frequently asked questions_
answers to the things people ask me about networking, content creation, & assorted personal stuff
network engineering & career_
what resources do you recommend for passing the CCNA/CCNP?
check out my resources page! i've put together collections of my CCNA and CCNP recommendations.
you recently talked / tweeted about a weird networking thing you did and didn't fully explain your use case. WHY?
i don't work on your typical data center / ISP / enterprise production network, so i often have weird problems that require creative solutions. i can't share these use cases, unfortunately.
will you tell me about the rocket network / cybersecurity etc.?
i cannot disclose details about what i'm working on. reason: NDA, ITAR.
how did you get into network engineering?
i took an "Introduction to Networks" course at my local community college once upon a time. i fell in love with it from the moment i learned what an IP address is.
how did you get into aerospace / rocket network engineering?
i applied for the job, i interviewed, i got an offer, i accepted it :-) prior to this, i worked as a network engineer in a service provider NOC.
community & other questions_
i'm a man and i care about making tech welcome for women and other minority groups. how can i help?
i get this question frequently and i honestly appreciate that you care enough to ask. unfortunately, this is a complicated issue and i am not a policy, gender studies, or outreach expert.
that said, i think these general guidelines can get you on the right path as an individual contributor:
- always keep in mind that a male-dominated workplace is very different for women than it is for men and it requires emotional intelligence to be a manager of all people
- do not speak over your female colleagues
- if another man belittles or speaks over your female colleagues, and you are his peer or superior, interrupt him and make it clear that isn't acceptable
- interview based on personality, not just rote memorization, bragging, or overconfidence
- create job listings that are less "pie in the sky, perfect world," and more realistic & grounded
- for the love of god, do not hit on your female colleagues. just don't do it
what other interests do you have besides network engineering?
i love building custom mechanical keyboards (even though my wallet doesn't) & sharing them with interested people! i also enjoy long distance running, writing for fun, board games, & playing survival / horror PC games.
content, support & collaborations_
i like your stuff and i want to show my support! what's the best way to do that?
you're very welcome to help fund my lab chaos via my Buy Me a Coffee page :-)
otherwise, a kind message &/or sharing my content around your social network is always appreciated <3
do you accept sponsors / support in exchange for video content?
yes! i work with brands on technical education, creative campaigns, product demonstrations, and sponsored videos.
check out my sponsors page for examples of past collaborations and information about getting in touch.
will you come on my podcast?
i generally enjoy being on podcasts and chatting about network engineering! availability depends on my schedule, so please get in touch with the details of your show, the proposed topic, and your preferred recording dates.
business inquiries can be sent to sponsorships@tracketpacer.com .
something else on your mind?_
for business inquiries, collaborations, and other professional things, you can get in touch below.
send an email ↗