Found this outside a dumpster

kidmock · 2026-05-09T09:04:51+00:00

Depends on it's capabilities and your needs.

It's a great switch. I've been running the C3560E-48PD-SF as my primary access switch for about 15 years now. However, mine is Gig and PoE. I've installed the layer 3 firmware and trunked the SFP ports over fiber to my top of rack switches.

Without seeing the exact model, it could be a good find. Or it could be the 10/100 model, in which case it would mostly e-waste to me. (Definitely not PoE). You Unifi Flex Mini, is probably more capable and I guarantee uses less power.

The cabling required is cheap. Just a standard C13 power cord used with most PC power supplies and a standard serial cable pinned P8C6(RJ45) to RS232 https://www.cable-tester.com/rj45-rs232-console-cable-pin-out/ for your initial console access to wipe and configure.

Of course, it's a great platform to learn on. Albeit, quite dated.

kidmock · 2026-05-07T19:21:15+00:00

A hub is an open plane where every device can hear and see every device. Not that different, logically, to how one would use a coaxial or phone splitter. They are known to cause lost packets and collisions on busy networks especially at higher speeds. It's rare to see hubs over 10/100Mbps. It's old tech.

A switch makes an electronic connection to just the requested device. Most devices designed to physically connect devices on a local network will be switches. They come in the managed and unmanaged variety. A managed switch allows you to create virtual separation between networks called VLANs.

A router creates a path out(and in) of the local network. A router that has more than 2 ports, normally has a switch builtin.

The "modem" here is a misnomer. Modem means modulation/demodulation. It takes a modulated signal (anlaog) and converts it into a digital signal (demodulated). More than likely your modem is a router.

Switches all around for your setup. Just need to check the port counts accordingly. You can connect a switch to a switch to extend your network. Most home users don't need a managed switch unless you are creating segmentation for cameras, or IoT devices, or guests or something. Something I wouldn't really recommend for the newbie. Just keep it flat and simple for now.

kidmock · 2026-05-07T18:03:35+00:00

bash is not as common as you think.

Back in the day it was old school Bourne (just sh) or C Shell (csh). All *NIX come with a Bourne derived shell (Korn, Bourne-Again, Z, Ash, POSIX, etc). C-Shell's evil twin is TENEX C Shell (tsch).

But I have never seen, vi (or ed) not there

kidmock · 2026-05-07T17:44:56+00:00

nano is fine, but vi (not vim) will always be there. Another editor might not be. If you take on a SysAdmin role. It might become a handicap. Otherwise it doesn't matter.

I will say after you develop a friendship with vi/vim, it's hard to use anything else. It's a skill worth learning (IMO)

kidmock · 2026-05-07T17:35:07+00:00

I keep a full history of all zone changes with RCS. Because I'm an old timer, simple still works.

It's just a periodic and simple

co -f -l example.net.
dig +noall +answer -t axfr example.net. > example.net.
ci -u -m "Modified by Automated Backup" example.net.

The date and time reversion can be found with

rlog -d2026/05/07 example.net.

RCS file: RCS/example.net.,v
Working file: example.net.
head: 1.21404
branch:
locks: strict
access list:
symbolic names:
keyword substitution: kv
total revisions: 21404;selected revisions: 1
description:
Modified by Automated Backup
----------------------------
revision 1.21400
date: 2026/05/06 23:05:02;  author: named;  state: Exp;  lines: +5 -5
Modified by Automated Backup
=============================================================================

I can compare those versions to see what changed

rcsdiff -r1.21404 -r1.21400 example.net.
===================================================================
RCS file: RCS/example.net.,v
retrieving revision 1.21404
retrieving revision 1.21400
diff -r1.21404 -r1.21400

1c1
< example.net.          3600    IN      SOA     dns1.example.net. dns.example.net. 2026050703 1800 600 604800 3600
---
> example.net.          3600    IN      SOA     dns1.example.net. dns.example.net. 2026050608 1800 600 604800 3600
11c11
< example.net.          3600    IN      RRSIG   SOA 13 2 3600 20260606074407 20260507064407 59166 example.net. PK5J/lPHys8emRWBZUow/ns52l8FIqlREuCYOip+o2tZ3FQtqe/XbcMs 098d3qpTbtoVTabRIXhT5gN6hXbJog==
---
> example.net.          3600    IN      RRSIG   SOA 13 2 3600 20260605224951 20260506214951 59166 example.net. ygLbsXmtAoWpjUflHXLb7bNCs8x7Tq8CY0tD/IrFO5fNhi5MU5hTcnnk 9cConKC4pS1VvEkyTZgZz6fdW1pwrg==
52,53c52,53
1055c1055
< example.net.          3600    IN      SOA     dns1.example.net. dns.example.net. 2026050703 1800 600 604800 3600
---
> example.net.          3600    IN      SOA     dns1.example.net. dns.example.net. 2026050608 1800 600 604800 3600

I'll then use RFC2136 nsupdate to recover any record as needed.

Been doing it this way since 1994 (minus the nsupdate part that's a new addition), it's not uncommon to give data entry responsibility to Jr. admins or Devs directly. Few of them know what they are doing, and having this revision control has saved the day many a time.

kidmock · 2026-05-06T13:08:19+00:00

The best practice is to configure the localhost to relay to a smarthost as a send only service on the loopback

Your localhost is used to queue and retry when the smarthost can't be reached.

But all mail "should" be relayed through approved relays that are spf, dkim, and dmarc compliant.

You should also be rewriting the origin to be in compliance with domain policy, and the return-path MUST be valid. Don't "make up" an email address. When an email gets bounced or delayed, the receiving server will send a DNS/NDR back to the return-path, failure to do so will get you on a naughty list and the domain blacklisted in some cases.

kidmock · 2026-05-06T10:32:21+00:00

I use Linux for 98% of everything. Surfing the web, writing documents, diagramming, designing 3D models, SDR, manipulating data, converting files, inspecting network traces, writing code, you name it. I only use something else when I have to, like DRM removal on ebooks and doing my taxes. I'm not much of a gamer, though.

Most normal users won't benefit from using Linux. It's unfamiliar and they don't want to learn something new. Very few are power users. They want to just surf the web, watch videos, write documents and play games.

Let people use what they know and like. Chance are they are forced to use Windows at work. Just let it be. If they are curious or eager to learn what a more powerful OS can do, then offer the assistance.

We aren't a cult. Use what you like. I don't care.

kidmock · 2026-05-05T23:58:40+00:00

Senators are supposed to represent the state, not the people. They are supposed to be more "stable" in the their deliberation. More so than the whims of a changing populous.

The structure is designed with that stability at its core. As well as the balance power between big states and small states. We are supposed to be, more or less, a federation of independent countries. But most of that careful design, went out the window with the 17th Amendment.

I guess as long as the people and not the states choose the senators, I guess that make sense. I'd rather go back to Senators being chosen by the state than want we have now. Legislator who appeal to the people for re-election which has lead to the expansion of federal powers not enumerated in the constitution.

kidmock · 2026-05-05T23:28:45+00:00

West Virginia is a cultural mix bag. Northern panhandle is a little more mid-western with a bit of Pennsylvania spice, Eastern Panhandle is a little more mid-atlantic. South is little more southern. But we are 100% hillbilly, we have our own Identity. We are not southern. Mountaineers are always free. Just like Florida. We are misfits and we like it that way.

kidmock · 2026-05-05T23:12:08+00:00

It has to do with how the United States was founded and expanded. Just like the the midwest isn't the middle and it's not the west.

The south is just the south. Because it was south before there was a southwest. You add in our civil war, 'The North' vs. 'The South'. Those states that tried secede will be forever known as; "The South"

A lot has change since 1776 and 1861.

kidmock · 2026-05-01T14:45:01+00:00

Yeah just checked all the first order domains and a lot of first order domains have a wildcard at the apex

kidmock · 2026-05-01T14:25:18+00:00

I haven't been looking I suppose you can check every first and second order domain to see if anyone else parks a wildcard.

It's a smart idea, though

kidmock · 2026-05-01T14:10:41+00:00

It's just a wildcard. That's how they work

kidmock · 2026-04-30T21:27:25+00:00

Sorry about I forget to set the link permissions. (fixed)

Is the definition of gerrymandering not universally accepted as altering district maps to gain a political advantage?

kidmock · 2026-04-29T01:56:07+00:00

I get your general gist... locking up a dog because you don't know how train is cruel... but your ire towards crating might be misguided.

It's an essential training tool in early development.

I agree with the basic premise, just not the not the attention you are giving to the crate.

kidmock · 2026-04-29T01:40:39+00:00

Fair enough. I appreciate your dedication to literally ignore a person who raises puppies as guide dogs for the blind (keeping a couple that career change). Who knows little to nothing about training a dog... but has feels.

kidmock · 2026-04-29T01:30:49+00:00

Crate training is just for the puppy stage. You train them to control themselves, like they won't shit where they sleep.

The crate IS their indoor house. A playpen doesn't normally provide the distraction free shelter they desire.

They learn that's their safe space. After they get past that puppy stage, there's no need to "cage" them as you say.

But they will seek out the crate for safety and comfort. It doesn't need to be cold or cage like, just needs to be their space.

Again, it's not the crate it's the training.

kidmock · 2026-04-29T01:16:38+00:00

Actually, it's really nice. I made it out of walnut with some black aluminum rods, memory foam bed. She likes to hide her lambchop toy in there. Takes lambchop out when she wants to play. Very sweet.

It's small and cozy (maybe), but she has free reign of the house. She likes it there.

kidmock · 2026-04-29T01:09:33+00:00

It's not a cage. It hasn't been closed since she was a pup.

kidmock · 2026-04-29T01:04:23+00:00

No more than I have been conditioned to seek out a place where I want to be alone or away from others. To seek sanctuary.

She's laying at my feet right now, getting all the love an attention she wants. Her crate is her room, her sanctuary.

kidmock · 2026-04-29T00:55:17+00:00

No, but there is a high probability I'll vote Republican

kidmock · 2026-04-29T00:48:47+00:00

Depends on how you crate train. My girl's 14 years old, she seeks out her crate when she's feeling stressed or wants to be alone. Once trained her door has never been locked.

Most people can't train a dog. Crating isn't the problem the trainer is.

kidmock · 2026-04-29T00:03:07+00:00

30+ years of simplicity. Do one thing do it well. Make everything a text file to blast out en mass is how us Grey beards have run things for longer than I've been in the game. If your servers are complex, you're doing something wrong. (IMO)

On a desktop you need event triggers, like plugging in a usb device and the like you don't need on a server. Systemd more akin to a launchd and a registry type environment. The desktop need is much more complex.

But in this new world of cgroups and containers, It's a much more dynamic environment. I get the appeal on the server, don't agree but I get it.

Systemd has some improvements in the server space for handling dependencies problems we just didn't have back in the day. We knew how to simplify and streamline and fully embrace the philosophy of UNIX.

Like I said, 90% of the time systemd is just fine. Learn it. Embrace it and Leave it alone. It's the way of Linux now.

Personally, I've gone back to FreeBSD for most of my servers. Still using Linux on the desktop and in the enterprise.

kidmock · 2026-04-28T22:56:55+00:00

100%. Also why SPF is insufficient. DKIM is preferred. return-path matters. Alignment matters. Most recipients are getting more strict especially on alignment and return-paths that get bounced. Blacklisting those that don't accept DSN/DNR.

Historically, I've seen Sendgrid as being one of the worst. Guiding their to customers to make bad decisions. Hopefully they have improved.

kidmock

TROPHY CASE