Explore Cisco IOS XE Automation at Cisco Live EMEA 2025

Cisco IOS XE offers advanced programmability and automation capabilities that simplify network management and reduce complexity. By utilizing open standards-based APIs such as NETCONF, RESTCONF, and gNMI, network administrators can efficiently provision and configure devices, minimizing manual errors. The integration of Zero Touch Provisioning with DevOps toolkits accelerates device onboarding, while model-driven telemetry provides real-time data collection for enhanced monitoring and troubleshooting. Cisco’s automation solutions are extensible across the entire device lifecycle, supporting seamless software upgrades and patching. These features allow our customers to drive business outcome and be at the cutting edge of network automation, enabling faster, more secure, and efficient network operations.

Ready to dive deeper into Cisco IOS-XE programmability, automation and telemetry? Join us at Cisco Live EMEA in Amsterdam February 9 – 14, 2025!

These sessions cover topics ranging from getting started with Cisco IOS XE programmability and automation, tooling with YANG Suite and Terraform, and topics ranging from Secure Zero Touch Provisioning to Streaming Telemetry to Atomic Configuration Replace. See the details of the upcoming Cisco Live sessions below:

Breakout Sessions

Secure Zero Touch Provisioning (SZTP) with Cisco Catalyst Switches [DEVNET-1249]

Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) allows us to automate the deployment Cisco IOS XE and Catalyst platforms on enterprise and campus networks using the embedded CentOS “GuestShell” Linux Container and the Python and NETCONF API’s to completely onboard, configure and manage network devices. This session details the ZTP and Guest Shell features and explores some common basic and advanced use cases. With the newest release of Cisco IOS XE, we now support Secure ZTP. This feature includes an explanation of the key components including conveyed information, the ownership certificate, and the ownership voucher. The setup configuration for Secure ZTP will be covered in this session.

Atomic Config Replace with Cisco Catalyst 9000 [DEVNET-2385]

Atomic Configuration and atomic config replace is becoming more and more requested, and this session dives deep into the newly introduced features within IOS XE and the Catalyst 9000 family. Being able to manage configuration in an atomic fashion allows teams to more effectively manage the change and network configuration drift. Using CLI or API the atomic config replace features will be demonstrated so that you can immediately benefit from leveraging either partial config or complete config replace. Easily replace ACL, policies, or interface configurations, or supply a complete config and that config will be set regardless of existing configuration.

Ready to get hands-on? Fill out this form to stay in the loop about Atomic Configuration Replace Updates and get hands-on the ACR feature in our Early Field Trials: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Yq_hWgWVl0CmmsFVPveEDl-qhyOMAopIt0ITbss2ZKVUMFJQV01KSUlZRUk4S0VOWjg5TDM4TjdDVS4u&origin=QRCode

Hands-on Labs

NetDevOps 3,2,1, Action! Reduce the Attack Surface of IOS XE with Ansible [DEVWKS-2008]

Did you hear we need to secure the network?

Are auditors looking over your shoulder?

How about solving these issues with Ansible automation?

If you are still storing your Ansible inventory passwords in text files or want a deeper understanding of securing IOS XE, this session is for you.

In this session, you will learn how to securely use Ansible to enable AAA, configure strong SSH cipher suites, deploy MACsec, and enable other security features based on best practices. These best practices will help you meet compliance requirements including CMMC, NIST, and others.

NOTE:

DevNet Workshop seating procedure is as follows: pre-registered attendees are seated first, waitlist and non-registered attendees are seated in order of check-in if a seat becomes available. This is a hands-on DevNet Workshop where you code along with an instructor and only 16 laptops are available for this workshop. Sound in Workshops is broadcast to wireless headphones worn by the participants. Noise cancelling headphones will be provided at each seat in this workshop.

By attending this DevNet Workshop, you will be eligible to earn Cisco Continuing Education (CE) Credits. Find details at: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/training/continuing-education-program.html#~qualifying-options

Skills, Lightning Talks & Cisco U

Configure IOS XE Using the CLI [DEVSKL-1110]

This session will cover manual CLI configuration for Cisco Catalyst devices. This session is paired with SKILLS-1111 immediately following. It is recommended that you register for both sessions, but this is not required.

Configure IOS XE Using Automation [DEVSKL-1111]

This session will cover automating the process to Cisco Catalyst devices. This session is paired with SKILLS-1110 immediately before this session. It is recommended that you register for both session, but this is not required.

Automate Cisco IOS XE Device Configuration Using Terraform [DEVLIT-2083]

Terraform is a cloud-native infrastructure provisioning tool with zero server-side dependencies and a single binary file. Terraform for Cisco IOS XE utilizes RESTCONF and the YANG interface. It is comparable to Ansible tooling, and the two can be used together.

Getting Started with Secure Zero Touch Provisioning [DEVLIT-2062]

Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) allows us to automate the deployment Cisco IOS XE and Catalyst platforms on enterprise and campus networks using the embedded CentOS “GuestShell” Linux Container and the Python and NETCONF API’s to completely onboard, configure and manage network devices. This session details the ZTP and Guest Shell features and explores some common basic and advanced use cases. With the newest release of Cisco IOS XE, we now support Secure ZTP. This feature, including an explanation of the key components, including conveyed information, the ownership certificate, and the ownership voucher.

Maximizing Cisco IOS XE Efficiency with YANG Suite [CISCOU-1043]

Working more efficiently and effectively with Cisco Catalyst IOS XE starts with using programmability and automation to reduce troubleshooting time. Instead of wasting time troubleshooting, let’s work on solving the difficult problems! In this session, we will explore the capabilities of YANG-based APIs through the free and publicly available tooling YANG Suite. This tool will help enable our devices to be configured with ease at scale. We will answer questions such as: how can I find the equivalent YANG Model for the CLI I use today? We will also build payloads to configure devices programmatically and generate Python Scripts and Ansible Playbooks to repeat those configurations at a larger scale.

Stay Connected

Browse the full session catalog and register for Cisco Live APJC 2025 here. Looking forward to seeing you at Cisco Live Amsterdam!

No matter where you are on your programmability and automation journey there is always new and exciting content to help you to dive even deeper while learning about new technologies and capabilities for the enterprise network.

Not able to attend Cisco Live this time? No worries! Check out Cisco IOS XE programmability sessions from the previous Cisco Live Events:

2024 – Melbourne

2024 – Las Vegas

2024 – Amsterdam

Share: