Ethan Banks, co-founder of Packet Pushers and a veteran in networking, shares his insightful journey through the evolution of network engineering. He reminisces about the chaotic mix of protocols in the mid-90s and how the industry has transformed towards modern needs. Ethan discusses the challenges of starting a podcast while working full-time, emphasizing the importance of community in supporting isolation among engineers. He also highlights the necessity for contemporary engineers to deepen their skills in cloud tech, cybersecurity, and automation.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Risk To Learn Paid Off
Ethan refinanced his car to attend Novell School and get a NetWare certification.
That gamble launched a consulting career and entry into networking.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Side Hustle Hosted Growth
Ethan moonlighted running web hosting from his basement to earn extra money.
He leveraged hosting, DNS, and email skills to support his early career progress.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Humble Remote Beginnings
Ethan and Greg started Packet Pushers remotely, recording over Skype while working day jobs.
They edited minimally, adopted a "just hit publish" ethos, and built community over years.
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From refinancing a car to attend Novell School to founding one of networking's most influential podcasts, Ethan Banks shares his remarkable journey through the evolution of network engineering with raw honesty and deep insight.
In this captivating conversation, Ethan takes us back to the mid-90s when networks ran on a patchwork of protocols like IPX, DeckNet, and AppleTalk, before the industry consolidated around IP. His career trajectory mirrors the transformation of networking itself—constantly adapting, expanding in scope, and requiring an ever-broader skill set.
The story behind Packet Pushers reveals the grind of content creation that many never see. Starting in 2010 when podcasting was still emerging, Ethan and co-founder Greg Farrow recorded remotely (Ethan in the US, Greg in England) while working full-time jobs. Their philosophy of "just hit publish" and focus on consistent, quality content built a community when network engineers often felt isolated in their roles. Five years of this double workload culminated in taking the leap to full-time podcasting in 2015.
What makes this episode especially valuable is Ethan's perspective on where networking is heading. Today's engineers need to understand not just routing and switching, but cloud architecture, cybersecurity, automation, and software development principles. While certifications like CCNA still provide foundational knowledge, Ethan emphasizes understanding the "why" behind networking decisions rather than just memorizing commands.
For aspiring content creators, Ethan offers encouraging wisdom: don't be intimidated by existing content. Your unique perspective and communication style will connect with people in ways others can't. Creating technical content also forces deeper understanding, revealing knowledge gaps you might not have recognized otherwise.
Join our community at linktree.com/artofneteng and visit our Discord "It’s All About the Journey" to continue the conversation about career development, content creation, and navigating the future of networking.