The frustrating RouterOS–WireGuard VPN peering bug
A bug in RouterOS’ webconfig interface caused me to waste hours troubleshooting what I initially believed was a mistake in my WireGuard VPN configuration.
Networking
Computer network management and equipment.
TP-Link network equipment hijacks some DNS requests
No one remembers the IP address of their favorite websites. Why should you remember your router’s IP address? TP-Link hijacks DNS to give itself a domain name.
A closer look at Steam’s local network cache proxying protocol
Valve Software has introduced a new automatic method for caching game downloads on a local proxy server without needing to reconfigure individual Steam clients.
TP-Link band-steers 2,4 to 5 GHz Wi-Fi even when the radio is off
TP-Link Wi-Fi access points mindlessly band-steer clients off 2,4 GHz to the 5 GHz radio; even during periods when the 5 GHz radio is powered off.
“Gigabit Router” doesn’t mean it can deliver gigabit internet speed
Make sure you buy a network router that can fully exploit your gigabit internet connection. Many routers say gigabit on the box, but doesn’t deliver gigabit speed.
What domain name to use for your home network
Always use the ‘.home.arpa’ top-level domain (RFC 8375), and don’t use the special-purpose ‘.local,’ or made-up undelegated domain names like ‘.lan’ or ‘.home.’
Review of the MikroTik hEX (3rd rev.) as a home router
The RB750Gr3 is an inexpensive network router with advanced network management capabilities for just €50/$60. It’s highly configurable with a steep learning curve.
How to make Windows Update prioritize Delivery Optimization downloads
How to get Windows Delivery Optimization to download updates from PCs on your LAN network (or the internet). Reduce internet data/bandwidth usage with LAN P2P.
Nothing but bad experiences with Realtek Ethernet NICs
The tale of my bad experiences with consumer-grade Realtek networking equipment over the last decade. Intel has always had to come in to save the day.
How I fixed the intermittent Wi-Fi dropouts on my MacBook
The Wi-Fi on my MacBook Pro has intermittently stopped working. (Likely a Broadcom driver issue). Here’s how I turned a simple workaround into a more permanent fix.
Jellyfin and metadata privacy
The Jellyfin media server can enrich your media collection with metadata from online sources. The price may be free, but the cost is metadata for metadata.
systemd application firewalls by example
How to restrict Linux services’ network traffic with per-service systemd firewall rules. Enhance security by only allowing required network access.
Don’t use RouterOS DHCP lease scripts to manage DNS
MikroTik’s DHCP lease scripts don’t execute on DHCP renewals, causing issues with DNS registrations when devices suspend and rejoin the network later.