Packets DownRange
Product and software reviews as well as Certification topics, education resources for ISP-focused and network-focused readers. New Product launches
LibreQoS 2.2 ChangeLog LibreQoS 2.2: What Changed Since 2.1 LibreQoS 2.2 guides operators from a fresh install through admin creation, interface selection, network preview, and service startup in the browser. Operators can build topology visually, shape subscribers created from RADIUS sessions, and compare queued demand with traffic that actually crossed the wire. This changelog covers … Read more
Multi-core fiber places several independent optical cores inside one standard 125-micron cladding. It increases channel density, but it also requires different connectors, splicing methods, and testing procedures.
I am getting back to recording some videos, and this time I am taking a quick look at the Alta Labs AP7 Pro. This is not meant to be a full review or performance test. I wanted to get the AP7 Pro on camera, show the hardware, and give everyone a closer look at the … Read more
If you work around data centers and high-density builds, you have probably heard the term “Multi-Core Fiber” thrown around. People use it in a few different ways. Sometimes, it means a new fiber trunk that comes into a cabinet as a single cable and breaks out into dozens or even hundreds of fibers. That setup … Read more
Prefix lists define which BGP routes match a policy. Route maps use those matches to permit routes, deny them, or change attributes such as local preference.
A prefix can appear in the global BGP table and still have a routing problem. The route may originate from the wrong ASN. Its ROA may also authorize a shorter prefix but reject the advertised prefix length. Checking each part normally means pulling data from several routing tools. The J2SW Prefix Advertisement Checker, my 3rd … Read more
The J2SW BGP Community Builder selects documented provider communities and generates scoped policy fragments for MikroTik, Cisco, Junos, and FRRouting.
Being in the ISP world I see the home router and network cause a majority of the problems blamed on the ISP. Most home networks put the router, switch, firewall, and Wi-Fi radios into one do-it-all box. This can be underpowered in terms of both processing power and Wi-Fi signal strength. In this post, I … Read more
What’s new in 4.3 (2026-Jul-20 10:14): *) app: add Windows for arm64 version in file WinBox_Windows_arm64.zip;*) form: make multiline input field height logic as in WinBox v3;*) table: add quick comment feature (allow multi-row commenting);*) table: allow opening “Table settings” also via right mouse click;*) table: calculate implicit height to fit 16 regular rows including … Read more
Ever wondered what the effects of different combinations of PPPoE, GRE, and others have on the MTU of a packet? I am excited to announce the first of many J2 Network tools: the J2SW MTU and Encapsulation Calculator. You select the service MTU and the encapsulation used on the path. The calculator then works out … Read more
I am starting a type of blog post, I will start working into the rotation. These will be aimed at quick knowledge you should know along with an action. In our busy lives we don’t have time to read through 3 pages of text to do soemthign that takes less time to do than it … Read more
