# Networking

> Design and analyze network infrastructure — TCP/IP, routing, DNS, load balancing, firewalls, VPNs, network security — with explicit assumptions about latency, bandwidth, and failure modes.

- Skill: `quantumquirkxyz/networking` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add quantumquirkxyz/networking`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/quantumquirkxyz/networking/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Security
- Author: quantumquirkxyz (https://skillmd.com/u/quantumquirkxyz)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/quantumquirkxyz/networking

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# networking

Design and analyze network infrastructure — TCP/IP, routing, DNS, load balancing, firewalls, VPNs, network security — with explicit assumptions about latency, bandwidth, and failure modes.

## Goals
- Design network topology with explicit redundancy
- Choose protocols appropriate to latency and reliability requirements
- Plan for network security (segmentation, firewalls, monitoring)
- Diagnose connectivity issues systematically

## Contract

### Input
A system to design or diagnose: topology, protocols, traffic patterns, security requirements.

### Output
A network design document with:
- Topology diagram (physical and logical)
- Protocol selection rationale
- Security controls
- Monitoring and failure response plan

## Layers

| Layer | Protocol examples | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Application | HTTP, gRPC, MQTT, WebSocket | Business logic |
| Transport | TCP, UDP, QUIC | Reliability vs. speed |
| Internet | IP, ICMP, BGP | Routing, addressing |
| Link | Ethernet, WiFi, LTE | Physical delivery |

## Common Patterns

| Pattern | Use case | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Load balancer | Distribute traffic | Latency, cost |
| CDN | Static content, low latency | Cache invalidation |
| VPN tunnel | Secure remote access | Encryption overhead |
| Reverse proxy | SSL termination, caching | Single point of failure |

## Steps

1. **Map the network topology** — who talks to whom, where
2. **Profile traffic** — latency, bandwidth, burst patterns
3. **Choose protocols** — TCP for reliability, UDP for speed
4. **Design security** — segmentation, firewall rules, monitoring
5. **Plan for failure** — redundancy, failover, disaster recovery
6. **Document** — topology, IP ranges, DNS, routing rules

## References
- `../os/SKILL.md` — network stack in OS
- `../../devops/devops-k8s-orchestration/SKILL.md` — k8s networking
- `../../sec/sec-threat-modeling/SKILL.md` — network threats