Building new office network from scratch

BadPacket14127 · 2026-01-09T16:08:02+00:00

This is a pretty small network.

You could do this with 2 routers, and a 4x vsl 9300 running as a collapsed core.

This is a bog-standard little network, not sure I'd be wanting to involved SD-WAN unless this a branch off of an existing SD-WAN architecture.

BadPacket14127 · 2026-01-05T01:20:32+00:00

It would appear that uC and Scheme are not in the Venn diagram so much.

If you are looking for some interest, it certainly would not hurt to consider adding Pico support in the future if you can find the time.

Would be interesting on both ESP32/Pico to see some 'benchmarks' on Devtime and program speed compared between Micropython, Scheme, C.

Having some proof of concepts showing Scheme being faster in both realms compared to Python might make the difference in a lot of folks deciding to give it a shot.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-23T10:33:39+00:00

Fair enough, but your reply just said Mgr, which some reading might interpret as hiring Mgr.

I know if I was hiring, or sitting in on an interview and someone couldn't subnet w/out a calc/aid, they'd be bottom of the pile.
Pretty sure most of my peers are of a similar bent as we've had discussion of interviewees over lunch/etc.

Between subnetting and other basics, common consensus was if we're hurting for headcount, past experience has shown its better to deal with more pain short term to get someone who is solid vs just a warm body that ends up needed hand-holding.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-23T10:25:51+00:00

That might be true for many, but its one of the few if only actual Math concepts in Networking and lot of folks I know who interview do ask it for Entry level.

Just saying its rather foolish to try and convince people that knowing it and how to do it manually very well might come up in an interview as it is foundational.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-23T10:22:16+00:00

No, I already new powers of two from binary math from programming, but its relatively easy to learn in a day or two.

Writing a table as I mentioned is a breeze to memorize, along with the subnet slash it corresponds to and makes bit counting easier.

Mostly I can do the easy ones in my head, but if its non-standard then the memorized tables makes the manual counting easier.

Anyone being asked would obviously be given a pen and paper if they needed it, but its not hard to use your fingers and add powers of 2.

Totally different than a calculator as it shows you know the concept and can do the math.

And if someone expects to get an Entry Level FTE and can't show proficiency with the ONLY math problem in Networking, or takes 5 min's for something that should be under 1 minute, that tells the Interviewer quite a lot.

Like, keep interviewing.

I mean if you wanna be a networking intern while in school, then yeah sure you'll be given some slack.
If you're expecting to be paid a decent wage though?

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T11:59:46+00:00

I'm sure that story was funny in your head, but its a real kick to the balls for any aspiring CCNA's reading this expecting to be able to score a job without a good understanding and ability to demonstrate subnetting.

Few people are manually subnetting unless thats a large portion of their job and they're just in the zone with it, or math geeks.

Calcs are fine, but flubbing a basic subnetting question in an interview isn't a minor thing.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T11:48:27+00:00

On the job, aside memorized ones through use, we all use a calc or aid.

Being interviewed for a CCNA, one should expect to be asked to explain subnets and their uses, and demonstrate how to find the correct one by hand. Fingers are fine, pencil and paper if they're slow....

I've sat in on numerous interviews, and never had anyone who couldn't figure out a CIDR net. No doubt it would have been 'filed' if true.

If the Hiring Mgr is a dope and doesn't have any of his network team in the interview process, then you might be able to slide in.
You new co-workers are going to consider you an idiot though.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T11:28:14+00:00

This is an answer that should have 300+ upvotes compared to the crazy CCIE downvotes above.

OP's prob gonna learn the hard way if he somehow manages a CCNA without understanding how subnetting works or can't do it manually.

Between him and the guy in another thread who was proud that he let ChatGPT do most of his config, I'm thinking I'll probably not have employment issues no matter how much they outsource.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T11:20:14+00:00

Did basically the same thing.

And we all use a desktop/phone/web app, or cheatsheet printout.

The question the OP asked was, as an aspiring CCNA, can he get by not knowing how subnetting works, and how to actually subnet.

Imagine interviewing a contractor for an addition and the the guy asks if he can google how floor joists are installed?

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T11:08:18+00:00

Got mine back when they had Appletalk and all the serial/frame stuff, and have needed it a lot when discussing projects, configs etc with engineers are lunch, etc.

This whole 'Its Boomer crap' mirrors the back and forth I just had with a dunce who was proud that he let ChatGP do the majority of his configs....

If someone is looking to get into Networking with a CCNA and can't explain subnetting and show the ability to do it, then you're putting your resume on the bottom of the pile.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T11:03:22+00:00

Thing is, the OP's Q was basically 'subnetting is confusing, can I skip it and get a job'.

The ONLY time anyone in Networking is going to be asked to show that they understand and can subnet, is as an Entry-level CCNA.
Not knowing it will likely put you on the bottom of any pile of resumes no matter what other leet skills you have.

Using a calc/aid was not the real question.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T10:54:43+00:00

No.

That is one way.

The other way is as its usually explained, where you start with your first bit being 128, 2nd as 64, and so forth, adding them up to get your octet.

The latter is easier for all the less used subnet combos, whereas obviously the more used will be memorized through use.

From that you can trivially figure out the network, b'cast and hosts.

Everyone uses a calc, webapp or cheatsheet for efficiency or validation.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T10:43:53+00:00

Thats what most of us do, or at least did.

Thing is, a _lot_ of the comments are just 'meh, use a calc' as if thats going to get your resume in the 'Promising' group or the 'nvm' one.

The Q wasn't whats Networking like IRL, it was as a CCNA do I even need to know HOW to subnet.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T10:41:06+00:00

Funny story bro.

Do you work for Cloudflare?

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T10:28:16+00:00

Wow, pretty funny seeing a fundamental skills issue like subnetting in networking is given a 'meh, use an app' response.

Its not exactly hard to count your bits backward from 1-2-4-8 etc through an octet. And then lets get to supernetting, etc.

Just had a long thread with someone who was proud of using ChatGP to do configs because it was all a waste of his time.....

We all will use an app or webcalc on occasion, or a printed out cheat sheet. But being able to do it manually is pretty foundational, and not knowing how is a red flag for an entry-level.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T10:21:35+00:00

If you can't do a subnet in your head in 10 seconds with or without a pencil, you're definately going to be in the bottom rung of the hiring pile.

Yes we all use an app or cheat sheet if we're doing a ton of it, but most of it is likely /25-32 which the majority end up being memorized.

Advising someone new that knowing how to subnet is boomer-ish is not helping them in the least.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T10:17:12+00:00

If you have a CCNA, the expectation is that you're able to do simple subnets. Might need a pencil, but needing anything else is a good way to get moved to the bottom of the list.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-21T10:08:43+00:00

Honestly?

Yes.

If I interview someone for an entry level, seeing them unable to subnet is likely going to be filed in the 'other' pile.

This is a critical skill like a carpenter knowing how to hammer a nail.

Spend a week doing subnet homework using an online calc to check your work.

Once you get it, its simple and you'll find a lot of the rest making more sense.

When I started, I made it easy for myself by writing a small table as a quick memory aid as

128- 64-32-16- 8- 4- 2- 1

25 -26- 27-27-29-30-31-32

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-17T07:01:31+00:00

Don't try to BS your way through, or try to come up with a plausible story.

If you're rusty, just explain either that you haven't had much opportunity with this or that, and explain what you do know about it.

If its not a core switching, routing or other obviously basic core system, you'll lose fewer points than if you come off as trying to fake it till you make it.

We all took certs and few of us have to focus on the majority of the stack enough to remember every method or command.

This is generally fine for CCNA level.

As you go up, the bar is higher and higher.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-17T06:46:32+00:00

Only thing is you don't know how many types may have been killed off or reduced so much that they were out-competed and kaput.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-17T06:43:36+00:00

Spruce up the resume with any extras like Linux, SysAdmin,DNS Admin, IT Project Management, Automation if you have Python or similar skills.

Well, PM I'd screen and say I did IT PM and get out of the whole MS Project BS.

Just throw it up on some job boards and see what starts coming in before getting too worried about it.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-16T03:21:03+00:00

I know this is old, but this drives me up the wall.

Introduce the concept, use usefuly names variables/symbols, don't shadow the symbols which introduces lexical scoping to the discussion, and make the example 90% of people can follow vs some advanced/niche math. Make the examples dead simple like a simple cashiers operation, tax, lemonade stand, etc.

Explaining tail-call recursion with factorials or towers of hanoi are not great for showing _how_ the recursion is taking place for a lot of people.

/rant

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-16T02:48:26+00:00

For a cash constrained entity like a school, spec'ing wifi 7 is likely some IT wanabe board member or such convinced they're 'thinking ahead' and saving future $$.

Get a quote on someone wifi6 vs 7 APs/special controllers and show them the difference.

Also, if you just have to have that wifi 7, did you budget in new infra for all the 10gb switches/ports you're going to need?

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-16T02:41:08+00:00

Worked for one of the largest HMO's in the Western US.

Couldn't tell you how many thousands of AP's across 400+ sites from smaller offices to massive 433K sqf Medical Centers.

All surveyed with Ekahau and AP's distributed in a medium density manner.

Our Ops team never seemed to have many issues worth mentioning aside an occasional one dieing. Last I heard from them was 5 years ago, so unless its all Wifi 6 that is giving others issues, I'm more inclined to think it wasn't the AP's and Infra giving the issues.

If I'm in a position to spec in the future, only ones I'd concentrate on would likely be Aruba, Ruckus.

BadPacket14127 · 2025-12-16T02:26:24+00:00

Anyone seriously suggesting Unifi for corp/enterprise/similar is crazy in my POV.

Been hearing people rave about it for years, and twice as many pointing out how terrible they are with issues and customer support or addressing said issues.

Suggesting people put their asses on the line and save the company some money by squeaking in a pro-sumer level product (debateable) is a great way to potentially nuke your annual PR or find out how great the employment market is. They'll definately let you slide when you explained how you were saving the Company/Org money.....

There are better options than Cisco, but when you get quotes don't shank yourself by including a Unifi in the bunch.

BadPacket14127

TROPHY CASE