Docker Series - Networking and IP Addresses
It’s a bit embarrassing as a Network Engineer that we’ve made it this far into the Docker series
17 min read
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Featured posts
Trying to Automate Palo Alto Firewall Objects/Rules Cleanup
In this blog post, we will walk you through how to clean up Palo Alto Firewall Objects and Rules using
9 min read
Simple BGP Lab with Containerlab and Nornir (Lab-as-a-Code)
I'm sure many of you can relate to the familiar headache that comes with setting up Network Labs.
15 min read
Running Containerlab in macOS (Cisco IOL/cEOS)
Let me start by saying that I usually run Containerlab on a dedicated Ubuntu 22.04 VM, which sits on
9 min read
Nornir Network Automation
Nornir is a Python library designed for Network Automation tasks. It enables Network Engineers to use Python to manage and
13 min read
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Ansible Cisco Network Automation 101
If you're a Network Engineer keen to dive into the world of Network Automation, Ansible is an excellent
11 min read
AWS Networking Fundamentals for Beginners
Welcome to today's blog post where we're focusing on AWS Networking fundamentals. If you're
10 min read
Network CI/CD Pipeline - What's the Point?
Hi all, welcome to the 'Network CI/CD' blog series. To kick things off, let's ask
10 min read
Palo Alto Firewall For Absolute Beginners
Hi all, if you are here, I assume you're looking to learn about Palo Alto Firewalls, and you&
10 min read
How to Implement 802.1X Authentication from Scratch?
If you're a Network Engineer looking to learn what 802.1X is and how you can implement it
13 min read
AWS Gateway Load Balancer (GWLB) with Palo Alto Firewalls
In this blog post, we're exploring AWS Gateway Load Balancer, commonly known as GWLB. We'll get
9 min read
Python For Network Engineers - Introduction (I)
Let me start by saying that I'm a Network Engineer who has been using Python for several years,
4 min read
Containerlab - Creating Network Labs Can't Be Any Easier
What if I tell you that all you need is just a YAML file with just a bunch of lines
14 min read
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Getting Comfortable with 'I Don't Know' in the IT Industry
Are you, like me, finding yourself caught in the constant whirlwind of evolving technology trends? It seems like every day
3 min read
Automating NetBox with Ansible
In this post, we're diving into automating NetBox with Ansible. We'll explore how to leverage Ansible&
14 min read
Netmiko Configuration Commands Example
In this blog post, we're going to look at how to use Netmiko to send configuration commands to
4 min read
SuzieQ Network Observability
In today’s post, we’re exploring SuzieQ, an open-source network observability platform that’s making waves in the way
12 min read
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How do we overcome Imposter Syndrome?
I was thinking of writing about Imposter Syndrome for so long but I didn't because I thought someone
5 min read
How to Install NetBox on Docker?
In today's quick post, I'll walk you through installing NetBox on Docker. If you've
5 min read
The Correct(ish) Way to Migrate from Cisco ASA to Palo Alto
In this post, I want to share my recent experience where I had to migrate over from a Cisco ASA
9 min read
Reading and Writing Files in Python (with examples)
In this blog post, let's dive into how to read and write files in Python. If you'
5 min read
Working with Lists in Ansible
Hey everyone! In this blog post, let's dive into the world of Ansible and explore how to effectively
9 min read
Python for Network Automation
As a Network Engineer, I've come to realize that Python is no longer something we can afford to
7 min read
Palo Alto Create Bulk Address Objects using Pan-OS Python SDK
In this blog post, we'll see how to configure bulk Address-Objects at once and then add them to
5 min read
What is AWS boto3 Paginator? (with examples)
Today, we're diving deep into a really useful feature of the AWS boto3 Python SDK, the Paginator. If
3 min read
AWS Transit Gateway (TGW) Route Tables, Attachments and Propagations
In today's blog post, we're diving deep into AWS Transit Gateway, focusing specifically on Route Tables,
7 min read
Terraform - How to Associate Multiple Subnets to the Same Route Table?
In this quick read, we're diving straight into a common question many of us have when using Terraform,
2 min read
What is Prisma Access SASE? Beginners Guide
In this blog post, we will go through Prisma Access SASE Fundamentals and what problems it solves for enterprises. The
10 min read
Cisco ISE Wireless 802.1X with Meraki (EAP-TLS)
In this blog post, we'll be exploring a practical example of how to configure Wireless 802.1X with
10 min read
Cisco ISE Wired 802.1X with EAP-TEAP (EAP-Chaining)
In this blog post, let's look at a practical example of how to configure wired 802.1X with
13 min read
How to Start Learning Network Automation?
If you've found your way here, it's probably because you're curious about Network Automation
12 min read
Git for Network Engineers
As Network Engineers, we work with various text files such as network device configurations, scripts, and text-based documentation. Managing these
16 min read
Juniper SRX NAT configuration Example
In this blog post, we will go through the Juniper SRX NAT configuration examples. We will mainly be focusing on
10 min read
Panorama Device Groups and Templates (with examples)
Overview
People who follow my blog may probably know that I'm a big fan of Cisco ASA firewalls
8 min read
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View allTailscale VPN - A Network Engineer's Perspective
Before we get into what Tailscale is or how it compares to a traditional remote access VPN, let’s take
11 min read
Docker Series - Networking and IP Addresses
It’s a bit embarrassing as a Network Engineer that we’ve made it this far into the Docker series
17 min read
Palo Alto Automated Scheduled Configuration Backup
I'm writing this in February 2025, and as far as I know, Palo Alto firewalls (not Panorama) don’
6 min read
Palo Alto Clientless VPN Configuration
As the title suggests, Palo Alto's clientless VPN allows users to access internal resources (HTTPS-based) without installing the
8 min read
Python Getters, Setters and @property Decorator
When I first started working with Python classes, some of the most confusing topics were getters, setters, and @property. There
7 min read
Combining URL Categories on Palo Alto
We know that in Palo Alto, or in any NGFW, we can allow or block various URL categories. Speaking specifically
2 min read
Automation Workflow with Infrahub, Nornir & Jinja2
Originally published in https://www.opsmill.com/simplifying-network-automation-workflows-with-infrahub-nornir-and-jinja2/
In this blog post, we will explore how InfraHub integrates with Jinja2
15 min read
Trying to Automate Palo Alto Firewall Objects/Rules Cleanup
In this blog post, we will walk you through how to clean up Palo Alto Firewall Objects and Rules using
9 min read
Palo Alto SSL Decryption and App-ID
If you work with Palo Alto firewalls, you might have heard of App-ID. They work well and let us create
5 min read
Paperless-ngx Self-Hosted Document Manager
At the moment, most of my documents are stored in Google Drive and locally on my machine. Whenever I need
5 min read
Setting up Proxmox Backup Server
If you follow my blog, you may know that I recently migrated to Proxmox as my hypervisor, and I absolutely
8 min read
Running Unifi Network Application in Docker
As of January 2024, the linuxserver/unifi-controller Docker image has been deprecated and is no longer receiving updates. This means
4 min read
Using the Continue VSCode Extension and Local LLMs for Improved Coding
Welcome back to another post on local LLMs. In this post, we’ll look at setting up a fully local
4 min read
Using Ollama with a Web-Based GUI
When I first started using local LLMs with Ollama, I quickly realised it relies on a command-line interface to interact
5 min read
Running Large Language Models (LLM) on Your Own Machine Using Ollama
I’m going to start by saying I’m totally new to LLMs and running them locally, so I’m
7 min read
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Wall of
Packetswitch Blog has been around since 2020, and thank you for all the support over the past four years. Feedback like this motivates me to write more content and share it with the community. A big thanks to all the readers out there!
Fahad Yousuf - Professional Services Palo Alto Networks
Suresh has covered Network Automation related topics in the format I find most palatable i.e. written text in blog posts. The Ansible series has been especially useful for me as I've learned a lot of new things with the easy-to-follow posts and practical examples. Keep it coming
Suhaib Saeed - Cloud Network Engineer
Suresh's content is really accessible to beginners through to engineers that are a bit more experienced. His blog posts are easy to follow and always have practical examples which you can follow along at home or work.
Utku Özsan - Network Engineer
The content you provide is incredibly valuable – it's easy to understand, packed with practical examples, and has significantly improved my knowledge of network automation best practices. I believe your website will be a great learning resource. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Vithuschan Kirupakaran Eikemper - Network Engineer
Hi Suresh, I am a big fan of your blog. You actually inspired me to start my own blog which I am currently preparing to publish in a bit. Thank you so much for creating such valuable content for the network engineering community!
Allen Tyson - Network Administration Specialist
One of the things I love about packetswitch is how well thought out the content is. Network Automation is a huge topic, with so many different pieces, but packetswitch lets me zoom in on just what it is I want to do/learn and then guides me on how to operationalize tasks
Iynk Tharmakulasingam - Network Specialist
I've been following Suresh's blog for a while now, and he consistently provides great content. He is highly knowledgeable in various domains, and I always turn to his blog whenever I need to refresh my understanding of BGP concepts. His posts are clear, insightful, and always up-to-date, making them an invaluable resource for anyone looking to deepen their expertise in networking.
Wayne Lee
Nice articule, I particularly like that you went the extra step which most ignore and that was adding a change to the devices rather than the initial push.
Gaz
What a great article! I've always struggled to fully understand all the networking options that Docker has. After reading this article, and using some terms learned to do some further reading, I now feel comfortable to participate in design decisions relating to Docker and containers.
Amila Nissanka
Absolutely, Perfect , I very much like your simple English use. Very easy understandable. This is the first time i really got the real understand about Private VLAN.