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Hank Preston

Distinguished Architect

Learn with Cisco

Hank started his career in network engineering like many, by cracking open a CCNA book and learning all about subnetting, the OSI model, and CLI interfaces. He fell in love with the deceptive simplicity and elegance of network communication and TCP/IP and dove in head first. His journey was one that included many network designs (and debates about designs), miles of copper/fiber cables, late night change windows, and even later night troubleshooting calls (it’s always the network… even when it isn’t :-). Along the way he picked up certifications in routing/switching, wireless, and security, culminating with earning CCIE #38336 in February 2013 and later becoming the first Cisco DevNet Expert #20220001. After spending a couple of years exploring the world of “Cloud”, “DevOps” and “Applications”, the talk of SDN, automation and programmability caught his ears, and he decided it was past time to return to networking full time. Hank's day job is putting NetDevOps theory into practice as the Principal Engineer for Learning and Certifications at Cisco. Helping engineer and operate the platform used by engineers around the world to learn the skills to be better engineers when they operate their own platforms. It's kinda circular and meta.

Articles

August 17, 2018

1

DEVELOPER

New NetDevOps Home on DevNet Brings Resources and Community Together

3 min read

The new NetDevOps page on DevNet puts blog posts, videos, webinars, learning labs, and current community discussion in one convenient place.

June 28, 2018

9

DEVELOPER

virl up – NetDevOps Network Simulation Done Right

6 min read

With "virlutils" NetDevOps engineers get a CLI tool for managing network simulations. A DevNet blog, sandbox, and video show you how to get started

March 6, 2018

8

DEVELOPER

How Do I Get Started Learning Network Programmability?  

6 min read

Learning Labs, Sandboxes, live events, certification courses, and even a network programmability basics video course offer excellent resources to get you launched on your network programming journey.

March 8, 2018

20

DEVELOPER

Why is Cisco Teaching Me Python? 

2 min read

Is learning topics related to programmable networks - like Python, JSON, REST APIs - really critical to your success as a network engineer?

February 19, 2018

2

DEVELOPER

Bringing Programmability and NetDevOps to Melbourne for #CLMel

3 min read

Wow... Cisco Live 2018 in Melbourne is going to be an amazing time, and I can't wait to see everyone there.  Let me know what you are most looking forward to. For convenience, here are the links to my sessions again, register now!

February 7, 2018

6

DEVELOPER

What Does “Network as Code” Mean?

7 min read

Networking Evangelist Hank Preston proposes three principles for Network as Code within NetDevOps. Do you agree?

February 12, 2018

DEVELOPER

NetDevOps was Center Stage at #CLEUR

4 min read

The DevNet team brought an amazing array of sessions, workshops, and demos on network programmability and NetDevOps to CLEUR. Here's a review, plus links to the people and presentations.

January 5, 2018

1

DEVELOPER

Bringing Programmability and NetDevOps to Barcelona for #CLEUR

4 min read

It’s right around the corner… Cisco Live Europe 2018 in Barcelona, and I absolutely can’t wait!  Every Cisco Live I’ve ever been to, or presented at, has been an amazing experience, but Barcelona is going to be in a league of its own.  From the moment I arrive in Spain on Friday morning the entire […]

January 8, 2018

6

DEVELOPER

Introducing the Network Programmability Video Course

2 min read

The Network Programmability Basics Video Course is a collection of 28 videos organized into 6 modules. We created it to help jumpstart your journey into network programmability. It's LIVE now!