Cloud vs On-Prem, Firewalls, Networking Tools and Commands
Sakshi KushwahaAfter learning about how the internet works and the OSI/TCP-IP models, now let’s talk about the practical side of networking.
Where is your data actually stored?
How is it protected?
What are the basic commands you can use to troubleshoot?
Let’s go step by step.
On-Premise vs Cloud — Where is Your Data?
| Concept | Explanation | Example |
| On-Premise | Your company keeps all servers and networking inside its office. | Small local businesses, old IT companies. |
| Cloud | Servers are owned by Cloud Providers (AWS, Azure, GCP), accessible via internet. | Netflix, Instagram, Startups. |
Cloud = cheaper for startups, flexible, fast scaling.
On-Prem = more control, but expensive maintenance.
What is a Firewall?
A firewall is like a security guard standing at your network’s gate.
| Firewall Type | Meaning | Example |
| Hardware Firewall | Physical device blocking/allowing traffic. | Router firewall, Enterprise firewalls (Fortinet, Cisco). |
| Software Firewall | Software on server or system to filter traffic. | UFW (Ubuntu), Windows Defender Firewall. |
Firewalls protect your server from bad traffic.
Control who can access your services using ports (e.g., only allow Port 80/443).
Must-Know Basic Networking Commands (for Beginners)
Here are quick real-world useful commands for networking:
| Command | Use | Example |
ping | Check if a server is reachable. | ping google.com |
traceroute (Linux) / tracert (Windows) | See the path your data travels. | traceroute google.com |
ipconfig | See your system’s IP address (Windows). | ipconfig |
ifconfig / ip a | See your system’s IP address (Linux). | ifconfig / ip a |
netstat -tulnp | See open ports on your machine. | netstat -tulnp |
dig or nslookup | DNS lookup (check website’s IP address). | dig google.com |
Bonus: Common Troubleshooting Flow
Website not opening? →
pingdomain.comSlow connection? →
traceroutedomain.comPort not reachable? →
netstator check firewall
What You’ve Learned So Far (from Blog 1 to 3)
| Blog | Focus |
| 1 | How internet works (cables, routers, basic flow) |
| 2 | Internet Architecture (OSI, TCP/IP, protocols, ports) |
| 3 | Cloud vs On-Prem, Firewalls, Commands, Security |
Conclusion
Now you have a solid beginner-friendly knowledge of networking basics, how internet systems communicate, and how you can protect and troubleshoot your servers!.
— Sakshi Kushwaha
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