Monday AM: CloudMyLab Hands-on Network Automation Workshop
This is a beginner-level hands-on overview of the basics of network automation tools.

This lab-based workshop will cover:
+ Introduction to Network Automation
+ Lab 1: Basic Automation with Python
+ Lab 2: Introduction to Ansible for Network Configuration
+ Lab 3: Combining Python and Ansible for Network Tasks
+ Q&A

Student Requirements: personal laptop

Monday PM: Getting Started with Containerlab

This is a beginner-level hands-on workshop that provides an introduction to Containerlab, an environment that provides a CLI for orchestrating and managing container-based networking labs. It starts the containers, builds a virtual wiring between them to create lab topologies of users choice and manages labs lifecycle.

This hands-on workshop will cover:
+ Installation
+ Container images (container-native and VM-based NOSes)
+ Topology file
+ Basic lab deployment workflow
+ Connectivity to the nodes
+ Lab lifecycle
+ VM-based lab
+ Sharing the lab
+ Troubleshooting and Wireshark pcaps
+ Exploring the catalog of existing labs

Student Requirements: personal laptop with an SSH client

Tuesday AM and PM: SURF Workflow Orchestrator Workshop

This workshop will introduce SURF’s internally-developed Workflow Orchestrator system. The intent of the workshop is to get people talking about automating network services, sharing experiences and helping them identify where to start in their orchestration journey.

The workshop will do this by covering:
+ Service modeling and product hierarchy (Customer-facing resources vs Resource-facing resources)
+ Introduction into the Workflow Orchestrator software
+ Discussion about defining sources of truth and data sanitisation and validation
+ An exercise in groups of about 1 to 1.5 hours about designing a fully orchestrated process for delivering a network service to a user

Student Requirements: personal laptop

BONUS through the week of AutoCon 1

OneMind Services will make self-paced labs available throughout the entire week. These lab pods will be structured to allow participants to engage with content at their own pace, providing flexibility in learning and exploration. Each lab pod will cover a specific topic within a 15-30 minute configuration exercise to deliver concise, impactful network automation learning experiences.

Lab Topics Include:
+ Introduction to Network Automation with Python
+ Getting Started with Ansible for Network Configuration
+ Advanced Network Automation Techniques with Python and Ansible
+ Version Control Systems in Network Automation with Git
+ Building Custom Automation Workflows
+ Network Security Automation Practices
+ Introduction to CI/CD in Network Automation
+ Utilizing Docker and Containers for Network Automation
+ Multi-Vendor Network Automation

Support and Resources
+ Proctor Support: Although the labs will be designed to be self-paced, we will provide two experienced proctors available throughout the conference to assist with queries, offer guidance, and help troubleshoot any issues, ensuring a smooth and enriching learning experience for all participants.
+ Materials and Access: Participants will be granted access to all necessary digital resources and cloud-based lab environments. This ensures they can focus on learning without worrying about setup or configurations.
+ Flexibility: Lab Pods can be accessed anytime during the conference, allowing participants to manage their learning alongside other conference activities.