Comprehensive Network Skills Guide
Core Skills (Essential)
1. IP Addressing (IPv4/IPv6):
- Understanding the structure and allocation of IP addresses (public/private, classes).
- Mastering IPv6 addressing and the transition from IPv4.
2. Subnetting:
- Dividing large networks into smaller, manageable subnets.
- Calculating subnet masks and determining network and broadcast addresses.
3. Routing Protocols:
- Learning and configuring dynamic routing protocols like OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP.
- Static vs dynamic routing and route redistribution between protocols.
4. Switching:
- Configuring VLANs for logical network segmentation.
- Understanding Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and its variants (RSTP, MSTP).
5. NAT (Network Address Translation):
- Translating private IP addresses to public IPs for internet communication.
- Configuring static, dynamic, and PAT (Port Address Translation).
6. DNS & DHCP:
- DNS: Domain Name System for resolving domain names to IP addresses.
- DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for automatically assigning IP addresses.
7. Firewalls:
- Working with different types of firewalls (hardware/software).
- Configuring firewall rules for traffic filtering and security policies.
8. VPN (Virtual Private Networks):
- Establishing secure tunnels for remote access using technologies like IPsec and SSL.
- Understanding site-to-site and client VPNs.
9. Wireshark:
- Using packet sniffing tools for deep network traffic analysis and troubleshooting.
10. Cisco Packet Tracer:
- Simulating network configurations and practicing networking scenarios in a virtual environment.
Advanced Skills (Non-Essential but Highly Beneficial)
1. MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching):
- Understanding label-based forwarding and its use in WAN connections.
- Configuring MPLS for high-performance, scalable networks.
2. QoS (Quality of Service):
- Managing and prioritizing traffic based on type (voice, video, data).
- Configuring QoS policies to ensure reliable performance for critical applications.
3. SDN (Software-Defined Networking):
- Separating control plane from data plane for network programmability.
- Utilizing SDN controllers like OpenFlow for centralized network management.
4. AWS Networking:
- Configuring VPC (Virtual Private Cloud), Elastic Load Balancing, and Route 53 DNS.
- Managing hybrid cloud networks and VPN connections to AWS environments.
5. Azure Networking:
- Creating and managing Virtual Networks, Network Security Groups, and VPN gateways in Azure.
- Leveraging ExpressRoute for dedicated WAN links to Azure.
6. Python/Bash Scripting:
- Automating network tasks such as device configuration and monitoring.
- Writing scripts for backup, updates, and log analysis.
7. VMware NSX:
- Managing virtual networks and network functions using VMware's NSX platform.
- Network virtualization and micro-segmentation for advanced security.
8. IDS/IPS (Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems):
- Configuring tools like Snort for real-time traffic analysis and intrusion detection.
- Understanding threat detection and response techniques.
9. Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing:
- Simulating attacks to identify vulnerabilities in network infrastructure.
- Tools like Metasploit, Nmap, and Nessus for network security assessments.
Cloud and Virtualization Skills
1. AWS and Azure Cloud Networking:
- Managing cloud-specific networking services such as AWS VPC, Azure VNets.
- Configuring security measures, VPNs, and cross-site connectivity in cloud environments.
2. VMware NSX:
- Virtualizing network infrastructure using NSX for greater flexibility and scalability.
3. Hyper-V & KVM:
- Deploying and managing virtual machines (VMs) using hypervisors.
- Understanding network virtualization concepts (VLAN, VXLAN).
