This 10/100 switch I was running is older than Jesus. Ok, not quite that old, but it was starting to feel that way. I wound up getting a used Dell 5324 from Ebay to replace it with. just for fun, I tried making a video of the swap process. You can see the results by clicking here.

Google's march towards global network domination continues. Now they are offering free DNS service as described in this brief document. I've decided to give it a go to see if it lives up the to the claims of being "faster" and "more secure".

I'm working on rebuilding my network with an OpenBSD PF firewall in the middle. I found this really great OpenBSD DNS reference written by Daniele Mazzocchio that lends itself well to the sort of structure I want to do. The primary goal is to segregate the lab networks from our personal computers so that I can be more permissive about letting people log in to the UNIX shells, cluster, and router lab.

I'm working on rebuilding my Cisco lab and working on renewing my CCNA and CCNP certifications. I've been meeting on Saturdays with a new study group and we're making some good progress. I'm working on a web page here to keep track of some of my efforts and lab information. While you wait for that to be done, take a look at Scott Morris's lab...pretty amazing!

Network Monitoring Station

A proper lab requires a network monitoring station to practice ways of measuring and monitoring the traffic flows.

Ok, that's not really my workstation in the picture. It does make me laugh every time I see it though.