Embedded 521: Are You The Tiny Domino?
Feb 20, 2026
Kenneth Finnegan, a senior solutions architect who builds community-run internet infrastructure, shares lively stories from running an internet exchange, free DNS and caching projects. He talks about BGP, CDNs, subsea cables, carrier hotels, and why small volunteer-run systems matter. Expect networking lore, hobbyist antics, and practical tips for embedded developers learning distributed systems.
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Ask Experts For A Short, Specific Chat
- Reach out to experts with specific, constrained questions or ask for 30 minutes to pick their brain.
- People are usually happy to talk if you show genuine interest and make the ask attainable.
Design For Network Failures
- Embedded developers must learn distributed-systems vocabulary and failure modes, not just protocols.
- Design systems to handle bad data, timeouts, and degraded connectivity gracefully.
Build A Low-Cost Networking Lab
- It's cheap and simple now to build a small lab with Raspberry Pi and virtual machines to learn networking hands-on.
- Packet captures and local BGP labs let you experiment at low cost and pace to understand real traffic behaviors.