Enterprise SONiC Administration Course

About Course

Open Networking Runs on SONiC. Now You Can Too.

The world’s largest clouds already run on it. AI clusters are being built on it. And enterprises are moving fast to follow. SONiC is redefining how modern networks are built and operated: open, Linux-based, and free from vendor lock-in.

This course turns you into the engineer who can deploy it, automate it and troubleshoot it in production.

The Shift Is Already Happening

$8B+ – projected SONiC data center switching market by 2027 (IDC, 650 Group)
10–20% – expected share of the switch market from enterprise and Tier-2/3 adoption by 2028
12,000+ – data centers running open-networking switches, many powered by SONiC

The demand is real. The talent pool is not, yet.

From Bare Metal to Production Fabric

Built around Enterprise SONiC Distribution by Broadcom, this course takes you through the full lifecycle of a SONiC network. Clear, structured lessons are paired with real configurations, real show commands and proven design patterns, so you understand both why it works and how to make it work.

Deploy

Install SONiC with ONIE, boot and manage the switch, secure user access and roll out devices at scale with Zero Touch Provisioning. Understand the architecture under the hood: Linux, containers, Redis and the Management Framework.

Configure

Command the Klish CLI with transactional configuration. Build interfaces, breakouts, port channels, VLANs, and Layer 2 and Layer 3 designs that just work.

Make It Resilient

Engineer high availability with STP, MC-LAG, VRRP and Static Anycast Gateway, then put it all together in a real-world redundant gateway design.

Route at Scale

Run BGP, OSPF and OSPFv3. Control the routing table, cut convergence time with BFD and extend services with DHCP Relay.

Automate Everything

Treat your network as code. Push and pull configuration with Ansible, RESTCONF with YANG models, and gNMI.

Build the Fabric

Design VXLAN/EVPN overlays with Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPNs, EVPN multihoming, symmetric and asymmetric IRB, and multisite Data Center Interconnect.

Own the Campus

Bring SONiC to the edge with PoE, LLDP-MED, 802.1X and MAB, DHCP Snooping, Port Security and ACLs, including control-plane protection.

Troubleshoot Like a Pro

Find the problem before your users do. Master counters, telemetry, sFlow, packet drop analysis, SPAN/ERSPAN, tcpdump, logging, core dumps and tech support files.

New Edition. Fully Rebuilt.

Updated for the latest Enterprise SONiC releases, with new content on OSPFv3, gNMI, booting and system management, advanced debugging, flow-based mirroring, PoE power classes and control-plane ACLs.

Built for Engineers Who Build Networks

Network engineers moving from proprietary platforms to open networking
System administrators running Linux-based infrastructure
Data center and campus architects designing the next generation of networks

Recommended: a working knowledge of switching, IP addressing and routing fundamentals.

Taught by Someone Who’s Done It

Volker Scheel brings more than 28 years of network engineering experience, including two decades at AT&T Global Network Services and eight years at STORDIS. With more than 1,600 engineers trained on SONiC, he knows exactly where people get stuck and how to get them through it.

The Future of Networking Is Open

Enroll now and lead it.

Understanding SONiC Linux Environment: Learn how to navigate and manage the SONiC operating system efficiently in various network settings.
Complete Setup Mastery: Gain expertise in the full installation and setup process of SONiC from scratch.
CLI Proficiency: Develop skills in using the Command Line Interface (CLI) for system configuration and management.
Advanced Configuration Techniques: Master redundancy methods, routing protocols, and automation strategies to optimize network performance and reliability.
Troubleshooting Expertise: Acquire the ability to diagnose and resolve issues across multiple layers (1, 2, and 3) of network operations.
Network Management and Monitoring: Understand comprehensive strategies for managing and monitoring network performance using SONiC.

Course Content

Module 1 – Introduction to SONiC
This module covers the basics of SONiC: what it is, where it came from, what it’s built on, and how its container-based architecture works.

AGENDA Module 1

00:50
What Is SONiC

03:41
SONiC Building Blocks

08:33
SONiC Architecture

08:23
Module 1 Summary

00:50
Exam 1 – SONiC Introduction

Module 2 – Installation & Initial SONiC Setup
This module takes you from a new switch to a managed one. It covers physical access, installing and upgrading SONiC, the boot process, management settings, user authentication and Zero Touch Provisioning.

Module 3 – Configuration Methods & Interface Configuration
This module comes in two parts. Part 1 covers the ways to configure SONiC, focusing on the Management Framework and its CLI, Klish. Part 2 applies them to interfaces: physical ports, breakouts, port groups, ranges, port channels, VLANs and Layer 3 interfaces.

Module 4 – Redundancy Methods at Layer 2 and Layer 3
This module covers redundancy in SONiC. For Layer 2 it covers Spanning Tree and MC-LAG, and for Layer 3 it covers VRRP and the Static Anycast Gateway. It ends with a practical example that combines them.

Module 5 – Routing Protocols in SONiC
This module covers Layer 3 routing in SONiC. It starts with the routing architecture built on FRR, then covers configuring and checking BGP, OSPF and static routes. It also covers how routes are selected, faster failure detection with BFD, and DHCP Relay.

AGENDA Module 5

01:04
Introduction To Routing Protocols

06:09
Part 1 Border Gateway Protocol

15:44
Part 2 – Monitoring BGP

14:52
Part 1 Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)

13:28
Part 3 OSPFv3

01:47
Part 2 Displaying Information about OSPF

05:59
Static Routes

04:52
Displaying And Influencing The Routing Table

05:12
Improving Routing Protocol Convergence With BFD

03:17
DHCP Relay

05:58
Module 5 Summary

02:01
Exam 5 – Routing Protocols in SONiC

Module 6 – Automation in SONiC
This module introduces automation in SONiC. It covers use cases and available options, deploying configuration and reading information with Ansible and RESTCONF, and how gNMI compares to RESTCONF.

Module 7 – Troubleshooting for SONiC
This module covers troubleshooting tools in SONiC that apply to any protocol or feature. Part 1 covers interfaces, traffic counters and monitoring, packet drops and mirroring. Part 2 covers switch information, on-box debugging and tech support files.

AGENDA Module 7

01:41
Troubleshooting Introduction

05:28
Troubleshooting Interface Problems

12:12
Traffic Information

03:34
Analysing Packet Drops

03:11
Traffic Mirroring

08:45
Switch Information

06:09
Debugging on the Switch

05:40
Tech Support File Generation

02:43
Module 7 Summary

02:02
Exam 7 – Troubleshooting for SONiC

Module 8 – VXLAN and EVPN and DCI
This module covers network virtualization in SONiC: VXLAN as the data plane and EVPN as the control plane. It includes Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPNs, redundant host connections, monitoring, and Data Center Interconnect.

Introduction to VXLAN

18:04
Agenda Module 8

00:55
Layer 2 VPNs

03:40
Redundant Host Connections to VXLAN Cloud

10:36
Layer 3 VPNs

14:39
EVPN

12:57
Monitoring VXLAN and EVPN

23:34
Datacenter Interconnect (DCI)

05:15
Module 8 Summary

02:06
Exam 8 – VXLAN and EVPN and DCI

Module 9 – Campus Deployments
This module covers the campus and access-edge features in SONiC. That includes powering and provisioning endpoints (PoE, LLDP-MED), controlling who gets on the network (port access control, port security, DHCP snooping), forwarding UDP broadcasts (IP Helper), and filtering traffic with ACLs.

AGENDA Module 9

01:56
Power over Ethernet

04:51
LLDP-MED

04:51
Port Access Control

12:09
IP Helper

03:21
Port Security

01:34
DHCP Snooping

03:11
Access Control Lists

16:53
Module 9 Summary

01:51
Exam 9 – Campus Deployments

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About Course

Open Networking Runs on SONiC. Now You Can Too.

The Shift Is Already Happening

From Bare Metal to Production Fabric

Deploy

Configure

Make It Resilient

Route at Scale

Automate Everything

Build the Fabric

Own the Campus

Troubleshoot Like a Pro

New Edition. Fully Rebuilt.

Built for Engineers Who Build Networks

Taught by Someone Who’s Done It

The Future of Networking Is Open

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Module 1 – Introduction to SONiC This module covers the basics of SONiC: what it is, where it came from, what it’s built on, and how its container-based architecture works.

AGENDA Module 1

What Is SONiC

SONiC Building Blocks

SONiC Architecture

Module 1 Summary

Exam 1 – SONiC Introduction

Module 2 – Installation & Initial SONiC Setup This module takes you from a new switch to a managed one. It covers physical access, installing and upgrading SONiC, the boot process, management settings, user authentication and Zero Touch Provisioning.

AGENDA Module 2

Accessing the Switch

Installing The Switch

Booting Up SONiC

User Accounts and Authentication Methods

Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

Module 2 Summary

Exam 2 – Installation & Initial SONiC Setup

AGENDA Module 3

SONiC Configuration Methods

Klish – The Management Framework CLI

Basic Interface Configuration

VLAN Configuration and Layer 2 Ports

Layer 3 Interfaces

Module 3 Summary

Exam 3 – Configuration Methods & Interface Configuration

Module 4 – Redundancy Methods at Layer 2 and Layer 3 This module covers redundancy in SONiC. For Layer 2 it covers Spanning Tree and MC-LAG, and for Layer 3 it covers VRRP and the Static Anycast Gateway. It ends with a practical example that combines them.

AGENDA Module 4

Spanning Tree Protocol

Multichassis Link Aggregation (MC-LAG)

Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)

Static Anycast Gateway (SAG)

Example for Redundancy Use Case

Module 4 Summary

Exam 4 – Redundancy Methods at Layer 2 and Layer 3

Module 5 – Routing Protocols in SONiC This module covers Layer 3 routing in SONiC. It starts with the routing architecture built on FRR, then covers configuring and checking BGP, OSPF and static routes. It also covers how routes are selected, faster failure detection with BFD, and DHCP Relay.

AGENDA Module 5

Introduction To Routing Protocols

Part 1 Border Gateway Protocol

Part 2 – Monitoring BGP

Part 1 Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)

Part 3 OSPFv3

Part 2 Displaying Information about OSPF

Static Routes

Displaying And Influencing The Routing Table

Improving Routing Protocol Convergence With BFD

DHCP Relay

Module 5 Summary

Exam 5 – Routing Protocols in SONiC

Module 6 – Automation in SONiC This module introduces automation in SONiC. It covers use cases and available options, deploying configuration and reading information with Ansible and RESTCONF, and how gNMI compares to RESTCONF.

AGENDA Module 6

Introduction to Automation in SONiC

SONiC Automation with Ansible

SONiC Automation with RESTCONF

SONiC Automation with gNMI

Module 6 Summary

Exam 6 – Automation in SONiC

Module 7 – Troubleshooting for SONiC This module covers troubleshooting tools in SONiC that apply to any protocol or feature. Part 1 covers interfaces, traffic counters and monitoring, packet drops and mirroring. Part 2 covers switch information, on-box debugging and tech support files.

AGENDA Module 7

Troubleshooting Introduction

Troubleshooting Interface Problems

Traffic Information

Analysing Packet Drops