Articles written by Lawrence Popa

Top SysAdmin Tools (That Aren’t Software!)

This might not be quite as fun as making things run DOOM, but it’s probably just as important. Here’s my list of non-software tools…

Just for fun

Going Online Like it’s… Lego?

Rather than using retro tech like its modern counterparts, we’re going to get some modern tech to behave like retro. What that means…

Just for fun

Going Online Like it’s 1989: Using an Atari Portfolio as a Terminal Emulator

Oops! You messed up. Big time. You’re working on a network device, making some major configuration changes. As soon as you hit enter,…

Network management

Regex 101 for Network Admins

Regex—short for regular expressions—is a way to describe a search pattern. They can be used to find a text pattern or string…

Network management

From Baud to Awed: The History of the Modem

While not nearly as sexy as the handset of a rotary phone plugged into an acoustic coupler, it can be argued that there are actually more…

Network management

Moving in Concert: What is SD-WAN, and Where is it Going?

SD-WAN evolved quickly throughout the last decade, and we expect more evolutions through the 2020s. Conditions around the modern work…

Network configuration

What is Network-as-a-Service (NaaS)?

The flexible consumption model (FCM)—or as we know it—the everything-as-a-Service (XaaS) model, has steadily, but modestly, taken a…

Network configuration

What is a Backplane? A Network Backplane Throughput Primer

Understanding what backplane throughput is, and it’s related concepts, can help you better design and troubleshoot your network.…

Just for fun

Going Online like it’s 1979, Part 2: The TI-99/4a

I’m excited to get to continue the experiments we started in the first article. Today, we’re moving on from the beloved Atari 800 to…

Network management

Managing the Complex Networks of Financial Services

It’s possible to perform network mapping, device discovery, and asset management manually, but it’s not sustainable. Modern networks…

Tech industry

The Little Cable That Could: The Surprising History of the Serial Cable

The lowly serial cable. It’s been around forever, and despite what you might think, it might be around a for a long time to come. But…

Switches

The Auvik Guide to Basic Switch Configuration

Setting up a network switch on your own can seem like a daunting task. Use this handy guide to get your switch configuration up and…

Just for fun

Auvik is Doomed

If an Atari 800 is what got me into computers, then it was DOOM that got me into networking. Sounds strange right? But prior to DOOM…

Network management

What is Hierarchical Network Design?

Looking for a network with scale and the highest level of performance? Hierarchical network design might be the most effective option.

Just for fun

Going Online Like it’s 1979: The Atari 800

Classic gear, like the Atari 800, is going through a modern day renaissance. For our test, let’s see if it can connect to a modern day…

Trends, forecasts & research

The Top Networking Certifications Guide for 2021

There’s no denying that networking certifications can help you land the right job, or accelerate your career path. There’s a lot of…

Troubleshooting

How to Find and Fix IP Address Conflicts

IP address conflict resolution 101 - /ipconfig release, /ipconfig renew. If that doesn't work, here are some tips to find and fix IP…

Auvik

Reducing Mean Time to Resolution with Auvik TrafficInsights and Syslog

You can streamline troubleshooting, shrink mean time to resolution & spare network users from prolonged downtime with Auvik. Here’s how.

Auvik

3 Reasons to Use Auvik’s Remote Management Features

You can't always be on site to troubleshoot every network issue that pops up. With Auvik’s remote management features, you don't have…

Network management

How to Manage Your Client’s Network—Even When the Network Isn’t Available

Let’s say one of your techs is configuring a client’s firewall and makes a mistake that results in the firewall (and the rest of the…