Course 1 Recap & Forward Map

Course: Course 1 - Foundations & Interfaces Duration: 8-10 minutes Prerequisites: Modules 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 (completed)

Introduction

You've Come a Long Way

Three modules ago, you might have thought managing network infrastructure meant SSH-ing into switches, typing arcane commands, and hoping nothing breaks. Now you know better.

You've explored a production-style fabric using kubectl. You've created a VPC using GitOps. You've monitored switches with Grafana dashboards. You've learned to think like a Hedgehog operator.

Before we move forward, let's take a moment to consolidate what you've learned—and preview where you're going next.

Course 1 Complete

This module marks the completion of Course 1: Foundations & Interfaces. You've built the foundation—now it's time to build on it.

What this module covers:

• Quick recap of Modules 1.1-1.3 (what you've learned)
• Knowledge check questions (test your understanding)
• Preview of Course 2 (where you're going next)
• Confidence-building for the next phase

What's different about this module:

• No hands-on lab (this is reflection time)
• Self-check questions (answers provided, non-graded)
• Shorter duration (8-10 minutes)
• Focus on consolidation and readiness

Let's celebrate what you've accomplished and prepare for what's next.

Course 1 Summary

Module 1.1 Recap: Welcome to Fabric Operations

What You Learned:

Hedgehog Fabric is pre-installed, declaratively-managed infrastructure. Your role as a Fabric Operator is to provision, validate, monitor, and troubleshoot network resources—not to install switches or design topologies from scratch.

You learned that network resources are represented as Kubernetes CRDs: switches, servers, connections, and VPCs all exist as objects you can inspect with kubectl.

Key Moment:

You successfully explored the fabric topology using kubectl—listing switches, servers, and connections—without touching a single switch CLI. That was your first taste of abstraction as empowerment.

Confidence Win:

"I can navigate a fabric environment safely using kubectl commands."

Module 1.2 Recap: How Hedgehog Works

What You Learned:

The GitOps workflow became clear: Git is the source of truth, ArgoCD deploys changes, the Fabric Controller orchestrates configuration, Agent CRDs act as a bridge, and Switch Agents execute on each switch.

You were introduced to three operational interfaces:

• Gitea: Write and configure (edit YAML, commit changes)
• ArgoCD: Deploy and observe (sync status, deployment progress)
• Grafana: Monitor and validate (dashboards, metrics, trends)

You created your first VPC (myfirst-vpc) using the browser-based GitOps workflow.

Key Moment:

You committed a VPC configuration to Git, watched ArgoCD sync it, validated with kubectl, and observed it in Grafana—all without SSHing to a single switch. The abstraction clicked.

Confidence Win:

"I can create a VPC using the GitOps workflow and observe the reconciliation happen across all three interfaces."

Module 1.3 Recap: Mastering the Three Interfaces

What You Learned:

You mastered when to use each interface:

• kubectl: Read and inspect current state, check events, troubleshoot issues
• Gitea: Write configurations, audit change history, review diffs
• Grafana: Observe trends over time, monitor health, aggregate metrics

You learned that Hedgehog VPCs use event-based reconciliation: no error events means successful deployment. You toured all 6 Grafana dashboards: Fabric, Platform, Interfaces, Logs, Node Exporter, and Switch CRM.

Most importantly, you learned a troubleshooting methodology: Check configuration (Gitea) → Verify deployment (kubectl) → Monitor health (Grafana).

Key Moment:

You navigated all three interfaces fluently, correlating information across tools to understand fabric state. You learned to select the right tool for the job.

Confidence Win:

"I know which interface to use for any given task, and I can troubleshoot by correlating data across kubectl, Gitea, and Grafana."

How It All Fits Together

The Full Operator Workflow:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ COURSE 1: What You Now Understand                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                          │
│  1. FABRIC FOUNDATION (Module 1.1)                      │
│     • Pre-installed spine-leaf topology                 │
│     • Switches, servers, connections (Day 1 complete)   │
│     • Kubernetes-native abstractions (CRDs)             │
│                                                          │
│  2. GITOPS CONTROL MODEL (Module 1.2)                   │
│     • Git → ArgoCD → Fabric Controller → Agents         │
│     • Declarative desired state (you declare intent)    │
│     • Automatic reconciliation (system does the work)   │
│                                                          │
│  3. THREE OPERATIONAL INTERFACES (Module 1.3)           │
│     • Gitea: Write/configure/audit                      │
│     • kubectl: Read/inspect/troubleshoot                │
│     • Grafana: Observe/monitor/trend                    │
│                                                          │
│  RESULT: You can operate a Hedgehog Fabric confidently  │
│                                                          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

A Day in Your Life as a Fabric Operator:

1. Check Grafana Fabric Dashboard (morning health check)
2. Provision new VPC via Gitea (project requirement)
3. Watch ArgoCD sync the change (verify deployment)
4. Use kubectl to validate reconciliation (check events)
5. Monitor Grafana Interfaces Dashboard (confirm VLANs applied)
6. Move on to next task, confident the fabric handled the details

You Now Operate Like a Hyperscaler:

• Infrastructure as code (Git)
• Automated reconciliation (controllers)
• Multi-layer observability (events, metrics, logs)
• Confidence through abstraction (no manual switch config)

Before You Begin the Lab

The hands-on exercises in this module require the Hedgehog Virtual AI Data Center (vAIDC) — a pre-configured GCP lab environment that includes a complete Hedgehog fabric, Grafana observability dashboards, and all required services ready to use.

Ensure your vAIDC is running before proceeding. If you haven't set it up yet, complete the Accessing the Hedgehog vAIDC module first — it takes about 20 minutes and only needs to be done once.

Knowledge Check

These questions help reinforce key concepts. They're not graded—they're for your own confidence check.

Question 1: Fabric Foundation

Scenario: Your manager asks, "What's a Fabric Operator's primary responsibility?"

Which answer best describes your role?

• A) Design network topologies and select switch hardware
• B) Provision VPCs, validate connectivity, and monitor fabric health
• C) Manually configure BGP on switches
• D) Install and cable physical switches

Question 2: GitOps Workflow

Scenario: You need to create a new VPC called dev-network. What's the correct order of operations?

• A) kubectl apply → ArgoCD sync → Git commit → Grafana check
• B) Git commit (Gitea) → ArgoCD sync → kubectl validate → Grafana monitor
• C) Grafana monitor → Git commit → kubectl apply → ArgoCD sync
• D) ArgoCD sync → kubectl validate → Git commit → Grafana check

Question 3: Interface Selection for Troubleshooting

Scenario: You suspect a VPC isn't working correctly. Which interface should you check FIRST to understand the problem?

• A) Gitea (check VPC configuration)
• B) Grafana (check switch health)
• C) kubectl (check VPC events for errors)
• D) ArgoCD (check sync status)

Question 4: Three Interfaces - Decision Making

Match each task to the appropriate interface:

Knowledge Check Summary

How did you do?

• 4/4 correct: Excellent! You've mastered the foundational concepts.
• 3/4 correct: Strong understanding. Review any questions you missed.
• 2/4 or fewer: Revisit Modules 1.1-1.3 to reinforce concepts before continuing.

Remember: These are for your benefit, not graded assessment. Course 2 builds on these foundations, so make sure you feel confident before moving forward.

Forward Map to Course 2

Course 1 vs Course 2: What Changes?

Course 1 (Where You Are Now):

• ✅ Understood how Hedgehog Fabric works
• ✅ Learned the GitOps workflow
• ✅ Mastered the three operational interfaces
• ✅ Created a simple VPC (myfirst-vpc)
• ✅ Observed fabric health in Grafana

Key characteristic: Exploration and understanding (mostly read-only focus + one simple VPC)

Course 2 (Where You're Going):

• 🎯 Design and create VPCs from scratch (subnet planning, VLAN allocation)
• 🎯 Attach servers to VPCs (VPCAttachment CRD)
• 🎯 Validate end-to-end connectivity (testing workflows)
• 🎯 Decommission resources safely (cleanup procedures)
• 🎯 Handle real-world provisioning scenarios

Key characteristic: Hands-on provisioning operations (creating, modifying, validating, deleting)

Preview: Course 2 Modules

Module 2.1: Define VPC Network

What You'll Learn:

• VPC design considerations (subnet sizing, IP allocation strategies)
• VLAN selection from namespaces (avoiding conflicts)
• Multi-subnet VPCs (multiple L2 domains within one VPC)
• DHCP configuration options (ranges, custom DNS, reservations)
• IPv4/VLAN namespace concepts and constraints

Hands-On:

• Create a VPC with multiple subnets
• Configure DHCP with custom ranges and options
• Plan IP allocation for a multi-tenant scenario

What's New:

You'll make design decisions (not just follow templates). Which subnet size? Which VLAN? These choices have operational consequences. Module 2.1 teaches you to think through requirements before creating VPCs.

Module 2.2: Attach Servers to VPC

What You'll Learn:

• VPCAttachment CRD (binding servers to VPC subnets)
• Connection types (MCLAG, ESLAG, unbundled, bundled)
• Subnet selection for attachments
• Server inventory review (which servers are available?)
• Native vs tagged VLAN configuration

Hands-On:

• Attach a server to your VPC
• Verify switch configuration (VLAN on correct ports)
• Observe VPCAttachment reconciliation in Grafana
• Troubleshoot attachment failures

What's New:

You'll connect virtual networks (VPCs) to physical infrastructure (servers). This bridges abstraction layers. Understanding how VPCAttachments translate into switch port configurations is key to troubleshooting connectivity.

Module 2.3: Connectivity Validation

What You'll Learn:

• End-to-end connectivity testing workflows
• Using kubectl to inspect Agent CRD interface states
• Reading Grafana metrics to confirm traffic flow
• Troubleshooting common connectivity issues (DHCP, reachability)
• Understanding DHCP relay (switches forwarding DHCP requests)

Hands-On:

• Validate server can obtain DHCP lease from VPC
• Test server-to-server connectivity within VPC
• Use Grafana Interfaces Dashboard to confirm VLANs applied
• Diagnose and fix a misconfigured attachment

What's New:

You'll validate that your configurations actually work (not just trust reconciliation). Testing builds operational confidence. You'll learn systematic validation approaches that apply to any VPC deployment.

Module 2.4: Decommission & Cleanup

What You'll Learn:

• Safe VPC deletion order (attachments first, then VPC)
• Verifying no active servers before deletion
• GitOps deletion workflow (delete YAML files from Git)
• Cleanup validation (ensure switches removed configuration)
• When to archive vs delete configurations

Hands-On:

• Safely decommission a VPC
• Remove VPCAttachments first (proper dependency order)
• Verify cleanup in kubectl and Grafana
• Understand orphaned resource prevention

What's New:

You'll learn to undo your work safely. Decommissioning is a critical Day 2 skill often overlooked in training. Understanding deletion order prevents operational issues like orphaned VLANs or stranded switch configurations.

Course 2: What You'll Be Able to Do

By the end of Course 2, you'll be able to:

1. Design VPCs tailored to specific workload requirements
2. Provision VPCs using GitOps workflow confidently and independently
3. Attach servers to VPCs with correct connection types
4. Validate connectivity end-to-end (DHCP, ping, traffic)
5. Troubleshoot provisioning issues using all three interfaces systematically
6. Decommission VPCs and attachments safely without leaving orphaned resources
7. Operate independently for common Day 2 provisioning tasks

This is when you become productive as a Fabric Operator.

Course 1 gave you the knowledge. Course 2 gives you the skills.

Motivation & Next Steps

You're Ready

Course 1 gave you the foundation:

• You understand the fabric architecture and GitOps control model
• You know the GitOps workflow and how reconciliation works
• You've mastered the three operational interfaces
• You've created a VPC and observed reconciliation

Course 2 will give you the skills:

• VPC design and provisioning for real workloads
• Server connectivity and validation
• Systematic validation and troubleshooting
• Lifecycle management (create → use → decommission)

The difference?

Course 1 was about understanding how Hedgehog works. Course 2 is about getting work done as a Fabric Operator.

Confidence Statement

You've completed Course 1, which means:

✅ You can navigate Hedgehog Fabric using kubectl ✅ You understand GitOps workflow and why it matters ✅ You know which interface to use for any task ✅ You've successfully created a VPC using the three interfaces ✅ You can troubleshoot by correlating data across kubectl, Gitea, and Grafana

You're not an expert yet—that's not the goal. You're a confident beginner ready to tackle hands-on provisioning operations. That's exactly where you should be.

What Happens Next

Immediate Next Step:

Begin Course 2, Module 2.1: Define VPC Network

You'll design your first production-style VPC from scratch, making real design decisions about subnets and VLANs. Everything you learned in Course 1 will be applied.

Mindset for Course 2:

• Experiment: You're working in a lab environment—try things, make mistakes, learn from them
• Validate: Use all three interfaces to confirm your work
• Troubleshoot: When things don't work (and they won't always), you have the tools to diagnose
• Escalate: If you're stuck, that's normal—support is part of learning, not a sign of weakness

Remember the Learning Philosophy:

• Confidence before comprehensiveness (master core operations first)
• Focus on what matters most (common tasks, not edge cases)
• Learn by doing, not watching (hands-on every module)
• Support is strength, not weakness (escalate when appropriate)

Final Encouragement

Three modules ago, this might have seemed daunting:

"Manage a data center network using GitOps and Kubernetes? That's not for me."

Now you know it's not just possible—you've already done it.

You've explored a fabric, created a VPC, monitored switches, and troubleshot issues using kubectl, Gitea, and Grafana. The foundation is solid.

The leap from Course 1 to Course 2 is smaller than it feels. You have the foundation. Course 2 adds depth and practice through repetition and real-world scenarios.

Trust your preparation. You've earned this confidence.

Welcome to Course 2. Let's get to work.

Reference

Course 1 Module Links

Module 1.1: Welcome to Fabric Operations

• Fabric Operator role definition
• Kubernetes-native management overview
• kubectl basics for fabric exploration

Module 1.2: How Hedgehog Works

• GitOps workflow (Git → ArgoCD → Fabric Controller → Agents)
• Three interfaces introduction (Gitea, ArgoCD, Grafana)
• VPC creation walkthrough

Module 1.3: Mastering the Three Interfaces

• Interface decision matrix (when to use which tool)
• Event-based reconciliation model
• All 6 Grafana dashboards
• Troubleshooting methodology

Key Concepts Reference

GitOps Workflow:

Git (source of truth)
  ↓
ArgoCD (deployment automation)
  ↓
Fabric Controller (orchestration)
  ↓
Agent CRDs (bridge to switches)
  ↓
Switch Agents (execution on switches)

Three-Interface Model:

Troubleshooting Flow:

1. Gitea - Verify configuration is correct
2. kubectl - Check deployment status and events
3. Grafana - Monitor runtime health

Grafana Dashboards Quick Reference

1. Fabric Dashboard - Overall fabric health (daily check)
2. Platform Dashboard - Control plane health (Fabricator, K8s API)
3. Interfaces Dashboard - Port status and traffic
4. Logs Dashboard - Aggregated syslog
5. Node Exporter Dashboard - Switch hardware metrics
6. Switch CRM Dashboard - ASIC capacity monitoring

Course 2 Preview

Module 2.1: Define VPC Network (VPC design considerations) Module 2.2: Attach Servers to VPC (VPCAttachment CRD) Module 2.3: Connectivity Validation (testing workflows) Module 2.4: Decommission & Cleanup (safe deletion)

Related Documentation

• Hedgehog Learning Philosophy
• CRD Reference
• Workflow Reference
• Module Dependency Graph
• Project Plan

Course 1 Complete! 🎉 You're ready to continue to Course 2, Module 2.1: Define VPC Network.