From Systems Engineer to DevOps Engineer: Your 5-Week Study Plan

Welcome to the 5-week study roadmap designed for system engineer aspiring to transition into a DevOps role. This roadmap is structured to provide a comprehensive learning experience, ensuring you cover the essential topics needed to become proficient in DevOps practices.

Week 1: Introduction to DevOps and Core Concepts

Day 1: DevOps Overview

• Objective: Understand the principles and practices of DevOps.
• Resources:
  • Read The Phoenix Project.
  • Explore DevOps principles and culture.

Day 2: Version Control with Git

• Objective: Learn the fundamentals of Git and version control systems.
• Resources:
  • Git documentation and tutorials.
  • Practice Git commands and workflows.

Day 3: Agile Methodologies

• Objective: Gain an understanding of Agile methodologies like Scrum and Kanban.
• Resources:
  • Agile Manifesto.
  • Scrum Guide and Kanban resources.

Day 4: Basics of Cloud Computing

• Objective: Learn about different types of cloud computing and providers.
• Resources:
  • Cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS).
  • Overview of AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Day 5: Virtualization Concepts

• Objective: Understand the basics of virtualization and hypervisors.
• Resources:
  • Introduction to virtualization.
  • Overview of VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM.

Day 6: Linux Fundamentals

• Objective: Learn the basic Linux commands and work with a Linux distribution.
• Resources:
  • Linux command-line basics.
  • Set up a Linux environment.

Day 7: Review and Revise

• Objective: Consolidate the knowledge gained over the week.

Week 2: Intermediate Concepts and Tools

Day 1: Networking Basics

• Objective: Understand networking fundamentals and protocols.
• Resources:
  • Study network layers, IP addressing, and routing.

Day 2: Shell Scripting

• Objective: Learn how to automate tasks using shell scripting.
• Resources:
  • Bash scripting tutorials.
  • Write basic shell scripts.

Day 3: Cloud Security Basics

• Objective: Learn about cloud security best practices.
• Resources:
  • Study cloud security models and principles.

Day 4: Containerization with Docker

• Objective: Understand the basics of containerization and Docker.
• Resources:
  • Docker tutorials.
  • Practice building and running containers.

Day 5: Microservices Architecture

• Objective: Learn about microservices and their architectures.
• Resources:
  • Introduction to microservices.
  • Study different microservices patterns.

Day 6: CI/CD Basics

• Objective: Understand continuous integration and deployment.
• Resources:
  • CI/CD pipeline concepts.
  • Explore tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI.

Day 7: Review and Revise

• Objective: Consolidate the knowledge gained over the week.

Week 3: Advanced Tools and Practices

Day 1: Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

• Objective: Learn the principles of IaC and tools like Terraform and Ansible.
• Resources:
  • Study Terraform and Ansible basics.
  • Practice writing infrastructure code.

Day 2: Monitoring and Logging

• Objective: Understand monitoring and logging practices.
• Resources:
  • Tools: Nagios, Zabbix, Logstash, Kibana.

Day 3: Database Management

• Objective: Learn about different database management systems.
• Resources:
  • Study relational and NoSQL databases.

Day 4: Network Security

• Objective: Understand best practices in network security.
• Resources:
  • Study firewalls, VPNs, and security protocols.

Day 5: Cloud Automation

• Objective: Learn about cloud automation tools and techniques.
• Resources:
  • Tools: AWS CloudFormation, Azure Resource Manager.

Day 6: Linux System Administration

• Objective: Master key Linux system administration tasks.
• Resources:
  • Manage users, services, and system updates.

Day 7: Review and Revise

• Objective: Consolidate the knowledge gained over the week.

Week 4: DevOps Tools and Advanced Concepts

Day 1: DevOps Tools and Processes

• Objective: Explore various DevOps tools and their role in pipelines.
• Resources:
  • Study CI/CD, monitoring, and automation tools.

Day 2: Cloud Cost Optimization

• Objective: Learn about techniques for optimizing cloud costs.
• Resources:
  • Study cloud pricing models and cost-saving strategies.

Day 3: Performance Tuning

• Objective: Understand performance tuning for different systems.
• Resources:
  • Explore performance tuning techniques.

Day 4: Cloud Disaster Recovery

• Objective: Learn about disaster recovery and business continuity in the cloud.
• Resources:
  • Study DR strategies and tools.

Day 5: Cloud Migrations

• Objective: Understand cloud migration strategies and tools.
• Resources:
  • Study migration planning and execution.

Day 6: DevOps Security

• Objective: Learn security best practices for DevOps.
• Resources:
  • Study DevSecOps and security integration in CI/CD.

Day 7: Review and Revise

• Objective: Consolidate the knowledge gained over the week.

Week 5: Project Implementation and Advanced Topics

Day 1: Review and Goal Setting

• Objective: Review the previous 4 weeks and set goals for the week.

Day 2: CI/CD Principles

• Objective: Deep dive into CI/CD tools like Jenkins, TravisCI, CircleCI.
• Resources:
  • Practice setting up CI/CD pipelines.

Day 3: Container Orchestration

• Objective: Learn about Kubernetes and advanced Docker concepts.
• Resources:
  • Practice deploying and managing containers at scale.

Days 4-7: Build a Project

• Objective: Apply your knowledge to build a real-world project.
• Project Suggestions:
  • Set up a CI/CD pipeline for a sample application.
  • Deploy a containerized microservices architecture using Kubernetes.

This roadmap is designed to provide a structured and comprehensive learning experience. Remember to explore additional resources, practice regularly, and engage with the DevOps community to reinforce your learning. Happy studying! 🎓🚀