Dr. Levi Perigo shared his experience on how SDN training has enabled his students to become more marketable in the job market; and how SDN education has helped seasoned networking professionals move ahead in their careers. This webinar features Dr. Perigo’s real life case on how SDN education gives a big boost to networking careers. He also elaborated on the benefits of acquiring vendor-neutral ONF SDN certification to complement vendor-specific networking certifications.

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[Webinar] Why SDN Skills is
a Big Boost to Networking
Careers

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Welcome
[Webinar] Why SDN Skills is a Big Boost to
Networking Careers

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Connie Tai
Product Marketing
ITpreneurs
Host & Moderator
- Provider of courseware products and services to IT training
and consulting companies
Connie Tai
Product & Solutions Marketing
ITpreneurs

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Agenda
● Welcome & Introduction
● Guest Presenter: Dr. Levi Perigo
● Questions & Answers

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Guest Presenter:
Levi Perigo, Ph.D.
Scholar in Residence
University of Colorado Boulder
Research Associate
Open Networking Foundation

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Master’s & Ph.D. Program
Focus on hands-on labs with industry-grade equipment
Four specialization tracks: Network Engineering, Network Security, Policy and
Strategy, & Wireless
● Network Engineering Curriculum - (industry evolution)
○ Tech. Core - Routing Protocols (BGP); Telecom Lab (Cisco Routing and
Switching); Network Programming (Python); UNIX/Linux; Network
Mgmt/Automation
○ Tech. Electives - Data Center; VoIP; Next Gen. Networks (SDNFV); etc.
University of Colorado - Interdisciplinary
Telecom Program (ITP)

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Certification Motivation
● Job specific training
● New/different job or promotion
● Prove knowledge on topic
● Money $$
Vendor specific certifications continue to be mandatory job requirements
● New hire, 5+, 10+, even technical managers
What is more important:
● experience + certifications
● advanced degrees
Network Engineering Certifications - (Vendor + Neutral)

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Vendor Specific - Network Engineering
● Amazon (AWS)
● Cisco
○ CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, etc.
● Juniper
○ JNCIA, JNCIE, etc.
● VMware
Network Engineering Certifications - (Vendor + Neutral)
Vendor Neutral - Network Engineering
● CompTIA: Network+, Security+,
CWNA
● IPv6
● Wireshark

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SDN Learning Path for Network Engineers
CompTIA Network+
● Fundamental
understanding of
networking
CCNP/CCIE
● Vendor specific -
CISCO certification
ONF-SDN Associate
● Knowledge about SDN,
OpenFlow, Networking
+
+
ONF-SDN Engineer
● Deep technical
knowledge of SDN
+
Vendor Specific Route
WCNA
● Vendor specific -
Wireshark certification
+
JNCIE-ENT
● Vendor specific -
Juniper certification
+
Direct Route

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Why Software-defined Networking (SDN)?
● The traditional networking engineering model is changing!
○ Moving away from proprietary hardware/software, CLI, and vendor lock-in
○ Open source, abstraction, and programmability
One of the principal benefits of SDN is vendor neutrality!
Validation of skills on new, in-demand technology
Benefit over vendor specific
Network Engineering Certification - (SDN)

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Open Networking Foundation (ONF) is a user-driven organization
dedicated to the promotion and adoption of Software-Defined
Networking (SDN) through open standards development.

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ONF SDN Architecture
• Enable innovation/ differentiation
• Accelerate new features and
services introduction
Programmability
• Simplify provisioning
• Optimize performance
• Granular policy management
Centralized
Intelligence
• Decouple:
• Hardware & software
• Control plane & forwarding
• Physical & logical config.
Abstraction
Infrastructure
Layer
Control
Layer
Application
Layer
Business Applications
API
Network Services
API
API
Network
Services

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SDN Associate Exam
ONF Certified SDN Associate
(OCSA)
Vendor-neutral conceptual knowledge of the major
domains of networking practices that support the theory
and practice of Software Defined Networking (SDN).
● Vendor-neutral
● Validate conceptual knowledge of SDN
● Entry-level certification examination for technical
professionals
13

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SDN Engineer Exam
ONF Certified SDN Engineer
(OCSE)
● This certification exam attests and formally certifies that the successful
candidate has vendor-neutral technical knowledge, skills, and
abilities of the major domains of networking practices that
support the theory and practice of Software Defined Networking
(SDN). It presupposes deeper technical knowledge, skills, and
abilities in computer networking practices, and will validate all the
major aspects and domains of knowledge and practice in SDN
networking environments. The certification will be considered mastery-
level validation and certification examination for technical professionals
in the domain of SDN networking.
14

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Targeted Learning Across Organizations
Network Architects
Technical personnel deploying
networks (vendor and operator)
Network Management
Network Engineers
Network Technicians (entry)
Network Operations / Sys Admin
IT Dev (& DevOps)
Architects
Business
SDN Sales Engineer
Business Analyst
Product Manager
Industry Analyst
Sales and Marketing
Executives
CxO
Business Strategy
Department Heads
SDN Engineer
→ Deep technical
knowledge of SDN
concepts, ability to
apply SDN practices
SDN Associate
→ Knowledge and
understanding of
Networking concepts,
Software Defined
Networking, OpenFlow
and SDN ecosystem
Cisco CCNA
Design, configure, manage and
troubleshoot any wired and
wireless devices

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Vendor Neutral
● Everyone does SDN in their own way
○ Focus on core technology = OpenFlow
○ Incorporate variety: OpenDaylight, OpenContrail,
OpenStack, Floodlight, Ryu, ONOS, etc.
● Certification (something to prove knowledge)
● Competitive advantage and marketability
○ Vendor/neutral certification
○ SDN certification
SDN Education - Academia

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Job Requirement or Promotion
Curiosity
Flexibility - Offer service/software specific training options
● Company specific SDN (i.e. ONOS)
● UNIX/Linux
● Python/Automation
● Programming vs. Software
Staying ahead of the competition
● If you’re not willing to change, you WILL be left behind
SDN Education - Industry Professionals

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Get Started?

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Get Yourself and Your Team Trained ….
Listing ONF-Certified Training Partners
https://www.opennetworking.org/onf-approved-sdn-training

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Enjoy the Benefits of the ONF-Certified SDN
Training Partner Program
License ONF-approved SDN courseware to deliver training courses
Free Access to On-Demand Train-the-Trainer Webinars
Use ONF-Certified SDN Training Partner logos on your website and collaterals
Bid to provide SDN training and deliver exams at ONF sponsored events
List your company logo on the ONF website with a link to your training programs page
Promote your SDN training courses on the ONF skills certification newsletters to drive registrations
**Please note - the annual fee of USD 500 is waived if your organization is a member of ONF.
Get Started by Contacting ITpreneurs
info@itpreneurs.com

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