Using QEMU with the virtio-net Internal Network for Network Simulations

 Posted on June 28, 2025  |  2 minutes  |  226 words  |  

For years I’ve primarily used x86 PCs. With that, VirtualBox had a unique feature called the Internal Network that could be used to isolate VLANs. But more recently I’ve been daily-driving a M3 Pro MacBook Pro on-and-off. However, VirtualBox on Apple Silicon cannot run MikroTik CHR. While it does run on UTM, UTM doesn’t give me isolated non-DHCP VLANs. Also, attempts at using “bridge” interfaces failed miserably. The solution? QEMU. I tested this guide on macOS 15 Sequoia but it should also work on Linux, Windows and BSD variants. [Read More]

Setting up UniFi Controller on Debian 12

 Posted on June 11, 2025  |  2 minutes  |  244 words  |  

While I’m more of a fan of Red Hat-based distros, using a Fedora desktop and laptop, and multiple Rocky Linux servers, I decided to revisit UniFi after our NYC townhouse had poor Wi-Fi from MikroTik wAP AXs. The reality is that UniFi is designed for Debian and Ubuntu as most hobbyists (and startups) use those. Trust me, I run a VPS host and like 90% of my customers (not exact) use Debian or Ubuntu. [Read More]

Why I left Microsoft

 Posted on March 5, 2025  |  4 minutes  |  848 words  |  

When I was very young, I was a huge Microsoft and Windows fan. I used Virtual PC to toy with multiple versions of Windows all day after school. Then after two years failing at YouTube with moderate “success” form pirated copies of Phineas and Ferb recorded over cable TV, I got very heavily into open source, most specifically FreeBSD. I learned to love Unix and hate Windows. I started self-hosting servers and running networks at home. [Read More]

ASRock Rack B650D4U/1U2S-B650: Fixing the 0d error on AMD Ryzen 9000-series CPU

 Posted on March 3, 2025  |  2 minutes  |  271 words  |  

If you thought HPE support was bad, ASRock Rack support is 100x times worse. But for my startup Fourplex branded servers have become cost-prohibitive post-COVID-19. I remember when HPE servers were actually affordable for a homelab. That being said Fourplex is planning to expand into VPS hosting and I have one 1U2S-B650 (using the B650D4U motherbord) and have three more shipping. One of the problems with the B650D4U is that the stock BIOS does not recognize Ryzen 9000 CPUs, nor can you flash from USB without booting the system first. [Read More]

I'm done with coding

 Posted on March 1, 2025  |  3 minutes  |  491 words  |  

In my high school days, I was a huge server and networking person. My homelab was basically my identity, and not even a good one: consumer-level networking gear running Tomato and a then-7-year-old homebuilt desktop PC running FreeBSD. Then I joined NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering for Computer Science. It was a full 180 into software engineering. I didn’t just code for assignments, I started with toy projects and went to [major Tor contributions](https://gitlab. [Read More]

Mastodon vs Bluesky is a new standards war

 Posted on December 7, 2024  |  3 minutes  |  508 words  |  

With Bluesky’s apparent rise after the elections, I’ve heard a lot of criticism about Bluesky on the Fediverse. I’m starting to feel the Mastodon vs Bluesky war is a new standards war, one that is analogous to the cellular standards war. While Gen Z readers are used to LTE and 5G phones which is based off the historically more popular GSM branch, there was another cellular technology CDMA which was a fierce rival and chosen by carriers like Verizon pre-4G days. [Read More]

MikroTik CAPsMAN v2 (WifiWave2) with VLANs

 Posted on November 24, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  356 words  |  

After a disasterous experiment with Ubiquiti UniFi APs, I decided to sell them on /r/homelabsales (because I’m not allowed to return) and buy MikroTik wAP ax APs. Interestingly, the Wi-Fi experience on MikroTik beats the UniFi one despite technically being “inferior” and the EU model. But one issue with CAPsMAN is how hard it is to configure, especially with a home network full of VLANs (actually three at home). So how do you configure it? [Read More]

I'm sorry, but I just hate Ubiquiti UniFi gear

 Posted on November 22, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  324 words  |  

About two months ago, I was thinking “why not get Wi-Fi 7” and got myself two Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro access points? Just to realize the experience sucked. In fact, my family has faster browsing on a subjectively “inferior” access point, the MikroTik wAP ax which is being used now, as well as the prior HPE Instant On AP25. Ubiquiti is often compared to Apple, and the UniFi dashboard goes look pretty damn good. [Read More]

openSUSE Tumbleweed and Sony WF-1000XM5/WH-1000XM5 Bluetooth Headphones

 Posted on November 1, 2024  |  1 minutes  |  185 words  |  

After my old Sol Republic earbuds died, all the headphones I daily drive are or have been made by Sony. This includes the WF-1000XM5 earbuds for going out and the WH-1000XM5 headphones I use on my desk or for plane travel. While Sony headphones generally work well with Linux (I’m looking at you, Apple and Beats), I recently switched my Linux desktop and laptop back to openSUSE Tumbleweed from Fedora. [Read More]

Bypassing AT&T Fiber/Frontier/AU 802.1X with MikroTik and bridge interfaces

 Posted on September 17, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  393 words  |  

Although I now live primarily in Verizon territory, my family has a second home in Frontier-land at least for a few more months. Frontier in Connecticut inherited AT&T’s 802.1X setup so if you’re not on XGS-PON, you are required to use Frontier’s router, in my case an Arris NVG468MQ. However, if you’re using a MikroTik CCR2004-series router, you can use that connected to the ONT and bridge 802.1X from the Arris. [Read More]