Sponsored by

Pardon the Dust, We're Updating

Aloha RouterFreaks! We've been working hard on updating our website, especially the backend infrastructure that has accumulated tech debt. Did you know that RouterFreak was started with Joe Wilson's first post in March 2008?! We believe we have vastly improved load times for most users and improved the overall layout of the website. If you encounter any glitches, please let us know by replying to this email with a description of what you are experiencing and what browser/device you are using.

Survey Results are in!

We are thrilled to share the results of our 2025 audience survey. First and foremost, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to participate. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand your needs, preferences, and challenges in the ever-evolving world of network engineering. Scroll down to the Data Call section to see the results or take the survey (we're leaving it open to keep the feedback loop open).

The Roadmap

Don’t worry, this will be one of the only roadmaps on the internet that doesn’t include a memecoin.

We are hard at work improving RouterFreak to provide outstanding FREE network engineering content.

Q1 2025

• Backend Infrastructure upgrades – to improve website speed and responsiveness for mobile users (40% of our visitors are on mobile devices)
• Writer Recruiting – finding experienced network engineers to assist with writing in-depth technical articles and troubleshooting guides
• Industry Partnerships – we will keep RouterFreak free to our users through the support of networking equipment vendors and also draw on their staff’s expertise in developing troubleshooting guides
• Expand Free content - We are working to expand our free downloads area which currently contains Visio Stencils (always looking for more!) to also include Python scripts for network automation. We will also be making our eBook offerings free! And as time allows, updating their content because some of their content has missed a couple patches.

Q2 2025

• Develop RouterFreak CTFs for certification preparation and skills maintenance. We envision this augmenting our written content by allowing for hands on practice of basic skills, combined with flash cards and/or quizzes to validate knowledge on subjects. If you have suggestions on how you want this to look or feel, please reply to this email.

Call for Feedback

Let us know by replying to this email if you like the direction we are planning to go and if you have any suggestions.

Stay Plugged In

Don't miss out on our upcoming articles, reviews, and training materials. Make sure to:

• Bookmark our website
• Follow us on social media
• Share this newsletter with your colleagues

Check out our latest content below and if you're using Gmail, move our newsletter to your primary mailbox to ensure proper delivery!

Custom Application Development and Network Consulting

Tradewinds Tech Solutions Delivers Our sponsor for this newsletter is an Application Development and Managed IT provider that has led the refresh of RouterFreak's website. They provide remote services in English worldwide and on-premises solutions throughout Hawaii. Solutions with Aloha

​

Fresh Content

Network Source of Truth: The Foundation for Reliable Network Automation Explore the importance of NSoT, implementation strategies, and its impact on network automation and management Read article

​

Implementing Robust Network Failover Learn strategies for automatically switching to a backup network connection or device to maintain high availability. Read article

Other Great Reading

Zero-Day Newsletter: Cybersecurity reports, news, and insights for IT professionals The cheekiest cybersecurity newsletter on the planet. Cybersecurity news doesn't have to be boring. Comparitech's Zero-Day Newsletter is focused on giving IT professionals weekly updates on cybersecurity alerts, ransomware news, industry insights, and IT product recommendations. Subscribe​

Keep up with AI & Tech in 5 minutes Get the free daily email with the most interesting tech news and insights. Subscribe ​

Data call

Audience Survey Results Check out the results of our Audience Survey that is guiding our future content Road Map. Survey Results

In case you missed our current data call, take our Audience Survey:

Job Board

Got a job opening you need to fill or are you looking for a new position? Reply to this email to get in touch with us! We'll be posting known openings in our newsletter to help our community continue to advance their careers in Network Engineering.

Resource Center

To improve accessibility to our free resources, we will include links to our free downloads page in every newsletter.

​

Call for Resources:

Do have Visio Stencils we are missing or Python Scripts we can share with other newsletter subscribers (no paywalls, we only ask visitors to subscribe to our newsletter for access). Reply to this email with whatever you can help our community out with!

​

Contribute and Connect

We believe that the strength of our network lies in the collective wisdom of our members. As we continue to grow and evolve, we're reaching out to tap into the vast pool of knowledge and resources that you, our valued readers, possess.

We're looking for:

• Technical guides you've created or found particularly useful
• Troubleshooting tips that have saved the day
• Book recommendations for network engineers at all levels
• Online courses or webinars that have enhanced your skills
• Tools and software that have improved your workflow
• Industry reports or whitepapers worth sharing
• Regular content writers

Your contributions will help fellow network engineers tackle challenges, stay updated with the latest trends, and grow professionally. By sharing, you're not just helping others – you're strengthening our entire community. How to contribute:

1. Email your resources to info@routerfreak.com
2. Include a brief description of why you find the resource valuable
3. Let us know if you'd like to be credited by name or remain anonymous

We'll review all submissions and feature the most impactful ones in our upcoming newsletters and on our website. Remember, every bit of knowledge shared is a step towards a more connected and informed RouterFreak community. Let's pool our resources and grow together!

Thank you for being part of the RouterFreak community. Here's to a year of technical excellence and growth!

Mahalo,
​

Dan on behalf of RouterFreak