Insight cloud

Tag: Grafana

  • How to prioritize which DevOps skills to learn first

    To prioritize which DevOps skills to learn first, focus on building a strong foundation in the core competencies that will enable you to effectively contribute to DevOps processes and projects early on. Here’s a recommended approach

    Step 1: Learn Operating Systems + Scripting

    DevOps runs mostly on Linux — so start here!

    • Learn Linux basics (commands, users, permissions, services)
    • Practice Shell scripting (Bash)
    • Learn Python to automate tasks

    This gives you the power to control systems efficiently and it is must DevOps skills to learn.

    Step 2: Master Git + CI/CD Pipelines

    Version control is required everywhere:

    • Learn Git (branching, merging, GitHub/GitLab)
    • Understand CI/CD concepts
    • Start using tools like:
      • Jenkins
      • GitHub Actions
      • GitLab CI

    This helps automate software delivery.

    Step 3: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) + Configuration Management

    DevOps = automation everywhere.

    • Learn Terraform for provisioning infrastructure
    • Learn Ansible or Puppet to configure servers automatically

    These tools help manage systems at scale.

    Step 4: Containers + Kubernetes

    Most modern apps run in containers.

    • Start with Docker (images, containers, registries)
    • Then learn Kubernetes (pods, deployments, clusters)

    This skill is one of the most important for DevOps jobs in 2025 and beyond.

    Step 5: Monitoring + Logging

    To keep systems healthy, you must track performance:

    Tools to learn:

    • Prometheus (metrics & alerts)
    • Grafana (dashboards)
    • ELK Stack or Splunk (log analysis)

    This helps detect issues before users are impacted.

    Step 6: Networking + Security Basics

    Every DevOps role requires:

    • Basic networking (DNS, firewalls, ports, routing)
    • DevSecOps awareness
    • Security best practices

    Security must be integrated into every step of DevOps.

    Step 7: Soft Skills

    DevOps = collaboration between teams.

    Work on:

    • Communication
    • Teamwork
    • Problem-solving
    • Analytical thinking

    These skills make you stand out.

    Learn Based on Your Career Goals

    If you’re already working in:

    • Cloud environments → Learn AWS/Azure + cloud certifications
    • Development teams → Focus more on CI/CD + automation
    • Operations roles → Start with Linux + IaC + monitoring

    There’s no single right path — choose skills that match your interests.

    Final Thoughts: Keep Learning and Building

    DevOps is a fast-changing world.
    The best way to grow is by practicing:

    Work on labs
    Build real projects
    Contribute to automation
    Experiment with new tools

    Following this roadmap gives you:
    A strong foundation
    Job-ready skills
    Clear path to senior DevOps engineering roles

    Next Steps :

  • Essential Ports and Protocols Every DevOps Engineer Should Know

    As a DevOps engineer, your work doesn’t stop at CI/CD pipelines or writing infrastructure-as-code. You’re also a bridge between development, operations, and the underlying network that makes everything talk to each other.should know Ports and Protocols.

    And here’s the truth: if you don’t understand the ports and protocols your systems rely on, troubleshooting production issues or securing them becomes a nightmare.

    So let’s break down the networking essentials every DevOps engineer should know — the ports and protocols, and why they matter in your daily workflow.

    1. Core Web and Application Protocols

    These are the backbone of Application — if your app touches the internet, you’re using these.

    ProtocolPortTransportWhy It Matters for DevOps
    HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)80TCPHandles unsecured web traffic. Typically used for redirects to HTTPS. Make sure your web servers (like Nginx or Apache) listen here only for redirection.
    HTTPS (HTTP Secure)443TCPEncrypts web communication using SSL/TLS. Ingress controllers, CDNs, and app servers must handle TLS certificates and termination correctly.
    DNS (Domain Name System)53UDP/TCPResolves domain names to IPs. Misconfigured DNS can break deployments, service discovery, or even CI/CD pipelines.

    Always validate your DNS records and automate certificate renewals (using something like cert-manager in Kubernetes).

    2. Infrastructure & Remote Access Protocols

    You’ll use these daily for server management, deployments, and automation.

    ProtocolPortTransportWhy It Matters
    SSH (Secure Shell)22TCPThe lifeline for secure remote access to Linux/Unix servers and CI/CD agents. Best practice: Change the default port and restrict access via firewalls or security groups.
    RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol)3389TCPUsed for graphical access to Windows servers. Even if you’re mostly cloud/Linux, it’s essential when managing Windows build agents or hybrid environments.

    Lock down SSH and RDP to specific IPs or use bastion hosts — never expose them directly to the internet.

    3. Database & Messaging Protocols

    If your app stores or moves data, these ports are the lifelines. They also happen to be common attack targets.

    ProtocolPortTransportWhy It Matters
    MySQL3306TCPStandard for MySQL/MariaDB. Should never be publicly accessible allow only internal traffic.
    PostgreSQL5432TCPPopular open-source database. Same rule: restrict access tightly.
    MongoDB27017TCPDefault MongoDB port. Enable authentication and firewall restrictions.
    Redis6379TCPUsed for caching and session storage. Protect it — Redis often holds sensitive in-memory data.
    MQTT1883 / 8883 (secure)TCPCommon in IoT and microservice messaging. Know these if managing brokers like Mosquitto.

    Treat database ports like secrets — only your app should be talking to them.

    4. Operational & Monitoring Ports

    These keep your systems observable, automatable, and healthy.

    Tool / ServicePortTransportWhy It Matters
    Jenkins8080TCPDefault for Jenkins and many CI/CD tools. Watch for port conflicts in shared environments.
    Prometheus9090TCPExposes metrics for scraping. Make sure Grafana or other dashboards can reach it.
    Grafana3000TCPDefault web UI for visualization dashboards.
    Kubernetes API Server6443TCPThe control plane’s main entry point. Lock it down with RBAC and network policies.
    Health ChecksVaries (e.g., 8080/8081)TCPUsed by Kubernetes or load balancers for readiness/liveness probes. Keep them lightweight and reliable.

    Ports Are Policy

    Understanding ports isn’t just about memorizing numbers — it’s about enforcing good security and operational practices.

    Here’s how to apply this knowledge:

    • Principle of Least Privilege: Only open what’s absolutely necessary. Close everything else.
    • Use FQDNs over IPs: DNS simplifies environment management and scaling — let names handle the routing.
    • Audit Regularly: Tools like ss, netstat, or Kubernetes kubectl port-forward can show you exactly what’s exposed.
    • Embrace HTTPS: Port 80 should exist only to redirect traffic to 443. Automate SSL/TLS renewal and rotation.

    Final Thoughts

    Networking isn’t just the concern of your infrastructure team .it’s part of your DevOps DNA. By mastering ports and protocols, you’re not just connecting services; you’re building reliable, secure, and scalable systems that stand strong under real-world traffic.

    After all, every deployment travels across the network — make sure you understand the roads it takes

    What’s Next?

    The journey is ongoing. I’m glad to have you along for the ride.

    Devops tutorial :https://www.youtube.com/embed/6pdCcXEh-kw?si=c-aaCzvTeD2mH3Gv