In this project, I explore using my new Autonomous System Number (ASN) to start my own content delivery network. It doesn’t really host much, just my own internal services, but it should show all of the challenges of running stuff ‘at scale’ (i.e. beyond one single node and datacenter). Starting my own Content Delivery Network In the first video, I introduce my CDN and how I will direct viewers - using BGP-based-anycast, or DNS-based distribution?

Today I’m finally starting to put my AS Number to use, rolling out my Content Delivery Network! Currently it’s actually not delivering anything useful, just some neat statistics, but it’s helping me learn how CDNs work and share that with all of you. Here’s a neat visualizer which helps show how users end up at the CDN, when directed via DNS (geo-dns) and BGP (anycast). AI disclaimer: The DNS server (github link) and my-ip page (link) were written without the use of any AI tools.

Today I’m tackling an issue that gets a lot of network engineers really hung up - in the old days, pushing DHCP data into DNS seemed like a good idea, but now it’s just garbage all around. What are some solutions you can use instead? Today I have three solutions - mDNS (multicast DNS), pushing DNS configs as part of automation (Ansible example), and pushing DNS from the host itself using the DNS protocol (nsupdate).

Today, in the next eposide on my Personal AS series, I have added a third POP / fourth router, and that means I need to configure the POP all over again. That’s a lot of work, so I automated it with Ansible! Also follow along to see my first use of Netbox for automation Contents Video Ansible - Inventory Ansible - Software Setup Ansible - Network Config Ansible - Routing Config Video Ansible Inventory Here’s the final version of my Ansible inventory/hosts.

In this project, I get my own Autonomous System Number (ASN) and start using it to explore the world of BGP routing on the internet, with my own /40 in the default-free zone! Starting my own AS for Fun (No profit) In the first video, I introduce my CDN and how I will direct viewers - using BGP-based-anycast, or DNS-based distribution? I also play with my first experiment, measuring the latency over dns and bgp.

Today I’m taking a look at the Plumspace Smart SFP - a dual core ARM Cortex A53 stuffed inside a 1310nm SFP optical transceiver, which can deal with packet flows at line rate*. Quite a neat little thing, with plenty of use cases. Plumspace Smart SFPs: Link Contents Video Bridging Bridging - Ntopng Routing Routing - NAT44 Routing - NAT46 (CLAT) Wireguard OpenSSL Bench Video Bridging Kernel defaults for br0, configured using /etc/network/interfaces:

Today I’m setting up a GPON network in my homelab. GPON is the ITU’s Gigabit-class Passive Optical Network technology, one of the most commonly deployed fiber to the home technologies. While it’s being replaced by its faster descendant XGS-PON, it’s still capable of 2.44Gbps down / 1.22Gbps up across 128 clients, all using only passive optical components between the headend (OLT) and clients (ONU). I’ve got a single-port Optical Line Terminal (OLT) made by CData, as well as 8x client Optical Network Units (ONU) also made by CData.

Today I’m bringing my shared bookmarks to the Fediverse: @bookmarks@mark.apalrd.net It’s a list of things that I like, basically. I hope to post links to lesser-known content creators or content that I really enjoy. The hope is that if you enjoy my content, that you might enjoy the things that I enjoy as well. Hopefully this brings you things that The Algorithm normally might not. So, anyway, how do you run the server?

Today I’m diving into Netbox, a tool designed to help you keep track of your network infrastructure. Netbox is a database of relationships, showing you what is connected where, all of your equipment, IP addresses and prefixes, etc. We’ve got a LOT to install today! So hold on tight and follow along. Probably also want to do an apt update && apt full-upgrade -y before we start just to make sure the sytem is fully up to date.

Today I’m taking a deep dive into the Thread protocol! Based on IEEE 802.15.4, Thread is a mesh networking protocol designed to balance the needs of small, battery powered Internet-of-Things devices with the ability to communicate directly on The Internet. By leveraging IPv6 and 6LoWPAN, Thread is able to finally bring these automation networks into the land of the Internet Protocol, where interoperability thrives. I walk through the setup of an OpenThread Border Router, OpenThread daemon for end devices, and compile the OpenThread Radio Co-Processor for a Nordic Semiconductor NRF52840 dongle, one of the cheapest ways to get started with Thread.