How to learn networking on Google Cloud — techventurers step by step guide
If you want to know how to learn networking on Google Cloud and you haven’t got a clue here is a step by step guide that may help you find the right resources you need based on where you are starting from. (I’ve created some of these)
Navigating the multitude of resources can become overwhelming and confusing but it doesn’t have to be like that.
Total beginner
Ok let’s say you want to start from scratch where should you look?
- Networking 101 Google Cloud ref sheet. This is a document and also a repo. This may be helpful with some basic terms related to networking and a quick reference for a beginner.
- A Tour of Networking. This is a 30 minute lab available on the skillsboost platform. It gives you a structured overview, it contains some short videos and it has some challenge questions to enforce what you have covered.
In just 30 mins you will have a basic idea and now that you have this you are ready to move on to the next stage.
I’m not a beginner and I’m ready for a bit more
So you know something about something or you’ve just finished the Tour of Cloud Networking Lab and you want to learn more. Well you have a few options.
Start with Networking Fundamentals on Google Cloud. This is available on skillsboost platform and gives you some hands-on lab challenges which cover
- VPC Networking Fundamentals — Setup VPC network with firewall rules and instances.
- Set Up Network and Application Load Balancers — Set up both types of LBs.
- Internal Load balancers — Setup internal LB types.
- Challenge Lab — Bring it all together for some fun.
I’m not afraid I’m ready to dive in
So your appetite has been opened and you want to learn a lot and maybe even take a certification exam. Ok well we have something for you.
Network Engineer Learning Path. This is available on skillsboost platform and gives you a full training experience. It comprises 13 learning courses which have video, labs and quizzes. It’s perfect for learning more about the platform and also preparing for the certification.
I know a lot and I want more
So you already have experience and you need to go deeper. The standard stuff doesn’t have what you need to know. Ok well we have some options for you.
- Google Cloud Documentation. These docs are a treasure trove to get more detail and also configuration guides for various services. (I contribute to these from time to time)
- Google research — These are research papers which go really deep.
- Google Cloud Blogs — You can filter by networking to see blog post related to the topic on the cloud blog website. (I publish a few here also)
- Cross-Cloud Network eBook- Learn more about this today
- Advance Networking Demo Video. This playlist contains config demos on various networking related services. More detailed than the L-100 stuff.
- Google Cloud Tech YouTube channel: Everything from 1 minute videos to NEXT sessions are available. Search for a topic of interest
I’m am architect and want to design
So you are ready to design something or maybe need some sort of reference architecture. Ok well we have some options for you.
- Google Cloud Architecture center. This contains design documents and pattern that are helpful
Here are a few of my top recommendations if you really want to level up.
- Deployment archetypes: A must read for any architect
- Cross-Cloud Network Architecture Documents: These are a must read
- - Cross-Cloud Networking for distributed applications
- - Network Segmentation and connectivity for distributed applications in Cross-Cloud Network
- - Network Security for distributed applications in Cross-Cloud Network
- Build hybrid and multicloud architectures using Google Cloud: This is a multipart doc set so prepare to learn a lot about architecting on Google Cloud.
I want more hands-on
So you have taken the courses, or gotten certified but want to know how to learn more. Ok well we have some options for you.
- Codelabs site: This is a highly slept upon platform but it has tons of do it in your own environment labs contributed all by Googler’s. Just search for a topic of interest, fire up your environment and begin to build.
- Cloud skillboost: This provides you with a virtual google cloud environment which is timed to complete specific tasks. There are a lot of labs you can complete outside of the learning paths. Just filter and search for a lab that interests you.
Events
So you like live sessions In person or virtual. Ok well we have some options for you.
- Google Cloud NEXT: This is Google’s Flagship event. Tons of activities, sessions, breakout just for you.
- Cloud on air: Sign up for upcoming webinars and also review on-demand content from previous sessions.
I need help
You may have some more complex issues. Well we have something for you.
- Contact support.
- Contact your account management team.
- Work with your Google Cloud partner.
New and updated content is continually produced and loaded to these various channels. Also you can follow Google’s Developer Advocates and Developer Relations Engineers to see what is happening. I’ve worked on some of these, contributed to some and definitely learnt from some.
Other interesting blogs to bookmark:
# 1 — Networking in Google Cloud — Things to check out to catch up -’24 edition (monthly updates) -https://medium.com/google-cloud/networking-in-google-cloud-things-to-check-out-to-catch-up-24-edition-3e02b2ea1944
# 2 — Google Cloud NGFW — starter kit (Learn more with simple steps) — https://medium.com/@ammettw/google-cloud-ngfw-starter-kit-learn-more-with-simple-steps-f10deb0d3611
To find out more or share a thought? Please connect with me on Linkedin