Networking with Linux

Linux networking is the backbone of modern IT infrastructure, powering everything from local servers to massive cloud environments. Linux offers robust support for networking technologies like switching, routing, firewalls, load balancing, VPNs, etc., making it a great platform for networking enthusiasts, administrators, and developers.

This book is structured to guide you from fundamental concepts to advanced configurations. You will start by understanding the basic concepts of switching and routing on Linux, progress into advanced topics of firewalls and load balancers, and explore traffic shaping and VPNs. Later chapters explore network monitoring, troubleshooting of network services, and networking in the cloud. Each chapter includes practical examples and best practices. Whether you are configuring a home network or setting up an enterprise system, this book provides the essential foundation for networking services on Linux. This book will equip you to handle real-world scenarios from providing connectivity, securing access using firewalls, VPNs, load balancing, and other essential network services on Linux.

By the time you finish this book, you will have developed a clear foundation in networking; you will understand how services like routing, firewalls, load balancers, etc., work and how to configure them on Linux. The concepts you learn in this book will help get a better insight into the internals of services that you use every day.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
● Switching and routing on Linux.
● Tools for troubleshooting networking issues.
● Securing access with firewalls and VPN.
● Load balancing and traffic shaping.
● Monitoring with eBPF tools.
● Implement policy-based routing and VRF isolation.
● Secure tunnels with WireGuard and IPsec VPNs.

WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR
This book is for beginner to advanced sysadmins, network admins, and DevOps engineers. While basic Linux familiarity helps, this guide transitions you from simple configurations to expert-level skills in routing, firewalling, virtual networking, load balancing, and advanced TCP stack tuning.

1. Understanding Networking on Linux
2. Routing and Packet Forwarding
3. Firewalls and Packet Filtering
4. Network Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
5. Network Services and Protocols
6. Load Balancing and High Availability
7. Network Namespaces and Virtual Networking
8. Traffic Shaping and QoS
9. Deep Dive into TCP/IP Stack Tuning
10. Virtual Private Networks on Linux
11. Virtual Networking and Cloud Integration
12. Network Monitoring with eBPF

Chandan Dutta Chowdhury is a principal engineer with over 20 years of experience in designing, securing, and troubleshooting Linux and networking. With a background in platform engineering, DevOps, and network management, he has worked with enterprises, cloud platforms, and open-source communities to build resilient and high-performance systems. Chandan has trained professionals in Linux administration and contributed to OpenStack networking and firewall implementations, and network automation through workshops and conferences. He actively contributes to open-source projects and writes technical guides to simplify complex networking concepts. Chandan has worked with multiple companies in his IT career, like HP, Juniper Networks, Cisco, Arcesium, and contributed to their product and infrastructure projects. Currently, he contributes to platform optimizations, maintaining Kubernetes clusters and Linux compute infrastructure.