HP LaserJet Pro multifunction printer beside a subtle Windows Server Core SConfig panel on a dark blue background.

How I Built a Windows Server 2022 Core Print Server Without a GUI

Microsoft, Home Lab / By

Introduction Windows Server without a desktop environment? Why would anyone want to manage Windows Server with PowerShell only? Well, there is definitely some PowerShell involved and a little GUI involved as well. In my career working on small to medium-sized business Windows environments, I have NEVER seen a single instance of Windows Server Core in […]

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How I Use ChatGPT to Identify CySA+ Weaknesses and Build a Targeted Study Plan

Certifications / By

Introduction Studying for CySA+ isn’t just about answering practice questions—it’s about understanding why you missed them and what that says about your readiness. Some practice test platforms include features that map missed questions directly to exam domains or objectives. That visibility is incredibly useful, because it highlights exactly where you’re weak and helps shape a

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"Featured thumbnail for blog post 'Setting Up Proxmox VE' by Nicholas Pineiro"

What is Memory Ballooning in Proxmox, and Why Does It Matter?

Virtualization / By

Introduction Ever wondered why a Proxmox VM might appear to use less memory than you allocated it? That’s not a bug — it’s memory ballooning at work. Ballooning is one of those behind-the-scenes features that most Proxmox users benefit from without fully understanding how or why it functions. In my home lab, I run multiple

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Rebuilding My Proxmox Backup and Storage Strategy: From ZFS to LVM

Virtualization / By

Introduction Sometimes the best way to learn Linux fundamentals is to break things apart and rebuild them with intention — this is one of those times. I’ve been running Proxmox in my home lab on and off for years. Last year, I decided to virtualize pfSense, and I did that with Proxmox. However, I did

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Monitoring Linux Log Activity in Real Time with Custom Bash Scripts

Monitoring / By

Monitoring Linux Log Activity in Real Time with Custom Bash Scripts Introduction The goal of this project is to sharpen my Linux fundamentals by creating a bash script that filters relevant log lines and outputs meaningful metrics. To meet this goal, I will utilize the existing infrastructure I have in place in my home lab.

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SOHO Sonicwall

How To Factory Reset & Configure a Sonicwall SOHO-W

Network Security / By

How To Factory Reset & Configure a Sonicwall SOHO-W Factory Resetting Without Access To Password This blog post details the process of accessing a Sonicwall APL-0BA (SOHO-W) in safemode and booting into the firmware with factory defaults. You may find yourself wanting to do this if you cannot recover the firewall’s password. Using the Setup

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Troubleshooting Static Routing & Policies With Watchguard Firewalls

Network Security / By

Troubleshooting Static Routing & Policies With Watchguard Firewalls Introduction A static route is a path to a network that you manually configure on a router, firewall or other Layer 3 devices. Using static routes can be an excellent choice for smaller networks because they are simple to configure. However, in larger networks – like the

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