Packets DownRange
Here I discuss general technology trends across various market segments, including Internet Service Providers. What are some of the geeky things going on around the Capital I Internet.
For years, the normal answer was a VPN with a management network. VPNs work well, but they require another server, another set of credentials, another client to maintain, and another service that can break during upgrades. With Cloudflare Zero Trust, instead of opening management ports to the Internet, the router stays on a private network … Read more
To the product teams, support organization, partners, and remaining employees of Cambium Networks: First and foremost, my heart goes out to you during these tough, uncertain times. Over the past couple of years, Cambium has taken a beating in the forums and groups. Those of us who understand how the world works always knew that … Read more
I am in the process of converting all subscribers from Noption to the JetpackNewsletters. I apologize if you receive any duplicates. This will allow for more granular control over what you receive. More announcements coming soon.
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
Indiana, specifically Whitestown, has a new WaWa gas station. They have these bright new gas pumps. Of course, I had to know more about the technology behind them. This is most likely using a highly customized Windows CE iOT core or a linux kernel. I am betting Windows. Security on the PumpsThis security framework is … Read more
During a road trip, I noticed this busy tower along the interstate. Being the tower aware person I am I managed to snap this photo.
It’s time to take a break from all the technical posts and get down to human basics. This is a nice break from the fun, but sometimes dry, technical mumbo jumbo I spout off here. I have worked with enough people over the years to realize that there is no single reason people come to … Read more
Say that 3 times. I like these keystone style parch panels because they save so much time. No more punching down. https://amzn.to/4g3tJ8W
I have updated to a newer theme and ditched the “featured post” at the top, which had no active link. I am still searching for a theme that highlights posts similar to what the Ghost blog system does on https://blog.fd-ix.com/ . I kind of like the categories. It’s one of those things is I could … Read more
A good data center is not about lobby photos or vendor language. It is about clean power, working cooling, clear cable paths, useful remote hands, and gear that can be repaired without fighting the building.
How BGP communities help ISPs control inbound traffic, reduce costs, and steer routes between peers without relying on AS path prepending.
Russ White is teaching a class over at O’Reilly about Computer Network Design Complexity and Tradeoffs.