Skip to content

Blog

Home Network Design: Tips from a Real Setup

Part 19 of the networking and home lab series.

Importance of a Well-Designed Home Network

Imagine your home network as the plumbing in a house. If it's well-designed, everything flows smoothly, and you hardly notice it. But if it's poorly planned, you'll constantly be dealing with blockages and leaks. In today's connected world, where everything from your fridge to your light bulbs might be online, having a robust and efficient home network is as important as having good electrics or central heating.

QoS: Prioritising Traffic for Smooth Performance

Part 18 of the networking and home lab series.

Picture this: you're on an important video call, and suddenly, your screen freezes. Or maybe you're in the middle of a heated online game, and your character lags just as you're about to secure victory. Annoying, right? This is where Quality of Service (QoS) comes into play. It's the unsung hero working behind the scenes to ensure your critical network traffic gets the red-carpet treatment it deserves.

How the Internet Actually Works (ISPs, IXPs, Routing)

Part 17 of the networking and home lab series.

Introduction

Imagine the internet as a sprawling metropolis, full of roads, bridges, and highways. It's vast, complex, and constantly buzzing with activity. But how does it all come together? This post will take you on a journey through the architecture of the internet, exploring the key components like ISPs, IXPs, and routing protocols that make it all tick.

Virtual LANs (VLANs): Network Segmentation 101

Part 15 of the networking and home lab series.

Ever found yourself buried under a pile of network cables, wondering if there's an easier way to manage your growing home network or small business setup? Well, you're in luck. Virtual LANs (VLANs) are like the Swiss Army knife for network segmentation, allowing you to slice and dice your network logically without splurging on extra hardware. This post will walk you through the basics of VLANs, why they matter, and how you can deploy them effectively in both home and business environments.

Encryption Basics: Protecting Data in Transit and at Rest

Part 14 of the networking and home lab series.

Ah, encryption. It's the secret sauce that keeps your data safe from prying eyes, much like a lock on your front door keeps out unwanted visitors. In this post, we'll take a stroll through the fundamental principles of encryption, touching on symmetric key methods, asymmetric encryption, and examples such as HTTPS and full-disk encryption. Whether you're new to this or just need a refresher, grab a brew, and let's dive in.

Authentication, Authorisation, Accounting (AAA)

Part 13 of the networking and home lab series.

In the world of network security, AAA doesn't stand for "Amateur Athletes Association" or anything to do with batteries, but rather, it represents a foundational concept: Authentication, Authorisation, and Accounting. These three pillars are essential in ensuring secure access to networks and data, whether you're managing an enterprise network or setting up a secure home environment.

Firewalls: What They Are and Why You Need One

Part 12 of the networking and home lab series.

Picture this: your network is like a bustling football stadium. You’ve got fans coming in and out, each with their own agenda. Some just want to enjoy the match (your regular traffic), while others might be up to no good (malicious actors). The firewall is your security team, checking tickets and ensuring only the right people get through. Without it, chaos reigns supreme.

Common Application Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, IMAP

Part 11 of the networking and home lab series.

Introduction

Imagine the Internet as a sprawling city. There are roads (networks) and buildings (servers), but what really matters to us are the services—shops, offices, and homes—that we access using these roads. Application-layer protocols are like the signposts and rules that guide us through this city to get what we need. They dictate how our data is packaged, sent, received, and interpreted across networks. Today, we'll take a tour of some popular ones: HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, and IMAP. We’ll explore how they interact with users and why they're important.