Cisco Devnet Associate
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@SRR I have both my DevNet Associate and Professional Certs so thought I'd throw in my 2 cents :)
For the DevNet Associate you need a basic level of network knowledge - I'd absolutely run through the CCNA course as @Ronnie-Wong suggested. If you have no experience in networking at all, you might want to run through Network+ first, but definitely do take a look at the CCNA material - it's a Cisco exam so be sure you've studied things the "Cisco way" through CCNA. No need to take the certification mind, just be familiar with the material. While many of the questions are not "networking questions" per se, the context of the question is almost always going to be network based (hope that makes sense!)
As far as Python goes, you certainly don't need to be an expert, but you should spend some time labbing - sign up for Cisco DevNet and you can access everything you need for free. I'm not sure if the ITProTV practice labs are set up for programmability (@Ronnie-Wong will know) - but for the DevNet associate, you only really need IOS XE running on CSR, loads of different ways to get access to that (and if that sounds like gibberish to you at the moment, don't worry, it will make sense once you've watched the course!).
The code questions on the exam (disclaimer - took mine in 2020) do not require you to write code from scratch, but rather to drag and drop the correct piece of code into a script. Therefore, understand how python works, what order things should go in and have a working knowledge of the kinds of API calls you might be making to a router. You do not, however need to memorise syntax as you won't need to type anything out from memory.
Do also get familiar with looking at API documentation (again, look at the DevNet sandbox to access all of this) many of the questions on the exam will give you documentation to help you!
Final thought, do not attempt the professional level exam without a solid understanding of python, data structures and the Cisco API's listed on the blueprint - and I would suggest getting your CCNA before trying this one. It's very much harder than the associate - not unfair mind you, just harder!
Edit: Just wanted to add a couple of links for you, these two should cover enough phython, plus some lab time :)
https://app.itpro.tv/course/introductionprogramming-using-python/overview-98381
https://app.itpro.tv/course/handson-pythonnetworking-professionals/overview-python-networking -
Thank you guys
I think I maybe should try to study for the CCNA certification first to get a good foundation in networking. It seems to be the best certification to take here in Norway anyway. Almost everyone at work has a masters degree, but gives the Python stuff to me, making simple tools for in house use. A long time ago I learned Java and dabble with Python at home so that's why I am so interested and the Cisco certs seems to be the most recognized here in addition to the MS cloud ones. I am an old man at fifty working at the support desk and are getting a little bored. First and second line for a company working with welfare technology. Cisco might get me a better job.
