The Network Engineer trek
Networking fundamentals, routing and switching, cloud networking, automation, security, and the certifications that validate enterprise network engineering skills.
Networking fundamentals & OSI model
The conceptual foundation: OSI layers, how data flows across a network, and the protocols at each layer.
Ethernet & switching
How Ethernet works, the MAC address table, VLANs, STP, and Layer 2 network design.
Routing
Static routing, dynamic routing protocols, BGP fundamentals, and how packets find their path across networks.
WAN technologies & SD-WAN
MPLS, leased lines, broadband, and modern SD-WAN solutions that replace traditional WAN architecture.
Network security
Firewalls, ACLs, NAT, IDS/IPS, and building network security architectures that protect without preventing legitimate traffic.
Wireless networking
WiFi standards, RF fundamentals, WLAN design, and troubleshooting wireless networks.
Cloud networking
VPCs, security groups, transit gateways, and designing networks for cloud environments.
Network automation
Python, Ansible, and Netmiko for automating network configuration and replacing CLI-based manual ops.
Network monitoring & troubleshooting
SNMP, NetFlow, Syslog, Prometheus, and the systematic approach to diagnosing network problems.
IPv6
IPv6 addressing, transitioning from IPv4, and deploying IPv6 in dual-stack environments.
Certifications & career
CCNA, CCNP, CompTIA Network+, AWS Advanced Networking — mapping your skills to industry certifications and career paths.
Capstone — design & deploy an enterprise network
Design, document, and deploy a complete enterprise network from requirements to operational runbook.
Trek complete. What's next?
You've walked the full roadmap. Now ship the capstone, write about it, and share the path with the next engineer who needs it.