PodcastsBusinessThe Art of Network Engineering

The Art of Network Engineering

Andy and Friends
The Art of Network Engineering
Latest episode

203 episodes

  • The Art of Network Engineering

    Networking for AI: Why Every Network Engineer Should Pay Attention in 2026

    03/06/2026 | 45 mins.
    AI infrastructure is reshaping networking faster than most engineers realize.
    In this episode, Andy Lapteff sits down with Scott Robohn to discuss why traditional network engineers should start paying attention to AI networking, GPU infrastructure, and the massive changes happening inside modern data centers.
    They explore:
    Why AI workloads are changing networking requirements
    GPU networking and lossless Ethernet
    Ethernet vs InfiniBand
    The rise of NeoCloud providers
    Co-Packaged Optics (CPO)
    Ultra Ethernet and emerging transport technologies
    Why AI infrastructure behaves like “one giant computer”
    How network engineers can start learning this technology today
    This conversation cuts through the hype and focuses on what actually matters for engineers trying to stay relevant as AI continues transforming the industry.
    Whether you're a traditional network operator, automation engineer, architect, or someone curious about the future of networking, this episode will help you understand where the industry is heading next.
    Guest: Scott Robohn
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottrobohn/
    Connect with The Art of Network Engineering:
    https://linktr.ee/artofneteng
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    This episode has been sponsored by Meter.
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  • The Art of Network Engineering

    Why Most Engineers Struggle to Build Visibility (And How to Change That)

    20/05/2026 | 52 mins.
    Andy Lapteff sits down in person with Tom Hollingsworth ahead of Networking Field Day 40 for a wide-ranging conversation about Tech Field Day, what makes a great delegate, how great technical conversations happen, and why curiosity remains one of the most important traits in networking.
    Tom shares the “secret sauce” behind Field Day: strong content, the right audience, and logistics that make the experience valuable for both vendors and delegates. Andy and Tom also discuss AI in networking, the difference between AI for infrastructure and infrastructure for AI, how new voices get discovered in the tech community, and why putting yourself out there can change the trajectory of your career.
    If you want to grow your presence in the networking industry or learn how to ask better technical questions, this episode is for you.
    Send us Fan Mail
    This episode has been sponsored by Meter.
    Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!
    Support the show
    Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng
  • The Art of Network Engineering

    Tech Careers Are Built on Relationships, Not Resumes

    06/05/2026 | 29 mins.
    In this episode, we break down why traditional job applications are failing and how networking communities like USNUA are becoming the fastest path to career growth in IT.
    You’ll learn:
     Why applying online isn’t working 
     How real opportunities come from real conversations 
     Why community matters more than certifications 
    You don’t get hired through applications. You get hired through people.
    If you want to grow your career, this is the shift you need to make.
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    Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng
  • The Art of Network Engineering

    You Don’t Need Python Anymore: Hello World For AI

    22/04/2026 | 53 mins.
    For years, network engineers were told the same thing:
    “Learn Python… or fall behind.”
    But what if that’s no longer true?
    In this episode, we walk through a real Hello World for AI in networking: connecting an AI agent to NetBox using Model Context Protocol (MCP) and querying network data in natural language.
    No scripts.
    No Python expertise.
    Just results.
    This is a live, unfiltered build, from cloning a repo to debugging JSON to finally asking:
    “How many sites do I have in New York?”
    …and getting an answer instantly.
    What You’ll Learn:
     Why Python is no longer the entry point to network automation 
     What MCP is and how it connects AI to your network 
     How to query NetBox using natural language 
     How AI handles tasks that used to require scripts 
     Where human-in-the-loop still matters 
    Why This Matters:
    Most network engineers haven’t started automation, not because they don’t want to, but because the barrier felt too high.
    AI just lowered it.
    This episode shows you exactly where to start.
    Send us Fan Mail
    This episode has been sponsored by Meter.
    Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!
    Support the show
    Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng
  • The Art of Network Engineering

    Grow Your Career in 2026

    08/04/2026 | 1h 14 mins.
    What does a network engineer actually make in 2025–2026? How do you ask for a raise without making it weird? And what's the single biggest thing holding your career back? We recorded this one live.
    This episode comes straight from the US Networking User Association PA Network User Group 2026 Spring Career Day — a standing-room-only event organized by USNUA in the Philadelphia area. Five talks. Five perspectives. All of it relevant to where you are right now in your career.
    Drew Conroy Murray from Packet Pushers kicks things off with highlights from their global salary survey — 418 respondents across 33 countries, with some genuinely surprising numbers around certifications, tools, and geographic salary gaps. Pat follows with a straightforward breakdown of how to build your case, time your ask, and walk out of a raise conversation with something — even if the answer is no.
    David takes it from there with a hard truth most engineers don't want to hear: being good at your job is the floor, not the ceiling. Visibility, advocacy, and knowing who has influence over your next move matters more than you think. Danny brings the career path conversation — why management isn't the only way up, why passion matters more than a title, and why finding your people changes everything.
    Andy closes with a personal story about unemployment, cognitive bias, and what it actually took to unlearn a decade of being anti-automation. Fair warning: it gets real.
    This is the kind of conversation that usually stays in the room. We're glad we got to record it.
    Topics covered: salary benchmarks, asking for a raise, promotion strategy, career pathing, network automation, cognitive bias, personal brand, soft skills
    Send us Fan Mail
    This episode has been sponsored by Meter.
    Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!
    Support the show
    Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng
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About The Art of Network Engineering
The Art of Network Engineering blends technical insight with real-world stories from engineers, innovators, and IT pros. From data centers on cruise ships to rockets in space, we explore the people, tools, and trends shaping the future of networking, while keeping it authentic, practical, and human.We tell the human stories behind network engineering so every engineer feels seen, supported, and inspired to grow in a rapidly changing industry.For more information, check out https://linktr.ee/artofneteng
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