Cisco IOS vs Linux Networking

Developers and network engineers should learn Cisco IOS when working with enterprise or service provider networks that use Cisco hardware, as it is the primary interface for device configuration and troubleshooting meets developers should learn linux networking to effectively deploy, manage, and troubleshoot applications in cloud, containerized, or on-premises environments where linux is prevalent. Here's our take.

Cisco IOS

Nice Pick

Developers and network engineers should learn Cisco IOS when working with enterprise or service provider networks that use Cisco hardware, as it is the primary interface for device configuration and troubleshooting

Pros

• It is critical for roles involving network administration, security implementation, and infrastructure automation, especially in environments reliant on Cisco's ecosystem
• Related to: cisco-ios-xe, cisco-ios-xr

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Linux Networking

Developers should learn Linux Networking to effectively deploy, manage, and troubleshoot applications in cloud, containerized, or on-premises environments where Linux is prevalent

Pros

• Specific use cases include configuring firewalls with iptables or nftables, setting up VPNs, managing Docker or Kubernetes networking, and optimizing network performance for web servers or databases
• Related to: iptables, systemd-networkd

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Cisco IOS is a platform while Linux Networking is a concept. We picked Cisco IOS based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Cisco IOS wins

Based on overall popularity. Cisco IOS is more widely used, but Linux Networking excels in its own space.