Requirements

• OSI Model and Networking Basics Understanding the OSI model layers and how they interact with each other.
• Load Balancing Concepts The purpose of load balancing for availability and scalability.
• Application Delivery Concepts Understanding what application delivery means and how it applies to modern infrastructure.

Description

The 101: F6 Application Delivery Fundamentals course is designed to provide a foundational understanding of the key principles and practices involved in application delivery. As applications become increasingly critical to business operations, efficient delivery, management, and performance optimization are paramount. This course introduces learners to the essential concepts that drive the successful deployment, monitoring, and scaling of applications in modern IT environments. Whether you are new to the field or looking to expand your knowledge, this course lays the groundwork for building a strong foundation in application delivery.

Course Overview

In this course, you will explore the core components and technologies involved in application delivery, focusing on key areas such as network fundamentals, application delivery controllers (ADCs), load balancing, security, and application optimization. You will gain an understanding of how to ensure applications are reliably delivered to end-users with optimal performance, security, and scalability. The course covers a range of topics that are relevant to professionals involved in the deployment, management, and monitoring of web applications, ensuring they meet business needs and performance expectations.

Key Learning Areas

1. Introduction to Application Delivery

   • Application delivery is the process of ensuring that applications are available, responsive, and perform well for end-users, regardless of location or device. You will learn about the overall objectives of application delivery, which include improving user experience, reducing latency, and ensuring application availability. This section will introduce you to the key components of an application delivery infrastructure, which include networking, load balancing, optimization, and security technologies.

2. Application Delivery Controllers (ADCs)

   • A crucial component in application delivery, ADCs optimize the distribution of traffic across servers and applications to ensure reliability, scalability, and optimal performance. You will learn about the different types of ADCs, such as hardware and software-based solutions, and their role in managing application traffic. This section will cover the various functionalities of ADCs, including:

     • Load balancing

     • Traffic shaping

     • SSL offloading

     • Web application firewall (WAF) integration

3. Load Balancing and Traffic Management

   • Load balancing is central to application delivery, as it helps distribute traffic evenly across multiple servers, ensuring high availability and performance. In this module, you will learn about different types of load balancing techniques such as round-robin, least connections, and IP hash. Additionally, the course will cover more advanced topics such as global server load balancing (GSLB) for geographically distributed environments and traffic management strategies.

4. Application Optimization Techniques

   • Optimizing application performance is key to delivering a seamless user experience. This section explores various methods to enhance application speed and responsiveness. You will learn about techniques such as caching, compression, and TCP optimization, which help reduce the load on back-end servers and improve response times. Understanding application optimization will allow you to ensure faster delivery and reduce resource consumption.

5. Application Security Fundamentals

   • Security is a critical aspect of application delivery. As applications are increasingly exposed to external threats, securing them against attacks is a top priority. This section will introduce you to the essential security protocols and technologies used in application delivery, including:

     • SSL/TLS encryption

     • Web application firewalls (WAF)

     • Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection

     • Authentication and authorization methods You will learn how to implement security measures that protect both the application and the data it handles, ensuring compliance with industry standards.

6. Monitoring and Analytics in Application Delivery

   • Monitoring application performance is crucial to maintaining high availability and performance. In this section, you will learn about monitoring tools and techniques that allow you to track the health of applications, detect bottlenecks, and identify potential issues before they affect end-users. You will explore key performance indicators (KPIs) used to assess application performance, such as response time, uptime, and throughput. Additionally, you will discover how to leverage analytics to improve decision-making and drive continuous improvement.

7. High Availability and Scalability

   • Ensuring that applications remain available and responsive during peak traffic times is essential. This section focuses on high availability (HA) and scalability strategies that can be implemented to ensure that applications can handle increased load without impacting performance. You will learn how to design applications for fault tolerance, redundancy, and auto-scaling to provide uninterrupted service to end-users, even during periods of high demand.

8. Introduction to Cloud and Hybrid Environments

   • As more organizations move to the cloud or adopt hybrid environments, understanding how application delivery works in these contexts is essential. This module explores the challenges and opportunities associated with delivering applications in cloud and hybrid infrastructures. You will learn about cloud-native application delivery, leveraging public and private clouds, and integrating on-premises and cloud-based systems for a unified delivery model.

9. Real-World Applications of Application Delivery

   • This section provides practical examples of how application delivery principles are applied in real-world scenarios. You will learn how enterprises across different industries leverage application delivery technologies to optimize their operations. Case studies will illustrate the deployment of application delivery solutions in areas such as e-commerce, financial services, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

Who this course is for:

• Network Engineers
• IT Professionals
• System Administrators
• DevOps Engineers