Networking

Today, network engineers, especially in the data center space, must acquire AI/ML infrastructure skills and be able to discuss the required infrastructure upgrades and the reasoning for the upgrades with upper management. At WWT, we are committing $500 million to help our customers with AI/ML, and we have launched a new series of Learning Paths to help the reader navigate complex AI topics. By mastering these areas, data center network engineers can effectively contribute to successfully implementing and managing advanced AI and HPC infrastructure, aligning technological capabilities with business objectives while maintaining a robust and secure network environment.

This learning path on foundational Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) provides a comprehensive introduction and deep dive into the core aspects of BGP, the backbone of the internet's routing architecture. It starts by explaining the basics of BGP, including its purpose, operation, and fundamental concepts such as Autonomous Systems (AS), BGP sessions, and the BGP routing table. The series progresses to cover more advanced topics, such as BGP path selection, route advertisement, and the implementation of various BGP attributes like Local Preference, AS Path, and MED. Through practical examples, configurations, and troubleshooting scenarios, viewers gain a thorough understanding of how BGP facilitates global data exchange and the techniques network engineers use to optimize and secure BGP networks. The series aims to equip network professionals with the knowledge needed to manage and optimize BGP in real-world environments, emphasizing best practices and common pitfalls.

Before a core network can provide advanced services and traffic engineering, it must first establish basic transport connectivity between its nodes. In this course, you will learn how interior routing protocols are used to establish dynamic routing within the core, how MPLS technology is used to enhance packet transport across the underlay, and how Segment Routing is changing the way we think about transport paths. In each module you will watch a brief video describing the underlying technology and then walk through a hands-on lab to dive deeper into the relevant protocols and configurations that make underlay routing work.