Installation Installation was really straightforward and, like most Linux distributions, walked through the usual steps including keyboard and language selection, software package options, user creation, bootloader configuration, and installation. First…
When I decided to expand my homelab, I wanted something small, quiet, and inexpensive that I could leave running without adding much to my electricity bill. My existing homelab already…
Roku Ultra 4850R Review I was starting to notice my old Roku Ultra 4660X slowing down and needing to be rebooted every once in a while. After years of using…
I was in the market for a pair of over-ear headphones to mix things up from my usual Apple AirPods Pro. They’ve been great for everyday use, but I wanted…
What is Home Assistant? Home Assistant is a locally run software platform that lets you control and automate smart home devices, usually on dedicated hardware inside your home. One of…
This is a high-level review of Kali Linux, a specialized Linux distribution built for security professionals and enthusiasts. Designed for penetration testing, security research, and other cybersecurity tasks, Kali Linux…
I wanted to share another homelab update and wrap up what I worked on this year. Last year I mentioned that a server upgrade was on my wishlist, and I…
Understanding the difference between a modem, router, and firewall can get confusing, especially when some devices are combined or when multiple devices can contain the same features. Each devices plays…
Choosing the right hardware for OPNsense is one of the most important steps when building a reliable firewall or router. The hardware you run OPNsense on affects performance, power consumption,…
CachyOS has been on my list to try out for a while, and with the recent November 2025 (251129 release), I figured now was a great time for a CachyOS…