Packets DownRange
Internet Service provider topics, Network operations, and other topics. Some topics include Mikrotik, Cisco, Arista and other configurations.
Wireless networking technology has evolved rapidly over the years, with each new standard improving speed, capacity, and efficiency. One of the most groundbreaking advancements in this realm is 802.11ax, also known as Wi-Fi 6. As the latest iteration in the IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standard, Wi-Fi 6 is poised to redefine how we connect in … Read more
If you’ve ever worked in IT, network engineering, or even set up your own home lab, you might have come across the term “console cable.” Although it may seem like just another connector, the console cable is actually a critical tool in networking and system administration. So, what exactly is a console cable, and why … Read more
This content is for Patreon subscribers of the j2 blog. Please consider becoming a Patreon subscriber for as little as $1 a month. This helps to provide higher quality content, more podcasts, and other goodies on this blog.To view this content, you must be a member of Justin’s Patreon Unlock with PatreonAlready a qualifying Patreon … Read more
This content is for Patreon subscribers of the j2 blog. Please consider becoming a Patreon subscriber for as little as $1 a month. This helps to provide higher quality content, more podcasts, and other goodies on this blog.To view this content, you must be a member of Justin’s Patreon Unlock with PatreonAlready a qualifying Patreon … Read more
Why Clean Fiber Optic Cable Ends? Fiber optic networks are designed for high-performance data transmission with minimal interference or loss. However, contaminants on the cable ends can significantly degrade the quality of these transmissions. Below are some key reasons why cleaning fiber optic connectors is essential: 1. Maintaining Signal Integrity At the core of fiber … Read more
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is one of the most widely used link-state routing protocols in large enterprise networks, known for its scalability and efficiency in handling complex topologies. One of the key features that makes OSPF flexible is its support for different types of areas. OSPF areas are used to logically group routers, reducing … Read more
Fiber splicing is joining two optical fibers to create a continuous, low-loss, and highly efficient optical path. This connection is essential to maintaining the integrity and reliability of optical communication networks, whether they are used for internet connectivity, telephony, or data transmission. Fiber splicing can be performed in two primary ways: fusion and mechanical splicing. … Read more
https://blog.apnic.net/2024/03/14/ipv6-dns-and-truncation-in-udp/ In February I looked at the behaviour of the DNS when processing responses in UDP, which set the truncated flag in the DNS response. In particular, I was looking for the incidence of DNS resolvers that used the answer section in truncated responses (despite the admonition in DNS standards not to do so) and the … Read more
With the release of Mikrotik Winbox version 4 we now have a Mac native application. This looks the same as the Windows and Linux versions. Way to go, Mikrotik! https://mikrotik.com/download
I recently installed LibreNMS for monitoring some LTE clients. These clients reboot every morning at 3am. This is important to know. When I added them, they all showed up in a warning state. Some google searches said this was due to the uptime default being 86,400 seconds. Libre has a FAQ that explains this as … Read more
/127’s for point-to-point links (RFC 6164) instead of /64’s https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc6164 [RFC4291] specifies that interface IDs for all unicast addresses, except those that start with the binary value 000, are required to be 64 bits long and to be constructed in Modified EUI-64 format. In addition, it defines the Subnet-Router anycast address, which is intended to … Read more
I originally published this article in 2015. For years I have hung out with “Hams” and been interested in the technology. Guys like ka8jil, w9sn, w9smj, w9cjo, and w9abh have all interested me in ham radio. I remember many years ago, before cell signals were digital, I could pull up to a car and watch … Read more