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The Network Engineer’s Survival Guide: AFC, NaaS, and Events You Can’t Miss

Aloha RouterFreakers! 🤙

Hope your packets are flowing smoother than a freshly rebooted switch! This week, we’re diving into two hot new articles that’ll make you the envy of every network engineer at the water cooler (or, let’s be honest, the server room coffee pot). Plus, we’ve rounded up some must-attend events—because nothing says “networking” like actually leaving your desk.

🚦 New on RouterFreak: Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) Systems

Ever wish your Wi-Fi could dodge interference like a ninja dodges obstacles? Enter Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) Systems! Our latest deep-dive explains how AFC is revolutionizing 6 GHz Wi-Fi, letting you crank up the power (legally!) without accidentally knocking your neighbor’s microwave offline. Learn how AFC keeps your enterprise wireless humming, even in the wild jungle of the unlicensed spectrum.

Warning: Reading this may cause you to look at your access points and whisper, “You complete me.”

Check it out: Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) Systems

☁️ Network as a Service (NaaS): Now Its Their Problem

Still wrangling with racks of hardware like it’s 1999? Time to let NaaS take the wheel! Our new guide breaks down how Network as a Service lets you rent, flex, and automate your network—no forklift upgrades required. Whether you’re a startup or running a global WAN, NaaS means more uptime, less downtime, and zero time spent untangling mystery cables. We’ll also address the potential costs and issues created by loss of control.

Bonus: You’ll finally have a good answer when your boss asks, “Can we do this in the cloud?”

Read more: Network as a Service (NaaS)

🗓️ Upcoming Events for Network Engineers

Because even the best engineers need to escape the server room sometimes. Here’s what’s on the horizon:

• Cisco Live!
  June 8-12, 2025 | San Diego, CA
  The Super Bowl of networking. Expect deep dives, hands-on labs, and more Cisco swag than your luggage can handle.

• Serverless Architecture Conference
  May 12-15, 2025 | London, UK
  Perfect for those who believe “the best server is someone else’s server.”

• Extreme Connect 2025
  May 19-22, 2025 | Las Vegas, NV
  Where network pros and extreme Wi-Fi meet—bring your best troubleshooting war stories.

• AWS re:Invent
  Dec 1-5, 2025 | Las Vegas, NV
  Cloud, AI, and enough networking sessions to make your head spin (in a good way).

• Networking Conferences 2025
  Throughout 2025 | Global
  From Glasgow to Krakow, check out this list for more ways to level up your skills and meet fellow packet pushers.

That’s a wrap for new content this week! Keep Scrolling for Data Call, Engineer Resources, and Opportunities to Contribute and Connect.
Got a killer tip, a burning question, or a meme-worthy network diagram? Hit reply—we love hearing from you (and yes, we read every RFC you send).

P.S. If you enjoyed this, forward to a friend or your favorite sysadmin. Sharing is caring—unless it’s your root password.

PPS. We are testing out a new Newsletter platform, please let us know how the newsletter looks and performs on your devices. We are also always welcoming feedback on our newsletter, do you like our attempt at Networking humor this week? Reply and let us know!

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Data Call

This week, we are leaving open our survey on your favorite Network Management Tools. Let us know in our super quick 3 question survey and we'll share the results with everyone in the next newsletter.

Our Audience Survey is still open!

Recommended Reading

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!

​Specific Requests:

We've received requests for the following Visio stencils, does anyone have these so we can get them into our archive and out to the specific RouterFreaks who asked for them?

• Cisco RV345 dual WAN router

• AudioCodes Mediant 1000B Gateway

• Versa box

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 [email protected]

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!

​

Mahalo,
​

Dan on behalf of RouterFreak