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Need some additional help understanding Autonomous System Numbers.
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I need a little above an ELI5 but below some of the information I am finding via google-fu. To pair it down a bit....
- I am understanding ASN's as large entities of related I.P networks; such as ATT&T, Comcast, and others.
- ASN's are sort of the "root DNS" of the internet, except instead of converting names to i.p's they share i.p network data at the top tier of the internet.
- Who uses ASN's? Is it only large top tier networks or do local small ISP's have ASN's as well?
- I looked up a list of ASN's and it made me more confused.
The list above does not represent things I know, only things I thought I grasped while reading about ASN's but as I stated before I am confused and could use some sorting out.
Top Comment: From our FAQ, disclosure, I work at APNIC, the Asia Pacific RIR. "Autonomous System Number (ASN or AS number) ASNs are globally unique identifiers for Autonomous Systems and are used as identifiers to allow the ASes to exchange dynamic routing information. An Autonomous system (AS) is a group of IP networks having a single clearly defined routing policy run by one or more network operators." Basically, if you want to have 'provider independant' ip space, you'll want to speak BGP to your upstream and need an AS number. If you want to multihome, ie have multiple upstream providers you'll need an AS number. They are used by organisations of all sizes, not just top tier networks. Read up on BGP to get an idea of how it works and it should make at least some sense. Also wikipedia :) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_System_(Internet)
Secure network? : Wireguard as the only exposure to the internet? : homelab
Main Post: Secure network? : Wireguard as the only exposure to the internet? : homelab
Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) - Yay or Nah
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I have been reading loads about Network-as-a-Service lately, I first saw it from Verizon a couple years back, Cisco, then Lumen and most recently BT (so many sales emails!). Plus, Gartner have been talking about it lot and changed the scope of their annual WAN MQ report so it's more NaaS centric.
I also struggle with the definition, to me its simply software over the top of the network, but the more I read, the more it seems to evolve in to cloud, security yadda yadda yadda
The marketing spiel (of which there is a lot!), is all this is going to change the face of networking, do you agree, what are your thoughts??
**Edit to include the source material!**
Global Fabric | Network as a Service Solutions (NaaS) (bt.com)
Network as a Service (NaaS) | Verizon Business
Network-as-a-Service | Use Cases | Lumen
What Is Network as a Service (NaaS)? - Cisco
Top Comment: Nothing is going to change from a technical standpoint. It's just a different billing model for customers. Instead of buying your networking equipment, licenses and contracts, you pay an annual fee for the networking services you actually use / consume. CapEx becomes OpEx.
How valuable are the A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications to employers?
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Hi there! I recently just obtained my Security+ cert and I after I passed, the person who administered the test to me said that some employers would take this over a college degree. I thought that was crazy. So it had me wondering how valuable are these certifications are to employers? Thank you for answering in advance!
Top Comment: Well, for one, it's a U.S. military requirement for technical workers (DoD 8570 compliance), CompTIA is a reputable, vendor-neutral organization, and it shows you know things. True, if you have actual experience with physically tearing down and assembling computers, the A+ is a nice compliment. If you know networking, Network+ helps. And if you want to work in security, the Security+ shows that you learned enough about security that you were able to pass a test about it (and were willing to invest in yourself to learn and pass it). I think one of the things is that the job industry is hungry for skilled technical workers, and are willing to take a chance on someone. If that someone is you, and you're okay with stepping up to the plate and learning quickly on the job, any company would be happy to have you. So part of it is the job market - it's very much a seller's market - but also the fact that the CompTIA line of certifications are a good indicator of general knowledge. I've always felt, as someone who gets involved in the interviewing process sometimes, that the "tiering" of the certifications is fairly obvious and well-known. The A+ is the starter cert. The Network+ is a little more challenging, and builds on the A+ knowledge. Then the Security+ wraps up the other two. CompTIA has a lot of specialty certifications beyond that but, really, that's something you think about after you decide what your personal specialty is, and likely something your employer will pay for after they hire you, especially if you prove yourself to be a "good hire." They certainly aren't on-par with the extremely difficult Cisco CCNA line, or the RHCE line, which are both designed for very high fail rates. But they're still very good, and having them absolutely makes you more marketable. Do you have any other certificates? If not, any one of these CompTIA certs would look good on your resume. And, if you're considering any job with the U.S. military in a technical capacity (military, civilian or contractor), the Security+ (and in some cases the Network+ and A+) are must-have certificates. Also, for the purposes of DoD 8570, the Security+ covers you for Network+ and A+, so you just need to focus on the "higher" cert and you're done. Renewal every three years is as simple as purchasing the CompTIA CertMaster CE course, pass the internal test (you get unlimited attempts), and you're good for another three years. Or, you can also pay annual CE dues, and take courses from their list. Me? I don't have the time...I just pay for the CertMaster through work. Super easy. Good luck!
Just finished A+, should I do Network+ or Security+ first?
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Hi all, text says it all I just finished my A+ today and I'm eager to start my next cert, curious as to which path other people took and their thoughts on the certs, I used professormesser exclusively basically for the A+ so seeing he has no practice exams for N+ I figured i'd ask
Top Comment: I would generally recommend N+ (or better yet, CCNA). It's more foundational to IT in general, and it's a pretty critical component to becoming a competent cybersecurity practitioner
A+ or Network+
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Curious which cert to begin with. No prior professional experience, good baseline knowledge of hardware/software. Close to no experience with Terminal. CompTIA website career tree recommends Network+ for the career path I plan on taking, already studying towards Network+. Worried about job prospects with no A+ & no prior professional experience. No degree, in any field.
Edit: added further info to post.
Top Comment: A+ is useful for the foundations needed for the other certs. I started much the same way as you. The A+ cert put me in the proper mindset for the next set of exams I'll be taking. Multiple choice questions, multiple answers for some questions, and resolutions to scenarios that the exam gives you--those are three ways the exams will test you. A+ is a two part exam, and you must purchase and pass both parts to get the A+ certification. All of the other exams can then be taken after you purchase them. Head to CompTIA's website and check out the different exam packages that you can purchase. I chose the basic bundles which is the test voucher, a digital study guide, and one retake for the exam you're buying it for. While I didn't need the retakes for the A+, I'm glad I did get the Network+ bundle, because I didn't pass the Network+ exam. My retake voucher means I won have to pay for a second attempt for this exam. Whatever you decide to do, good luck to you. These certifications will help you on your career goals. They look great on a resume.