How I Practiced Cisco Network Automation for the 350-401 ENCOR Exam Using Python and REST APIs

Source: Dev.to

When I first started preparing for the 350-401 ENCOR exam, network automation was the topic I kept pushing to the side.

• Routing? Fine.
• Switching? Comfortable.
• Automation, APIs, controllers? That felt like someone else’s job.

But the more I looked at the ENCOR blueprint, the clearer it became: Cisco network automation isn’t optional anymore. If you ignore it, you’re leaving points on the table. This post is about how I approached Cisco network automation for ENCOR, what actually mattered, and how I practiced it without trying to become a software developer.

Why Cisco Network Automation Felt Intimidating at First

Like many ENCOR candidates, my background was mostly CLI‑based. I was used to:

• SSH into a device
• Configure it manually
• Verify with show commands

Automation flipped that model completely.

Instead of me talking to devices, now:

• Software talks to controllers
• Controllers talk to devices
• Data comes back as JSON

Once I accepted that ENCOR isn’t testing advanced coding, things became much easier.

What ENCOR Actually Expects You to Know About Automation

One of the biggest mindset shifts I had was realizing this: ENCOR tests understanding, not scripting mastery.

From what I’ve seen (and practiced), Cisco network automation questions usually focus on:

• Why automation is used in enterprise networks
• How controllers manage devices
• What REST APIs do
• How data is exchanged (JSON, XML)
• When to use NETCONF vs RESTCONF
• Basic Python use cases for networking

You’re not expected to write long scripts from memory; you’re expected to recognize workflows and outcomes.

My First Real “Aha” Moment with REST APIs

Everything started clicking when I stopped treating APIs as something abstract and just looked at a simple example. A REST API is basically:

• A structured way to ask a network system for information
• Or tell it to change something
• Using HTTP methods

Here’s a basic Python example I used just to understand the flow:

import requests

url = "https://sandbox-api.example.com/api/v1/devices"
username = "admin"
password = "password"

response = requests.get(
    url,
    auth=(username, password),
    headers={"Accept": "application/json"},
    verify=False
)

if response.status_code == 200:
    devices = response.json()
    for device in devices:
        print(device["hostname"], device["managementIpAddress"])
else:
    print("API request failed")

What mattered to me wasn’t the syntax; it was understanding:

• Python is making an HTTP request
• The API returns JSON
• Automation replaces repetitive manual tasks

That’s exactly the level ENCOR expects.

How Automation Questions Show Up in the ENCOR Exam

ENCOR automation questions are usually scenario‑based, and recognizing what Cisco is really asking takes practice. Going through Cisco 350-401 ENCOR exam questions and answers on the CertBoosters website helped me get comfortable identifying the correct approach rather than overthinking the technology. Once I practiced a bit, I started recognizing patterns in automation‑related questions. They often ask things like:

• Which API method retrieves information?
• What does a controller do in a Cisco network?
• Which data format is used in REST APIs?
• When should automation be preferred over CLI?

If you can visualize the workflow, these questions stop being scary.

NETCONF vs RESTCONF (Where I Almost Confused Myself)

This comparison shows up a lot and it’s easy to overthink. Here’s how I simplified it for myself:

NETCONF

• Uses XML
• Runs over SSH
• Strongly model‑driven (YANG)

RESTCONF

• Uses HTTP methods
• JSON or XML
• Easier for web‑based automation

ENCOR isn’t asking which is better; it’s asking which fits the scenario.

How I Practiced Cisco Network Automation Without Hardware

I didn’t use physical devices at all. Instead, I focused on:

• Cisco sandbox environments
• Reading sample API responses
• Understanding controller‑based architecture
• Running small Python scripts just to see results

That was enough to build confidence for ENCOR‑level questions.

Why Practice Validation Matters More Than Reading

My biggest mistake early on was assuming:

“I understand this because it makes sense when I read it.”

Automation concepts feel intuitive until you’re faced with scenario‑based questions. Once I started validating my understanding with exam‑style questions, weak spots showed up fast:

• Confusing API methods
• Misunderstanding controller roles
• Overlooking data formats

That feedback loop is what actually locked the concepts in.

Final Thoughts

Cisco network automation doesn’t require you to become a programmer, but it does require you to think differently about networks. For ENCOR, focusing on:

• Automation workflows
• REST APIs and controllers
• Conceptual understanding over syntax

made a huge difference for me.

Treat automation as an extension of network engineering, not a separate discipline, and the ENCOR automation section becomes very manageable.