Cisco NSO Essentials for Programmers and Network Architects (NSO201)

The course also introduces advanced capabilities such as Python-based service logic, northbound APIs, alarms, reporting, scalability tuning, and VNF management. Extensive hands-on labs reinforce each concept by guiding students through real-world workflows, including building template-based services, automating device onboarding, creating L3VPN services, integrating Python scripts, and using RESTCONF APIs. By the end of the course, learners are prepared to design and operate robust, automated network services using Cisco NSO.

How you'll benefit
This course will help you:

• Learn to install Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO)
• Practice configuring devices with NSO
• Practice designing and managing services with YANG models
• Gain confidence with NSO configuration

Objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Explain transactional service activation and how it relates to business requirements
• Explain the benefits and uses of Cisco NSO
• Explain how Cisco NSO communicates with network devices
• Understand the NETCONF protocol and be able to read and write simple YANG models
• Install NSO and describe how NSO uses NETCONF and the Device Manager component
• Understand the difference between devices that are fully NETCONF capable and those that are less or not NETCONF capable
• Explain the YANG service model structure
• Describe how YANG is used with NSO, create and deploy a service, and explain NSO FASTMAP
• Design and manage services with YANG models
• Perform NSO configuration and basic troubleshooting, and describe the following NSO features: integration options, alarms and reporting, scalability and performance options, and available function packs
• Use logs to troubleshoot the Cisco NSO deployment and check NSO communication with network devices
• Explain the mapping logic of service parameters to device models and consequently to device configurations
• Describe the use of different integration options and APIs
• Explain the use of Reactive FASTMAP for manipulating and implementing advanced Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) components
• Describe the use of feature components and function packs
• Define and explain the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Open Source NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO) principles and solution
• Work with the alarm console, and understand the NSO alarm structure and how it conforms to modern network operations procedures

Prerequisites

We require the following knowledge and skills before taking this course:

• Basic knowledge of the Cisco Command-Line Interface (CLI) or the CLI of UNIX-like operating systems
• Working knowledge of UNIX-based operating systems and basic tasks
• Basic knowledge of programming constructs and YANG data modeling
• Basic knowledge of Python programming
• Basic knowledge of the NETCONF communication protocol
• Knowledge of XML data structures and schemas
• Basic management of network components (routers, switches, etc.)

The following Cisco courses can help you gain the necessary background:

• Programming for Network Engineers (PRNE)
• Designing and Implementing Cisco Network Programmability (NPDESI), especially modules 1 and 3