Managing Networks
Network management is essential for maintaining visibility, stability, and control over your infrastructure. Without proper monitoring and synchronization, even well-designed networks can become unreliable or difficult to troubleshoot. This topic introduces the tools and protocols that network engineers use daily to keep devices coordinated, secure, and performing at their best.
Discovery and Monitoring
You’ll start by learning about device discovery protocols like CDP and LLDP, which reveal topology information and simplify troubleshooting across multi-vendor environments. You’ll then explore Syslog for centralized event logging and NTP for accurate time synchronization, both critical for tracking incidents and correlating logs.
SNMP and Configuration
Finally, you’ll study Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), from its basic monitoring capabilities in SNMPv2c to the enhanced security of SNMPv3. You’ll also review configuration management concepts, including the difference between running and startup configurations, to ensure consistent device behavior after reboots. Mastering network management gives you the insight and control needed to maintain operational efficiency and support larger, more complex networks confidently.