Networking guides, field notes, and updates from Justin Wilson.
Lots of changes. https://download.mikrotik.com/routeros/7.20beta4/CHANGELOG . here are some important features to meWhat’s new in 7.20beta4 (2025-Jun-13 11:38):*) bgp – fixed origin cleanup for mpls-vpn (introduced in v7.20beta2);*) bgp – fixed warning when instance is not active (introduced in v7.20beta2);*) bgp – fixed withdraw when input.accept-nlri is non-existent;*) bgp – migrate correctly router-id and ASN to … Read more
But in an age where everything is “distributed,” some IX operators are stretching their fabrics far beyond the cities they were born in. While this might seem like growth, it can introduce serious risks to network performance, resilience, and economics.
This guide outlines the critical factors enterprises should consider when selecting a colocation partner.
In modern networking, efficiency is everything. Whether you’re streaming a live event, pushing updates across a distributed system, or delivering IPTV, how data moves matters. That’s where multicast routing shines.
So recently, I got tired of lugging TJ Maxx shopping bags full of cables and optics to the data center. It is wildly inefficient and too big. I tend to just throw things in it because it has the room. This can be a double-edged sword when it comes to hauling things around. After a … Read more
#calix #certifications
Summer is finally here in Indiana. The leaves are green, the birds are chirping, and the Internet is humming along. Let’s get right into PDR #36. Interconnection & Data Center News•KC-IX/HOUIX expands into Fibertown. •Rich Miller shares his top 5 data center podcasts. ISP News•Emergent and Microsoft connect to deliver IoT. •Comcast unveils Gateway for … 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 Wilson’s Patreon at $1 or more Unlock … Read more
When BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) misbehaves, the ripple effect can be massive—routes disappear, prefixes flap, and connectivity grinds to a halt. Whether you’re managing a large enterprise edge or an ISP core, knowing how to quickly diagnose BGP issues on Cisco routers is critical. Here’s a hands-on guide to the most useful Cisco IOS BGP … Read more
Through my job at Nexstream, I have been utilizing Calix University to further my education in the broadband space. I am happy to announce that I have achieved several certificates over the past month.
Recently, I did a VRF article. Like everyone else, I am seeing what all AI can do. As a result, I have been utilizing an AI tool to convert some of my articles to an audio format (Thanks, Cameron). The following is one such conversion of the above article. Keep in mind that this audio … Read more
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a protocol that makes the Capital I Internet run. It is the fundamental system that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and large networks use to exchange reachability information and ensure data finds its way across the complex web of networks making up the global Internet. This post will demystify how BGP … Read more
