A single laptop for now, with a NAS next, once disks fit the budget.
hardware, running
Hermes agent
An agent to remotely manage the homelab, with zero-touch setup of hosting and services.
automation, planned
Contact
pwrhdd
srv-01
connecting ...
cpu load--
memory--
disk--
cpu temp--
DNS troubleshooting
Printers not supported
Days without a "quick question"
00
FridayAlmost Monday
About
I always wanted to work in IT. I started out in web development and went on to study Software Development at an HBO, a Dutch university of applied sciences. The technical side went well and I scored a perfect 10 for my presentation, but business economics got the better of me, and after that my interest in development faded.
A few years of work outside IT followed, in hospitality, painting and retail. Then I went back to school, this time an MBO course on the hardware side of IT. A year in, I was hired during the third week of my internship, and I've been a system engineer ever since, keeping endpoints, servers, networks, and users on speaking terms.
I like systems that are documented, monitored, and boring in the best way.
Resume
Now
System Engineer
Skills
Service desk and advanced troubleshooting
Networking and network management: Cisco, Aruba, UniFi
Customer communication
Certifications
Microsoft MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops
Microsoft MD-102: Endpoint Administrator, in progress
Education
MBO, IT (hardware): a one-year course. Hired during the third week of my internship.
HBO, Software Development: did well on the technical side and scored a perfect 10 for my presentation. Business economics kept me from finishing.
Before IT
Web development, followed by work in hospitality, painting and retail.
Fursuiting
I have a fursuit of my wolf character, Alex.
For me it's not so much an escape as an excuse to be silly and have fun.
My roots in the furry fandom run deep because of its acceptance, its quirkiness and its kindheartedness. It's a group of people that looks out for one another, and I would never ever consider leaving.
photo: Alex
photo: at a meetup
Right to Repair
If you bought it, you should be able to open it, fix it, and keep using it. That means spare parts you can actually buy, repair manuals that aren't secret, and devices that aren't glued shut.
Personally, I think it's very important that the things you own aren't treated as expendable. I hate seeing a good product go to waste because it's impossible to repair, or because it was designed to become obsolete.
I enjoy taking things apart down to their last screw, finding out what's wrong, and putting them back together working. If it has screws, I want to know what's behind them.
Sometimes the broken part is one you can't buy anymore. In those cases I print a replacement on my 3D printer. I'm still learning that side, one failed print at a time.
Reusing old hardware
Old laptops and desktops still have plenty of life in them. Instead of the recycling bin, I look for a new purpose: a server, part of the homelab, or just one simple task done well.
The plan for the future is a smart home built from old computer hardware.
Homelab
I've only recently started building, so for now the homelab is a single laptop. It's where I try things out, break them on purpose, and learn how to put them back together.
Next up is a NAS, as soon as the disks fit the budget. Hard drives aren't cheap.
You're looking at it right now: this site is served from that ThinkPad, by Caddy, behind a Cloudflare-managed domain.
photo: the homelab
Gaming
For when the homelab is behaving.
Metal detecting
Out on the beach with a detector, eyes on the ground. Most signals turn out to be bottle caps, pull tabs and other junk, and all of it goes in the bin along the way. Doing my part to clean up the beaches.
Best find so far: a gold ring, without an inscription.
photo: the gold ring
photo: out on the beach
Learning the keyboard
I'll admit it: I'm guilty of not spending quite enough time on it yet.
The inspiration is definitely there, though. Jam bands like Goose, Spafford and Chalk Dinosaur make me want to sit down and play.
Board games
I have an ever-growing collection of board games.
My current obsession: Arkham Horror, third edition.
photo: the collection
Cooking
My favourite kitchens are Indian, Thai and Indonesian. I also like making simple Dutch "AVG" meals: potatoes, meat and vegetables.
I'm always looking to improve my recipes, one step at a time.