What does a network engineer do?

In my experience and my opinion for the network engineer role is the one who builds infrastructure , roads ,bus stops , speed breakers for public and private transport . I can say the infrastructure on which whole of the Internet world run .Also wherein the applications built by software engineers hosted on those servers are being routed on network infrastructure which is managed by the network engineer .

Network engineers are the architects of the digital highways that connect the world. They meticulously design and optimize network infrastructures to ensure seamless communication and data transfer. This involves analyzing requirements, selecting appropriate hardware and software components, configuring protocols, and implementing security measures to safeguard against cyber threats. Network engineers are also adept at troubleshooting issues and fine-tuning performance to keep the network running smoothly. Their work is the backbone of modern connectivity, enabling businesses and individuals to thrive in the digital age.

Network designing is a critical aspect for every network architect. 1. Maintain a document that contains customer requirements, High level Design and Low Level Designs. 2. Analyse the current network if available and make sure it has the meets the minimum requirements else suggest those to the customer. It is our responsibility as a good network architect as they might or might not know what will be optimal. 3. Always make sure that a device does not carry load more than 70% of its capacity (safe practice) 4. The bandwidth of router and switch can be compromised a bit depending on the usage and mission criticality. 5. Security is an important aspect. It can be achieved by implementing various protocols.

Lot of people already mentioned the definitions but in my words Network Engineer is the root of any network established for any customer.

The ability to design a network is important for a network engineer in order to create an efficient and effective network. This skill allows the network engineer to plan and configure the network according to the specific needs of the organization.

Once CRD is reviewed and signed by customer, You can move to HLD and LLD (High and Low level design). You need to map down the features being configured on every switch and router. You can have a central device to configure them together. Divide the network into small segments and test them to check for bottlenecks. The features and protocols being enabled on the networking devices will play a major role on how your packets will be routed and processed. Incase of mission critical service, you can have a backup line for them available either in standby or active-standby mode. Every device should have an IP for communication and make sure that QoS is enabled to ensure seamless service. Firewalls need to be configured with utmost care.

An integral part of a network engineer's job is to install and configure various network components, including routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and cables. They are responsible for adhering to the network design specifications to ensure a functional and secure network. Network engineers also conduct performance tests, troubleshoot potential issues during and after implementation, and ensure smooth network functionality.

The ability to implement network is critical for any network Engineer. This skill allows Network Engineer to deploy and manage networks, as well as troubleshoot and resolve issues.

Following the network design documentation you can start racking and deploying your network devices. - Install network devices in rack locations - Label all cable connections with A/B side details - Use cable management tools to organize cables - Begin deploying configuration, ideally with an automation tool or platform. - Deploy VLANs, IPs, routing protocols, wireless settings and all configuration items planned out during the design phase on the specified devices. - Using tools like PyATS, wireless testing equipment, and running ping/traceroute can help validate and test network operation. - Verify end-to-end operation, again using testing tools or show commands to confirm proper configuration.

The ability to effectively maintain a network is crucial for any network Engineer. Without this skill, it would be difficult to keep the Network running smoothly and ensure that all users have access to the resources they need.

A network with a lot of uptime is not always a well maintained network. Some general considerations for maintenance include: - Routinely patching and updating to protect environments from security vulnerabilities. - Ensuring user accounts only exist for personnel actively working on the network environment. Use central authentication or automation tools to properly maintain access for engineers/admins who need it. - Network monitoring should be implemented with syslog/SNMP/telemetry for awareness of how network devices and protocols are operating. - Configurations should be saved to startup and backed up regularly in case devices fail and need to be replaced. - Update and maintain network diagrams as changes occur.

So you will mainly focus on maintaining and optimising existing networks. This involves regular monitoring for performance issues, updating systems, auditing and ensuring network security. Maintaining a document would help you diagnose and resolve network related problems, ranging from simple connectivity issues to complex security breaches. Always keep a habit of logging these problems and the solution offered. It will help you in the future. Make sure you communicate with your team and the users to get a depth of the issue faced by them. Try and eliminate recurring problems at regular intervals as it will only help in optimising the network.

When troubleshooting the network, you want to identify the source of the problem and implement a fix. Depending on the scale of the issue, network issues that are isolated to a single user could be NIC, transceiver, or configuration related (I.E. bad VLAN). More widespread issues could be related to device failures, switching/routing loops, or bad uplinks. Analyze the problem. Start at the source, if multiple people using the same switch are having an issue begin there and work out. Verify system and link operation, configuration, or any recent changes. Get as much info from the end user to discover when the problem started. Using tools like PyATS can provide before and after state information to expedite network failure remediation.