My wife was already working from home when this all came down, and it just wasn't cutting it for the two of us to be in the same office together.  She would get a client call and need to leave the room (for privacy sake) or I would get on a conference call and she would need to leave the room (seeing a pattern here?).  So I moved into an alcove in our basement (where I had a desk already setup for another business), found an old 32" flat screen TV with an HDMI input, scrounged an old keyboard and mouse (*and something else...see pics!) and I was off to the races.  Added a BT headset for conference calls and an old HD USB camera for video (see, being a packrat DOES come in handy sometimes!! ;-).   My wife is wonderful in that she brings me breakfast and lunch down here, so I'm not forlorn.  I do have a spacious "rec room" at my disposal, so I could workout...but just haven't gotten there yet.  My fat arse does remind every so often to get up and stretch, which I do, and the "meeting room" (read "loo") is just steps away so I'm pretty well set.   Take care, everyone, and stay safe.  We will get through this!!                                                                             My Lovely posted a couple of pictures to make it feel more "homey".     *Docking Station? We don't need no stinking Docking Station! ... View more

As John Steinbeck so eloquently put it, "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft aglay!" and as we know in IT, this is too true.  I am not a huge fan of resolutions because although I may resolve to do something, my users have a way of taking that resolve, throwing it on the floor, trampling it ferociously and leaving it for dead.   Now, having said that, there are a few things that I have changed about myself:   1. I am more organized.  I start each day with a to-do list (more of a "wish" list, mind you, but it's something) and I strive to get those things done in between the mortar salvos from the user community. 2. I am more involved in the field.  In speaking with my supervisor at the end of last year, I realized that I need to be more "boots-on-the-ground", and put a face to the actions.  Although I can do almost everything I need to do remotely, it is nice to get in my vehicle and make some "house calls", as it were. 3. I am taking steps to be more fit in all areas of my life: physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.  My wife and I have started reading the Bible every day (well, OK, you got me: we actually have Alexa read it to us, but that still counts!); my company has implemented a new wellness program and I am actively involved in that; I plan on travelling a lot this year, and I am enjoying my life and my work more than ever! 4. I will get my CCNA certification before the February 23rd, 2020 deadline.  I know that's not a change in me, but it is a goal for this quarter.   So there you have it.  Long-winded, I know, but those of you who know me know that I cannot be any other way.  It's just who I am! 😛   As the late, great Stan Lee said, "Excelsior!" ... View more

"I have a new Avatar!"  So I created my "Little Buddy", LANMAN, out of different covers from fiber optic patch cables and SFPs.  LC, ST, SC, etc. plus a little CA glue makes for a pretty cool little minifig!   ... View more

So, Carl, in basic terms, a VLAN, or Virtual Local Area Network, creates an environment where users on multiple networks, like yours (Finance), HR, Sales and IT, can coexist on the same network device without stomping each other.  These networks are invisible to one another even though the users' computers are plugged into directly adjacent ports, which makes it great because you don't want anyone else in the company seeing your data, do you?    It also helps us in IT make the network operate more smoothly by reducing the effect of others' traffic on your network.  That means that when Mary in Sales is streaming Spotify (well, we'll put a stop to that...but you get my point!), your urgent email to the CEO regarding everyone's hefty bonuses will go through lickety split!    Just like you use an HP-12c calculator as a tool to do your job, we use VLANs to help us help you do your job better and more efficiently.  I hope that answers your question. ... View more

This could be the next IPv6!!!  If you didn't pick up on my cacophony of sarcasm, there, allow me to elaborate.   Every one of us knows the benefits of BSF (Better, Stronger, Faster) but are they really (better, that is)?  Betamax was a far (and I mean WAYYYYY far) superior technology to VHS but where do you see Betamax players these days except museums and scrap heaps?    Mac has always been a superior operating system compared to Windows but which manufacturer holds the greater market share?    What about IPv6 as I mentioned?  Superior to v4?  Absolutely!  I did the math and figured out that, if it was possible, every person on the planet could have an IPv6 address assigned to each individual cell in their body...and there would STILL be billions of addresses left.  But where is v6 now?  Really, nowhere.  v4 is still sucking wind and still not wanting to die.  Sure there were some early adopters who are reaping the benefits of low address ranges but it never quite caught on the way, I think, ICANN wanted.  And don't get me started on routing.   My point is that in some cases, superior technology doesn't get adopted, at least not in the throng of pomp and circumstance that the originators hope for.  I like the fact that WiFi6 promises fewer bottlenecks and increased individual user performance compared to v5.  I like the fact that it tells your radio to shut up when it's not needed, thereby increasing battery life.  I like all of these things but unlike those early pioneers, I'll shift into "wait-n-see" mode and then gingerly step over the arrow-ridden corpses once the dust has settled.  Morbid, I know but I have no urge to go after the "bleeding edge".  My hat is off to those who do! ... View more

I love hearing that folks' passion is music.  There seems to be a large number of people who straddle the line between the left and right hemispheres and it's great to see.  It's also nice to see folks who don't mind opening up about their passions, so Kudos, @pcteechur! ... View more

  Right with you, Steve!  I did a rework of my main wiring closet several years ago and it was a bloody nightmarish rat's nest, as shown above.  Not nearly as bad as yours but it, too, turned out OK.  I'm sure most of us have horror stories from the trenches but your's looks ah-maze-ing!  Great job! ... View more

A bit about yourself & your work: Been around the networking community since the early 80s (I helped my college out with AppleTalk back in the day!); went through MCSE training back in the mid-90s, which solidified my love of the craft.  Nowadays, I work in the Oil & Gas industry as a combo PC tech/Network Admin.  The PC tech stuff I can do in my sleep but it's the networking that I love...and I get to do enough of it to keep me sane!   Your experience with Cisco Meraki: My company has recently begun the transition from straight Cisco switches to Merakis.  I attended several webinars last year during the intro promotions, and was fortunate enough to receive an MX SA, an MS-8 and an MR33 AP.  I have them setup and running, and they have been invaluable as learning tools.  I also attained the CMNO certification last year and just started the process of upgrading to the CMSS.   A fun fact about yourself: I play the Chapman Stick Bass ... View more