When we are talking about server systems, networking is the first and most important factor. If you are using an Ubuntu server in a cloud or virtual machine, you generally don't notice the network settings, as they are already configured with various network protocols. However, as your infrastructure grows, managing and securing the network becomes the priority.

Networking can be thought of as an umbrella term for various activities that include network configurations, file sharing and network time management, firewall settings and network proxies, and many others. In this chapter, we will take a closer look at the various networking services that help us set up and effectively manage our networks, be it in the cloud or a local network in your office.