APIs (Firepower, Umbrella, AMP, ISE, and ThreatGrid)
• 3.6 Describe the device level APIs and dynamic interfaces for IOS XE and NX-OS
• 3.7 Identify the appropriate DevNet resource for a given scenario (Sandbox, Code Exchange, support, forums, Learning Labs, and API documentation)
• 3.8 Apply concepts of model-driven programmability (YANG, RESTCONF, and NETCONF) in a Cisco environment
• 3.9 Construct code to perform a specific operation based on a set of requirements and given API reference documentation.

4. Application Deployment and Security 15%

• 4.1 Describe the benefits of edge computing
• 4.2 Identify attributes of different application deployment models (private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, and edge)
• 4.3 Identify the attributes of these application deployment types
• 4.4 Describe components for a CI/CD pipeline in application deployments
• 4.5 Construct a Python unit test
• 4.6 Interpret contents of a Dockerfile
• 4.7 Utilize Docker images in a local developer environment
• 4.8 Identify application security issues related to secret protection, encryption (storage and transport), and data handling
• 4.9 Explain how firewall, DNS, load balancers, and reverse proxy in application deployment
• 4.10 Describe top OWASP threats (such as XSS, SQL injections, and CSRF)
• 4.11 Utilize Bash commands (file management, directory navigation, and environmental variables)
• 4.12 Identify the principles of DevOps practices

5. Infrastructure and Automation 20%

• 5.1 Describe the value of model-driven programmability for infrastructure automation
• 5.2 Compare controller-level to device-level management
• 5.3 Describe the use and roles of network simulation and test tools (such as VIRL and pyATS)
• 5.4 Describe the components and benefits of CI/CD pipeline in infrastructure automation
• 5.5 Describe principles of infrastructure as code
• 5.6 Describe the capabilities of automation tools such as Ansible, Puppet, Chef, and Cisco NSO
• 5.7 Identify the workflow being automated by a Python script that uses Cisco APIs including ACI, Meraki, Cisco DNA Center, or RESTCONF
• 5.8 Identify the workflow being automated by an Ansible playbook (management packages, user management related to services, basic service configuration, and start/stop)
• 5.9 Identify the workflow being automated by a bash script (such as file management, app install, user management, directory navigation)
• 5.10 Interpret the results of a RESTCONF or NETCONF query
• 5.11 Interpret basic YANG models
• 5.12 Interpret a unified diff
• 5.13 Describe the principles and benefits of a code review process
• 5.14 Interpret sequence diagram that includes API calls

6. Network Fundamentals 15%

• 6.1 Describe the purpose and usage of MAC addresses and VLANs
• 6.2 Describe the purpose and usage of IP addresses, routes, subnet mask/prefix, and gateways
• 6.3 Describe the function of common networking components (such as switches, routers, firewalls, and load balancers)
• 6.4 Interpret a basic network topology diagram with elements such as switches, routers, firewalls, load balancers, and port values
• 6.5 Describe the function of management, data, and control planes in a network device
• 6.6 Describe the functionality of these IP Services: DHCP, DNS, NAT, SNMP, NTP
• 6.7 Recognize common protocol port values (such as, SSH, Telnet, HTTP, HTTPS, and NETCONF)
• 6.8 Identify cause of application connectivity issues (NAT problem, Transport Port blocked, proxy, and VPN)
• 6.9 Explain the impacts of network constraints on applications