---
name: network-engineering
description: Network architecture, troubleshooting, and infrastructure patterns. Use
  when designing network topologies, debugging connectivity issues, configuring load
  balancers, DNS, or implementing network security.
author: Joseph OBrien
status: unpublished
updated: '2025-12-23'
version: 1.0.1
tag: skill
type: skill
---

# Network Engineering

Comprehensive network engineering skill covering network design, troubleshooting, load balancing, DNS, and network security.

## When to Use This Skill

- Designing network topologies
- Troubleshooting connectivity issues
- Configuring load balancers
- DNS configuration and troubleshooting
- SSL/TLS setup and debugging
- Network security implementation
- Performance optimization
- CDN configuration

## Network Architecture

### OSI Model Reference

| Layer | Name | Protocols | Troubleshooting |
|-------|------|-----------|-----------------|
| 7 | Application | HTTP, DNS, SMTP | curl, browser tools |
| 6 | Presentation | SSL/TLS | openssl |
| 5 | Session | NetBIOS | - |
| 4 | Transport | TCP, UDP | netstat, ss |
| 3 | Network | IP, ICMP | ping, traceroute |
| 2 | Data Link | Ethernet | arp |
| 1 | Physical | - | cable tester |

### VPC/Network Design

**Subnet Strategy:**

```
VPC CIDR: 10.0.0.0/16 (65,536 IPs)

Public Subnets (internet-facing):
  - 10.0.1.0/24 (AZ-a) - Load balancers, bastion
  - 10.0.2.0/24 (AZ-b)
  - 10.0.3.0/24 (AZ-c)

Private Subnets (application tier):
  - 10.0.11.0/24 (AZ-a) - App servers
  - 10.0.12.0/24 (AZ-b)
  - 10.0.13.0/24 (AZ-c)

Database Subnets (isolated):
  - 10.0.21.0/24 (AZ-a) - Databases only
  - 10.0.22.0/24 (AZ-b)
  - 10.0.23.0/24 (AZ-c)
```

**Traffic Flow:**

- Internet → Load Balancer (public) → App (private) → DB (isolated)
- NAT Gateway for private subnet outbound
- VPC Endpoints for AWS services

## Load Balancing

### Load Balancer Types

| Type | Layer | Use Case |
|------|-------|----------|
| Application (ALB) | 7 | HTTP/HTTPS, path routing |
| Network (NLB) | 4 | TCP/UDP, static IP, high performance |
| Classic | 4/7 | Legacy |
| Gateway | 3 | Third-party appliances |

### Health Checks

```yaml
# ALB Health Check
health_check:
  path: /health
  protocol: HTTP
  port: 8080
  interval: 30
  timeout: 5
  healthy_threshold: 2
  unhealthy_threshold: 3
  matcher: "200-299"
```

### Routing Strategies

- **Round Robin**: Equal distribution
- **Least Connections**: Route to least busy
- **IP Hash**: Sticky sessions by client IP
- **Weighted**: Percentage-based distribution
- **Path-based**: Route by URL path
- **Host-based**: Route by hostname

## DNS

### Record Types

| Type | Purpose | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| A | IPv4 address | `example.com → 192.0.2.1` |
| AAAA | IPv6 address | `example.com → 2001:db8::1` |
| CNAME | Alias | `www → example.com` |
| MX | Mail server | `example.com → mail.example.com` |
| TXT | Arbitrary text | SPF, DKIM, verification |
| NS | Name server | DNS delegation |
| SRV | Service location | `_sip._tcp.example.com` |
| CAA | Certificate authority | Restrict CA issuance |

### DNS Debugging

```bash
# Query specific record type
dig example.com A
dig example.com MX
dig example.com TXT

# Query specific DNS server
dig @8.8.8.8 example.com

# Trace DNS resolution
dig +trace example.com

# Check propagation
dig +short example.com @{dns-server}
```

### TTL Strategy

| Record Type | Recommended TTL |
|-------------|-----------------|
| Static content | 86400 (1 day) |
| Dynamic content | 300 (5 min) |
| Failover records | 60 (1 min) |
| Pre-migration | Lower to 60 |

## SSL/TLS

### Certificate Types

| Type | Validation | Use Case |
|------|------------|----------|
| DV | Domain ownership | Basic sites |
| OV | Organization verified | Business sites |
| EV | Extended validation | High-trust sites |
| Wildcard | *.domain.com | Multiple subdomains |
| SAN | Multi-domain | Multiple specific domains |

### TLS Configuration

**Recommended Settings:**

- TLS 1.2 and 1.3 only
- Strong cipher suites (AEAD)
- HSTS enabled
- OCSP stapling
- Certificate transparency

### Debugging SSL

```bash
# Check certificate
openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 -servername example.com

# Check certificate chain
openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 -showcerts

# Check expiration
echo | openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 2>/dev/null | openssl x509 -noout -dates

# Test TLS versions
openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 -tls1_2
openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 -tls1_3
```

## Troubleshooting

### Connectivity Checklist

1. **Physical/Cloud layer**: Is the instance running?
2. **Security groups**: Are ports open?
3. **NACLs**: Are subnets allowing traffic?
4. **Route tables**: Is routing correct?
5. **DNS**: Does name resolve?
6. **Application**: Is service listening?

### Common Commands

```bash
# Check if port is listening
netstat -tlnp | grep :80
ss -tlnp | grep :80

# Test TCP connectivity
nc -zv hostname 443
telnet hostname 443

# Check routes
ip route
traceroute hostname
mtr hostname

# DNS resolution
nslookup hostname
dig hostname
host hostname

# Network interfaces
ip addr
ifconfig

# Active connections
netstat -an
ss -tuln
```

### Performance Debugging

```bash
# Bandwidth test
iperf3 -c server-ip

# Latency analysis
ping -c 100 hostname | tail -1

# MTU issues
ping -M do -s 1472 hostname

# Packet capture
tcpdump -i eth0 port 443
```

## Reference Files

- **`references/troubleshooting.md`** - Detailed troubleshooting workflows

## Integration with Other Skills

- **cloud-infrastructure** - For cloud networking
- **security-engineering** - For network security
- **performance** - For network optimization