Heavy Networking
Packet Pushers
Heavy Networking is an unabashedly nerdy dive into all things networking. Described by one listener as "verbal white papers," the weekly episodes feature network engineers, industry experts, and vendors sharing useful information to keep your professional knowledge sharp and your career growing. Hosts Ethan Banks & Drew Conry-Murray cut through the marketing spin to explore what works—and what doesn't—in networking today, while keeping an eye on what's ahead for the industry. On air since 2010, Heavy Networking is the flagship show of the Packet Pushers podcast network.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 5, 2024 • 48min
HN728: How Drivenets Leverages Ethernet Fabrics For AI Networking (Sponsored)
To run AI workloads, a network needs thousands of GPUs and those GPUs must operate in sync. If there is congestion or dropped frames, very expensive efforts could be delayed or disrupted. While there are advantages to using Ethernet for AI networking (including engineers well-trained in the protocol and a robust ecosystem), it wasn’t designed... Read more »
Mar 29, 2024 • 1h 7min
HN727: Kubernetes Networking Essentials
Networking expert Karim El Jamali discusses Kubernetes essentials such as nodes, pods, clusters, CNIs, virtual ethernet pairs, ingress controller, eBPF, and service meshes. Topics include IP addressing, network policies, eBPF technology, service mesh, encryption, and the role of containers in modern application delivery.
Mar 22, 2024 • 48min
HN726: From Automation to Orchestration for a FinTech Network (Sponsored)
Fiserv is one of the largest payment processors in the world, In 2023 it handled more than 35 billion transactions worth $2.03 trillion US dollars. Its network is critical to the business. The organization knew it needed network automation, but early attempts got some things wrong. On today’s Heavy Networking we talk about how Fiserv... Read more »
Mar 15, 2024 • 48min
HN725: Standing up a DC Network Using Terraform
Matt Horn built a data center network through automation, remotely. This is the future of network engineering. Matt shares how his team did it technically: Terraform, a little Ansible, leveraging pipelines, etc. But he also shares the processes and culture that made it happen: Management and peer buy-in, tight enforcement based on user access, and... Read more »
Mar 8, 2024 • 59min
HN724: How Packets Move Through a Network Device
Explore the complexities of network devices with discussions on how switches and routers work, RIB and FIB, CAM tables, line rates, and port-to-port latency. Discover the significance of understanding network device functionality for troubleshooting and equipment selection, delve into the components inside data center switches, and explore the evolution of network devices from configuration to forwarding states. Learn about programming network devices with P4 language and distinguishing between hardware and software forwarding in networking devices.
6 snips
Mar 1, 2024 • 44min
HN723: ‘It’s like Legos’: Developing a Network Automation Framework
Exploring the need for a universal network automation framework, developing it like Legos, streamlining complex processes, evolving network automation frameworks with templates and version control, and involving business stakeholders in design decisions for creating a collaborative automation approach.
13 snips
Feb 23, 2024 • 60min
HN722: Ivan Pepelnjak’s Netlab Eliminates the Tedious Bits of Labbing
Ivan Pepelnjak created NetLab to streamline networking lab setup, automating tasks like IP assignments, routing protocols, VLANs. The podcast discusses challenges faced, flexibility of creating custom data models, and creating plugins for BGP and RIP behaviors. It also covers setting up lab environments with storytelling through code comments, repurposing old equipment, and leveraging NetLab for streamlined configurations. Platforms supported by NetLab include VPTX and Nokia SR Linux, emphasizing community involvement in contributions.
Feb 16, 2024 • 54min
HN721: Goodbye Network Cowboys, Hello Total Network Operations
The podcast discusses the need for standardization in network engineering, the importance of networking and community, adopting DevOps for network operations, the impact of being seen as a rock star in the workplace, capturing information and routinizing processes in network management, and adopting Total Network Operations in network operations.
Feb 9, 2024 • 45min
HN720: What Yale Learned about RADIUS Load Balancing
Yale’s efforts to load-balance RADIUS servers is a case study in system design for resiliency. First, there was a lone, redundant PSN. Next, F5s load balancers entered the picture. Then the network team realized a feature in IOS-XE was the answer… and brought Cisco along the learning journey with them. Hear it all from the... Read more »
Feb 2, 2024 • 57min
HN719: Meet SuzieQ, The Network Observability Application
Guest Dinesh Dutt introduces his newest creation, SuzieQ. It’s a network observability platform application that has both a free, open source version and an enterprise version. Lightweight, fast, and platform-agnostic, SuzieQ’s use cases include network documentation, troubleshooting, fabric-wide visibility, network refresh and redesign, low/no code validation, audits and compliance, and proactive health checks. Hosts Ethan... Read more »
