Control Plane Basics by Russ White

This course builds the foundation for understanding how the control plane works in modern networks  starting from the simplest two-host, two-router model and expanding into real-world protocol behavior. 

Key topics include:

• The Four Things Model, a clean, conceptual way to understand how control plane protocols operate

• How to classify routing protocols and why it matters in design and troubleshooting

• Step-by-step analysis of convergence and what actually happens when the network changes

• The role of abstraction in network design and protocol architecture

This course is ideal for engineers who want to move beyond just configuring protocols and start understanding why they work the way they do.
Taught by Russ White, it delivers the theoretical clarity and design-first mindset that serious network professionals need.