SDWAN - Installing, Configuring, Monitoring and Troubleshooting Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN V20.18/17.18

In this 5-day immersive, hands-on course covering Cisco Catalyst (Viptela) SD-WAN version 20.18 / IOS-XE 17.18, students will gain in-depth knowledge and practical skills to deploy, configure, manage, and troubleshoot Cisco SD-WAN environments. The course explores controller and edge device deployment, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), device and feature template creation, and SD-WAN Manager interface operations. Students will work with advanced features including OMP, BFD, QoS, DRE, security integration (SASE, Umbrella, FW, IPS), and local and centralized policy design. Labs include deploying controllers, onboarding routers (vEdge, ISR, C8000V), upgrading environments, configuring policies, enabling Cloud On-Ramp for SaaS applications like O365 and Webex, and leveraging analytics and troubleshooting tools like ThousandEyes and vManage. By course end, students will be proficient in building robust, secure, and optimized enterprise SD-WAN solutions across cloud and hybrid infrastructures.

This release begins the Journey of streamlining Configuration Groups and Policy Groups, empowering network administrators with greater control and efficiency. This release is pretty close to feature complete, and the first release that I would tell customers that it is time to look to convert Configuration Templates to Configuration Groups.

Here are some of the Updates:

Configuration Groups: Simplifying Network Management

With the advent of configuration groups, network administrators can now create and manage device configurations more effectively. The feature allows for the grouping of devices based on specific criteria, enabling consistent and centralized configuration deployment. By reducing manual configurations on individual devices, configuration groups ensure uniformity and significantly decrease the potential for errors, leading to a more streamlined and reliable network management process.

Policy Groups: Enhanced Policy Management

The introduction of policy groups in Cisco SD-WAN 20.18 marks a substantial improvement in policy management. This feature allows administrators to define and apply policies to specific groups of devices or regions, facilitating more granular control over network behavior. By aligning policies with organizational requirements and regional compliance standards, policy groups enhance security and performance across the network. This targeted approach ensures that policies are both effective and relevant to the specific needs of different network segments.

The release of Cisco SD-WAN 20.18 underscores the importance of adopting configuration and policy groups to optimize network operations. These features not only simplify the management of complex network environments but also enhance scalability and responsiveness to organizational changes. By leveraging configuration groups, administrators can ensure maintaining a secure and efficient network infrastructure.

Use this course towards your Cisco Continuing (CE) Education Credits (40)

There are no prerequisites for this training.

However, the knowledge and skills you are recommended to have before attending this training are:

• Knowledge of software-defined networking (SDN) concepts as applied to large scale live network deployments
• Strong understanding of enterprise WAN design
• Strong understanding of routing protocol operation, including both interior and exterior routing protocol operation
• Familiarity with transport layer security (TLS) and IP security (IPsec)

This course is suitable for Network Engineers, System Administrators, IT Professionals, Technical Support Staff, and Cisco-Certified Professionals looking to enhance their skills and proficiency with Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN network management tailored for networks.

The course is highly recommended for:

• Network Engineers: Professionals tasked with the design, implementation, and maintenance of the network infrastructure. This includes managing both Catalyst SD-WAN and data communication systems, ensuring they meet the high standards required for government operations.
• System Administrators: Individuals responsible for the daily management and configuration of the network systems. Their role is crucial in ensuring the reliable operation of Catalyst SD-WAN and WAN services across various departments.
• IT Professionals: This group includes a wide range of IT personnel working who require a robust understanding of secure and reliable Catalyst SD-WAN network systems. Their work is critical in ensuring that these networks comply with stringent standards and regulations.
• Technical Support Staff: These are the frontline personnel who provide essential technical support for Catalyst SD-WAN network systems within the environments. Their expertise ensures that any issues are promptly resolved to maintain network integrity and security.
• Cisco Certified Professionals: Individuals who have already achieved Cisco certifications and are looking to further their knowledge and expertise specifically in Catalyst SD-WAN Networks and Technologies. This course offers them an opportunity to specialize in Catalyst SD-WAN solutions, enhancing their skill set in the context of the network requirements.