Now that you understand how to distribute traffic (Module 1), it’s time to understand how the underlying communication layers work and, critically, how they fail.
This module focuses on the network and protocol layer: the behavior of TCP vs QUIC, the complexities of HTTP/2 and gRPC, and the harsh reality of network partitions in distributed systems.
Key topics include:
- Modern Networking Primitives: TCP tuning, BBR congestion control, and the shift to UDP-based QUIC/HTTP3.
- Protocol-Level Complexities: HTTP/2 multiplexing, gRPC streaming, WebSockets, and how protocol choice affects load balancing and tail latency.
- Network Partitions & Split-Brain: Quorum systems, fencing mechanisms, and operational recovery patterns when the network lies.
Unlike Module 1’s focus on “distributing requests across servers,” this module asks: “What happens on the wire between those servers, and what breaks?”
Module Chapters
Networking 101: The Packet's Journey
What happens when you type 'google.com' and hit Enter? A simple guide to IP addresses, DNS, and how your data travels across the world.
Start Learning →Modern Networking Primitives: TCP, BBR, and QUIC
Why the standard Linux kernel defaults will kill your performance. Tuning for high throughput and the shift to UDP-based QUIC.
Start Learning →Protocol-Level Complexities: HTTP/2, gRPC, WebSockets
Why your load balancer doesn't distribute gRPC traffic evenly, and how connection-level vs stream-level thinking changes everything.
Start Learning →Network Partitions & Split-Brain
When the network lies: understanding partitions vs failures, quorum systems, and how to build systems that survive split-brain scenarios.
Start Learning →