Bits, Bytes, & Radio Waves

A Journey Through Discovery

  • Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS)

    I wanted to begin with the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) which is currently at version 3.0. The standard can be referenced below as well as at http://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/fhs.shtml. Filesystem Hierarchy Standard 3.0 When I first began using Linux, I realized that all the files and directories were arranged in a particular way. I wondered why Linux…

  • CompTIA Linux+

    I am starting my journey to become CompTIA Linux+ certified! Technically, I started on February 1, but am just now writing this. I have always been curious about Linux and dabbled here and there; I just have never dived in deep enough to be proficient. I want to change that. As an end user, I…

  • Benefits of Switch Stacking and Chassis Aggregation

    Switch stacking, known as Cisco StackWise on Cisco products, is a technology that connects multiple switches into one logical switch. By using stacking technology you get a decrease in administrative overhead and less blocked ports from Spanning-tree Protocol (STP). You can add switches to gain port density and you can add them over time. This…

  • Using Local SPAN to Troubleshoot and Resolve Problems

    A Switched Port Analyzer, or SPAN, is a way that you can monitor traffic. Back when networks used hubs, all traffic was visible because a hub just repeated the traffic out every port except the one it came in on. When switches were introduced, SPAN functionality was introduced to accommodate. It is common to set…

  • ICMP Echo-Based IP SLA

    Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) is a commonly used utility to test Layer 3 connectivity between devices. A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is a target that must be met; there is no set criteria for an SLA. ICMP echo-based IP SLA is a way to monitor end-to-end response time between Cisco devices using IPv4 or…

  • Connecting to IPv6 Websites by IP

    Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) request for comments (RFC) 1883 (https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1883) came out in December 1995. That’s 22 years ago! So how do you connect to an IPv6 address without using a Domain Name Server (DNS)? It’s only slightly different than Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4). You do need to make sure you have an…

This is how it all started…

I started this site with the intent to aggregate as much information as possible in one place. I use this to record lessons learned or frustrating configurations I have experienced on the job or just tinkering (learning) and just couldn’t find a better resource available. I have tried to be as thorough and accurate as possible, but technology is rapidly evolving and every environment is different. I may miss things along the way and my setup most likely differs compared to yours.

I hope you find this site has some value to you.

Welcome to Bits, Bytes, and Radio Waves! 

If you have any questions or comments (or just want to give me a shout-out), please feel free to contact me!

Aaron Rombaut

Writer & Technologist