Skip to main content
Dantes.io Logo
Dantes.io

Best resources to learnNetwork Management

Study sheet

Network management covers the administration, operation, and maintenance of computer networks. Learners will understand how to monitor network health, configure devices, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and ensure high availability using industry-standard tools.

Where to start

Start with The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking, Google's free beginner course covering the TCP/IP model, IP addressing, DNS, DHCP and the tools used to troubleshoot connectivity. If you only use one resource, make it Mani Subramanian's Network Management: Principles and Practice, a university-level textbook on SNMP, RMON and fault, configuration and performance management. Then practise programmatic device configuration in Cisco DevNet's sandboxes.

6 resources · · How we curate

🎓Courses(2)

course

Managing Cisco Devices

Cisco Networking Academy's networking course catalog, where free self-paced courses introduce network fundamentals, addressing, routing, switching, and device configuration on Cisco equipment. Entry point to Networking Basics and CCNA-track material with hands-on Packet Tracer simulations.

intermediate🇬🇧
course

The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking

Introductory course from Google's IT Support certificate on how computer networks work, covering the five-layer TCP/IP model, Ethernet, IP addressing and subnetting, TCP and UDP, DNS and DHCP, NAT, and troubleshooting tools. Learners can explain and diagnose everyday network connectivity problems.

beginner🇬🇧

📚Books(2)

bookPaid

Network Management Fundamentals

Cisco Press introduction to how networks are actually operated: the FCAPS functional areas, SNMP and other management protocols, management architectures, and OSS systems. Explains what network management software does and why operators need it.

intermediate🇬🇧
bookPaid

Network Management: Principles and Practice

University-level textbook covering SNMP versions 1 to 3, RMON, CMIP, and the OSI management model, plus fault, configuration, performance, and security management. Prepares you to read MIB definitions and reason about how management systems monitor networks.

intermediate🇬🇧

🌐Websites(2)

website

r/networking

Reddit community for enterprise network engineers discussing routing, switching, BGP, firewalls, wireless, vendor equipment and career questions. Readers can see how practitioners troubleshoot real outages, compare hardware and design choices, and get answers to specific configuration problems.

intermediate🇬🇧
website

Cisco DevNet

Cisco's developer portal offering API documentation, always-on sandboxes with live gear, and learning labs for network automation using Python, NETCONF/RESTCONF, and Ansible. Engineers can practise programmatic device configuration without owning hardware.

beginner🇬🇧
Share this topic

More in Computer Networks

See all 10 topics in Computer Networks →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I start learning Network Management?

Start with The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking, Google's free beginner course covering the TCP/IP model, IP addressing, DNS, DHCP and the tools used to troubleshoot connectivity. If you only use one resource, make it Mani Subramanian's Network Management: Principles and Practice, a university-level textbook on SNMP, RMON and fault, configuration and performance management. Then practise programmatic device configuration in Cisco DevNet's sandboxes.

What are the best free resources to learn Network Management?

Dantes has curated 6 resources for Network Management, including 2 books, 2 courses, 2 websites. All resources are hand-picked for quality — no algorithmic filler. Browse the full list above to find the format that works best for you.

Is Network Management hard to learn?

Network Management is approachable at the beginner level — there are resources here specifically for those starting from scratch. As you progress, intermediate and advanced material is also available to take your skills further.

What types of Network Management learning resources are available on Dantes?

For Network Management, Dantes has curated 2 books, 2 courses, 2 websites. Each resource type serves a different learning style: videos and YouTube for visual learners, books for depth, courses for structured progression, and websites for quick reference.

How does Dantes select Network Management resources?

Dantes is an algorithm-free learning directory. Resources are hand-curated based on quality, accuracy, and usefulness — not engagement metrics or paid placements. The goal is to surface the best learning material for Network Management, whether it's a free YouTube series, a classic textbook, or an open courseware from a top university.

Go deeper

Test your understanding of Network Management

Explain it out loud. An AI tutor listens and asks questions that expose gaps you didn't know you had.