Networking & Protocols for DevOps

Step 3 of the DevOps Roadmap

Learn about DNS, TCP/IP Protocols, SSH, Ports, Gateways, Routing, IP Addressing, and subnetting. Master network fundamentals essential for infrastructure management.

Why Networking for DevOps?

DevOps engineers must understand networking to:

• Configure cloud infrastructure
• Troubleshoot connectivity issues
• Secure communication channels
• Optimize application performance
• Design scalable architectures

What You'll Learn

TCP/IP Fundamentals

• Internet Protocol (IP)

  • IPv4 and IPv6 addressing
  • Subnetting and CIDR notation
  • Public vs private IP ranges
  • Network Address Translation (NAT)

• Transport Protocols

  • TCP vs UDP characteristics
  • Port numbers and socket connections
  • Connection establishment (3-way handshake)
  • Flow control and reliability

DNS (Domain Name System)

• DNS Architecture

  • DNS hierarchy and root servers
  • Authoritative vs recursive queries
  • DNS record types (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT)
  • DNS caching and TTL

• DNS Configuration

  • Setting up DNS servers
  • Managing DNS zones
  • DNS load balancing
  • Troubleshooting DNS issues

SSH (Secure Shell)

• SSH Fundamentals

  • SSH protocol versions
  • Public key cryptography
  • SSH key generation and management
  • SSH agent and key forwarding

• SSH Advanced Usage

  • SSH tunneling and port forwarding
  • SSH configuration files
  • Jump hosts and bastion servers
  • SSH security best practices

Network Architecture

• Routing & Switching

  • Routing tables and protocols
  • Default gateways
  • VLANs and network segmentation
  • Load balancers and reverse proxies

• Firewalls & Security

  • Firewall rules and policies
  • Network Access Control Lists (ACLs)
  • VPN technologies
  • Network monitoring and intrusion detection

Network Troubleshooting

• Diagnostic Tools

  • ping and traceroute
  • netstat and ss commands
  • tcpdump and wireshark
  • nmap for network scanning

• Performance Analysis

  • Bandwidth testing
  • Latency measurement
  • Network bottleneck identification
  • Quality of Service (QoS)

Hands-on Projects

Project 1: Network Monitoring System

Build a comprehensive monitoring solution:

• Monitor network interfaces and traffic
• Track DNS resolution times
• Alert on connectivity issues
• Generate network performance reports

Project 2: SSH Infrastructure Setup

Create secure remote access infrastructure:

• Configure SSH key-based authentication
• Set up jump hosts for secure access
• Implement SSH tunneling for databases
• Automate SSH key distribution

Project 3: DNS Management System

Develop DNS automation tools:

• Automate DNS record management
• Implement DNS health checks
• Set up DNS failover mechanisms
• Monitor DNS propagation

Project 4: Network Security Audit

Perform comprehensive security assessment:

• Network vulnerability scanning
• Port and service enumeration
• Firewall rule analysis
• Security compliance reporting

Course Modules

Module 1: TCP/IP Fundamentals

• IP addressing and subnetting
• TCP/UDP protocols
• Routing basics
• Network troubleshooting

Module 2: DNS Mastery

• DNS architecture and records
• DNS server configuration
• DNS security (DNSSEC)
• Performance optimization

Module 3: SSH & Secure Access

• SSH protocol and keys
• Advanced SSH features
• Secure remote access design
• SSH automation

Module 4: Network Infrastructure

• Load balancing concepts
• Firewall configuration
• Network monitoring
• Performance tuning

Lab Environment

• Virtual network topologies
• Multiple Linux VMs
• Network simulation tools
• Cloud networking sandbox

Prerequisites

• Required: Programming for DevOps & Linux for DevOps
• Basic understanding of computers and internet
• Command line experience

Learning Path

This is the third course in the DevOps roadmap. After completing this course, continue with:

1. Git & GitHub for DevOps - Version control mastery
2. Docker Containerization - Container technology
3. AWS Cloud Platform - Cloud infrastructure

Tools & Technologies

• Linux networking tools
• SSH clients and servers
• DNS servers (BIND, Unbound)
• Network monitoring tools
• Packet capture utilities

Real-world Applications

• Cloud VPC configuration
• Container networking
• Microservices communication
• CDN and edge networking
• Site-to-site VPN setup

Certification

Upon completion, you'll receive a certificate demonstrating your network administration skills crucial for DevOps infrastructure management.

Build rock-solid network foundations for your DevOps career!