Networking¶

This section covers network protocols, the OSI model, and the Linux network stack - heavily tested topics in Google SRE interviews.

Topics Covered¶

Core networking concepts including the OSI model, routing, switching, and VLANs.

Deep dive into TCP, UDP, DNS, DHCP, ARP, and other essential protocols.

Understanding the Linux kernel network stack and socket API.

Networking questions are among the most common in SRE interviews. Be prepared to explain:

"What happens when you type www.google.com in your browser?" - The classic question covering DNS, TCP, HTTP/HTTPS, TLS
TCP three-way handshake and termination
Difference between TCP and UDP
How DNS resolution works
Subnet calculations and CIDR notation