The practical work uses a widely adopted open-source platform as the source of truth, with standard templating tooling. The methods taught (modelling, templating, programmatic change) transfer to any source-of-truth platform; the specific tools are confirmed in your joining instructions.
Foundation · 1 day · Central London · in person only
Network Automation Fundamentals
A practical one-day introduction to automating network configuration from a single source of truth.
£1,500 ex VAT per delegate
01The course
This one-day course is a hands-on introduction to network automation for engineers who run and support networks but have not yet automated them. It sets out what network automation actually is, where it delivers value and, just as importantly, where it commonly goes wrong, so you leave with realistic expectations rather than a wish list.
The day is built around a single idea: hold your network's intended state in one authoritative place and drive configuration from it. You will model a small network in a source-of-truth system, then generate device configurations from it and update its data programmatically. The emphasis is on repeatable, low-risk workflows you can take back to your own environment.
The templating and scripting exercises are fully guided: you work from prepared, working templates and scripts and adapt them step by step, so no prior programming experience is needed to complete them. The day deliberately stops short of pushing configuration to live devices; deployment and change pipelines are the subject of Network Automation Advanced.
This is a professional training course sold to businesses only. It is taught in person by a practising network automation engineer, with lab exercises throughout the day.
Travel and any accommodation are your own responsibility to arrange and pay for. Please do not book travel before the confirmation date for your chosen course date; Rockwey is not liable for travel, accommodation or any other costs.
02Outcomes
What you will be able to do
- Explain what network automation is, the problems it solves, and the situations where it adds risk rather than removing it.
- Model a network in a source-of-truth system: sites, racks, devices, interfaces, IP address management and cabling.
- Maintain a source of truth that describes the intended state of the network.
- Generate device configurations from structured data using templates.
- Read and write data through the source of truth's API, working from prepared scripts.
- Explain idempotency and use dry runs to preview changes before they are committed.
03Prerequisites
- A solid grasp of core networking: IP addressing and subnetting, VLANs and routing basics.
- No prior automation or programming experience is required; the scripting exercises are guided and worked from prepared scripts.
- Basic comfort at the command line is helpful but not essential.
04Agenda
- What network automation is, what it is good for, and its common failure modes.
- Introducing the source-of-truth model and the platform used on the course.
- Modelling a network: sites, racks, devices and interfaces.
- IP address management and cabling in the source of truth.
- Generating device configurations from structured data using templates.
- Reading and writing data through the API, with prepared scripts.
- Idempotency and dry runs: previewing generated configuration and data changes before committing them.
- Where to go next: introducing these ideas in your own environment, and the REST API practice to complete before attending Network Automation Advanced.
05Equipment
Bring your own equipment
Delegates bring their own laptop, as Rockwey does not provide equipment. It needs to meet these requirements:
- A laptop with a modern web browser on its current version (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari).
- All labs run remotely, so nothing needs installing beyond an SSH client. One is built into macOS and Linux; on Windows, install Windows Terminal or PuTTY before arriving.
- If you cannot install software, a terminal in the browser over port 443 works instead, provided the connectivity check passes.
- The ability to join a guest wireless network. A corporate VPN must not be forced on the connection, as it commonly blocks lab access.
- Outbound network access on ports 22 (SSH) and 443 (HTTPS).
Run the connectivity check as soon as your place is booked, so we can resolve any issues before you arrive.
06Dates & booking
Dates, venue and availability
Venue: confirmed with each course date, central London. A vegetarian lunch, teas, coffees and soft drinks are included in the price. No dinner is provided.
Each course day runs 09:30 to 17:00, with registration and coffee from 09:00.
Courses run with 10 to 14 delegates. If fewer than 10 places are booked, we will cancel that date. We confirm or cancel each course on its confirmation date, 10 working days before the start, so you have a firm answer before you book travel. Bookings close three working days before the course starts. We cannot accept bookings after that point.
Booked delegates receive joining instructions (venue address, daily timings, building access and a phone number for the day) no later than five working days before the course.
Next course: October 2026, central London. The exact date will be published by 1 September. Register interest below and we will let you know as soon as it is published.
No date is open for booking yet. Register your interest and we will email you as soon as the date is published. This is an enquiry, not a booking, and it commits neither of us to anything. We reply within two working days.
We sell our courses to businesses rather than individuals. To book, we'll need your organisation's legal name and its company or tax registration number. You do not need a UK VAT number.
Payment is by bank transfer in pounds sterling. UK customers can pay by BACS; international customers can use the IBAN and SWIFT details on the invoice. We accept purchase orders but not card payments. Your place is confirmed once payment clears.
Delegates who attend the full course receive a Rockwey certificate of completion. It is not a vendor certification or a professional accreditation.
Full terms and conditions.
Rockwey is an independent training provider. Our courses are vendor-neutral and are not sponsored, accredited or endorsed by any technology vendor. Any trademarks shown in course materials remain the property of their respective owners.