VPN
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
TP-Link
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.
HTTP Caching
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
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.
Networking
“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.
DNS
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.’
Networking
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.
Microsoft Windows
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.
Networking
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.
MacOS
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.
Media Center
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.
Networking
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.