N Is For Networking

In Part 1 of Redundancy vs. High Availability, we said that sometimes high availability and redundancy are considered to be the same thing, but we disagree. Holly and Ethan do agree that high availability can be considered a network design goal, and that redundancy is just one technique that can be used to help make... Read more »

Holly and Ethan dive into the nuances of redundancy versus high availability, highlighting their importance in network design. They share real-world examples, particularly from hospitals and financial institutions, and discuss the common budgetary pushback. Techniques for achieving redundancy include active/standby setups and multi-node clusters. The conversation also touches on advanced concepts like anycast, DNS strategies, and WAN link design. Listeners can expect a tease for upcoming discussions on fragility and cost in network management.

MACsec is a protocol for encrypting Ethernet frames on a local (though not always local) network. Ethan Banks and Holly Metlitzky have an ELI5 (explain like I’m 5) discussion as to what exactly is MACsec and how it differs from IPsec. They talk about when and whether you need to implement MACsec with all the... Read more »

Dive into the intriguing world of Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVI) and Integrated Routing and Bridging (IRB)! The hosts unravel the confusion around these terms and explore their historical evolution. Learn how early VLAN routing worked and why the 'router on a stick' method was inefficient. Discover the real role of SVIs and IRBs as vital IP endpoints for local routing. Plus, the discussion extends to their applications beyond just default gateways, touching on modern networking patterns and encapsulations!

The job interview is an inescapable part of a career journey. Today on N Is For Networking, we conduct a mock interview with a candidate who’s applying for a junior network administration role. The goal is to give Toni Mrowetz, our candidate, feedback. At the same time, we hope this helps anyone listening who might... Read more »

Dive into the complexities of IPsec tunnels, starting with the nuances of transport mode and DMVPN. Discover the critical importance of checking licensing before configuration and the compatibility challenges across different vendors. Learn about the intricate negotiations during IKE phases, the significance of matching encryption standards, and why having the right policies is crucial. Plus, tips on troubleshooting tunnel failures and the potential pitfalls of MTU and NAT in IPsec configurations. Elevate your networking skills with firsthand experiences and practical advice!

We got some interesting listener feedback from our series on OSPF, so today’s N Is for Networking is another “Well actually” episode where we dig into that feedback. In particular, we’ll cover a defense of OSPF multi-area deployments, and dig into OSPF LSA types. Episode Links: OSPF Basics – N Is For Networking Episode 38... Read more »

Dive into the world of IPsec, the go-to protocol for securing internet traffic! Learn how it authenticates and encrypts communications, ensuring trust and secrecy. Discover its practical applications in SD-WAN and the challenges of key management. Explore the impact of quantum computing on encryption and the advantages of MACsec over IPsec. Unravel the complexities of integrating IPsec with NAT and tackle troubleshooting tips. This engaging discussion brings clarity to a tech essential that’s crucial for modern networking.

Ethan and Holly bring you the last installment of the OSPF series discussing OSPF area types. They discuss why OSPF areas exist, do a quick recap of what OSPF areas actually are, and then introduce the different types of OSPF areas.  Lastly, see if you can answer Ethan’s rapid-fire OSPF questions. Episode Transcript: This episode... Read more »

We ask listeners for follow up and you’ve sent it in. On today’s show we respond to listener comments and corrections on tunneling, the link aggregation control protocol, link aggregation in general, and DHCP options. We also talk about the network engineering certification journey. If you’ve got a “Well, actually” or any other follow up,... Read more »