That's a Wrap - TORNOG1

Why It Matters

By promoting digital‑twin testing, secure BGP practices, and accessible AI, TORNOG 1 equips Canadian operators to build a more reliable, secure, and innovative internet infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• Digital twins in container labs enable safe production change testing.
• RPKI and ASPA can mitigate BGP route hijacks globally.
• Fiber optic basics: mode, wavelength, bend radius affect signal integrity.
• Local AI models run on high‑end workstations, not only cloud.
• Toronto NOG highlights need for Canadian network operator communities coast‑to‑coast.

Summary

The Toronto Network Operators Group (TORNOG 1) debuted on April 13, 2026, marking Canada’s first NOG and underscoring a call for a coast‑to‑coast community of network operators. Organizers highlighted the strategic value of a national forum for sharing tools, standards, and best practices.

Key sessions showcased a digital‑twin workflow using Container‑Lab, VS Code, YAML and Ansible to model network changes before production. Brad Gorman explained RPKI and ASPA mechanisms that cryptographically validate BGP announcements, while Sen demonstrated fiber‑optic fundamentals—mode selection, bend‑radius limits, and real‑time OTDR readings. Cisco and independent speakers illustrated that high‑performance AI agents can be built on local workstations, debunking the myth that advanced models require cloud‑only resources.

Notable moments included Jim McDonald and Wesley Dion running a full lab on a laptop, Brad Gorman’s step‑by‑step RPKI registration guide, and John Kappiano’s practical advice for deploying local LLMs on recent Macs or beefy rigs with Threadripper CPUs and RTX 5090 GPUs. The live OTDR demo visually linked physical cable handling to signal loss, reinforcing hands‑on learning.

The event signals a shift toward more resilient, test‑driven network operations in Canada. Adoption of digital twins, RPKI/ASPA validation, and locally‑run AI can reduce outage risk, improve security, and accelerate innovation, while a growing NOG ecosystem promises collaborative problem‑solving across the nation.

Original Description

The Packet Pushers went to the inaugural all-day event for network operators in Toronto, Canada, TORNOG1, on April 13, 2026.   TORNOG presents deep dives into specific skills and technologies relevant to modern network operations, including BGP optimization, peering policies, and cutting-edge network automation. It helps to gain direct access to technical leads and decision-makers from major Toronto-based service providers, enterprises, and global network organizations.  Last, but not least, TORNOG fosters a collaborative network of local operators to improve regional infrastructure and work together on solving complex technical challenges in a neutral environment.

Here's what Packet Pushers saw and heard, including a wrap video where Ethan did a quick braindump of some of his top of mind takeaways from the day on the drive home. Things he's continuing to think about or that he wanted to point out to the community such as Canada needs NOGs, standing up a personal AI, using labs as a validation step in network automation, and fiber optic cabling fundamentals.

Pre-Event Video with Mark Prosser - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanbanks_tornog1-activity-7449452239078711297-lv5g?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEgQcbQBoU-8g9kx-m6ikL4jPDqejYD10l8

Welcome to TORNOG1 - Video - https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7449488447037145090

Attendees are filling up the auditorium and ready to go! - Video - https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7449504975451435008

James MacDonald and Westley Dion - Lab-As-Code: Reproducible Network Validation Before Production -

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanbanks_tornog1-activity-7449460529192079361-71Ym?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEgQcbQBoU-8g9kx-m6ikL4jPDqejYD10l8

Dmytro Shypovalov - Auto Bandwidth using SR-TE - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanbanks_tornog1-activity-7449468017186504704-iilQ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEgQcbQBoU-8g9kx-m6ikL4jPDqejYD10l8

Joseph Nicholson - Network Automation in Baby Steps - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanbanks_tornog1-activity-7449483572345991169-AkDc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEgQcbQBoU-8g9kx-m6ikL4jPDqejYD10l8

Brad Zellefrow - Impactful Network Automation: It's All Part of the Process - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanbanks_tornog1-activity-7449496887604432896-P19s?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEgQcbQBoU-8g9kx-m6ikL4jPDqejYD10l8

The "Other" Event Track - The Lunch Track - Video - https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7449519740001222656

Afternoon Workshop Intro Video - Mastering gRPC for Network Automation - Reda Laichi, Saju Salahudeen - https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7449519740001222656

Brad Gorman - RPKI Basics For Network Operators: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Use It - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanbanks_tornog1-activity-7449527933494456320-Kemw?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEgQcbQBoU-8g9kx-m6ikL4jPDqejYD10l8

Ritesh Mukherjee - 12 Million Canadians Went Offline Because of BGP -- Here's What We Still Haven't Fixed - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanbanks_tornog1-tornog1-activity-7449527433084600322-IAAR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEgQcbQBoU-8g9kx-m6ikL4jPDqejYD10l8

Sen Nordstrom - Fun* With Optical Systems - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanbanks_tornog1-tornog1-activity-7449536961784139776--N8N?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEgQcbQBoU-8g9kx-m6ikL4jPDqejYD10l8

Nikola Grcevski - Slash Your Cloud Network Costs with eBPF Network Monitoring - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanbanks_tornog1-activity-7449543015402131456-6VBp?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEgQcbQBoU-8g9kx-m6ikL4jPDqejYD10l8

Puneet Duggal - Orchestrating Autonomous Resilience: NetSec Convergence in the Era of AgenticOps - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanbanks_tornog1-activity-7449568030315073536-RIlU?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEgQcbQBoU-8g9kx-m6ikL4jPDqejYD10l8

John Capobianco - From CLI to GPT - A Guide for an AIOps Journey - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanbanks_tornog1-activity-7449570356593475584-Hd-Q?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEgQcbQBoU-8g9kx-m6ikL4jPDqejYD10l8

Post Event Social - Video - https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7449882181423951872

TORNOG1 Wrap - Video - https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7450236279327342592

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