Many of my hours this week were spent in taking a less-than ideal server I was using for both a camera server and UniFi controller, and replacing it with virtual machines. The solution to these tasks was basic; but when you barely figured out how to set things up in the first place, and you fail to document how you did it, the consequence is days' worth of failing over and over. But I am happy to report that, after many long hours into long nights this week, I accomplished what I set out to do.
One instance of troubleshooting (that occurred today, in fact) was of interesting note. I was trying to setup a virtual machine for my camera server, but noticed everything was moving at molasses speeds. After much troubleshooting, I finally realized the issue; you see, I had to reset my UniFi devices when I finally got my UniFi controller working, and I failed to turn a setting back on (jumbo frames). But even after I did this, things weren't right, even still. Sadly, it would take me a few hours later to realize the issue. It was a solution that even the least tech-savvy (a phrase I highly dislike, by the way, but more on that another time) would know to try. I turned the network switch off and on, and boo-rah, it all began working.
Now, this particular troubleshooting step took less time than some of the more formidable obstacles I had to overcome this week; but I think it taught me a symbolic lesson. As my title would suggest, I might make the claim here that the lesson I gleamed was "a chain as strong as its weakest link". But to me, as this is scenario dealt with network traffic, and where network traffic is all about the many ways of talking using 1's and 0's, to me, I more clearly saw the importance (and challenge of being) a man in the middle. This network switch was processing traffic from about a dozen or so wires, and even more IP addresses. The role of a network switch is not so much to "route" traffic, as it is to just pass it along. And this switch, for heaven only knows what reason, began getting confused when I re-introduced Jumbo frames back into the picture. And this one device began subtly failing its duty, however simple the task was.
Like this network switch, we can began to lose our effectivity in communication. In fact, sometimes, one more setting is toggled (or one more thing to balance in our lives is added) and it seems like we keep dropping the ball left and right. I felt that way some couple-few weeks ago, and it was very discouraging. Unlike a switch, however, I wouldn't recommend turning yourself off and on again- at least not so literally. Then again, in terms of taking inventory, it may well be healthy to turn your sense of ambition and urgency off for a moment, list and prioritize what things need communicating (and to whom) and go forth again. In fact, it just now struck me that I totally pulled a "network switch" today and completely forgot to respond to a friend's text this morning... I'm gonna do that now...
Anyways, this week was spent with many family members, and it was a grand time. Our apartment is not particularly large, but for the 13 or so of us that came over for Thanksgiving, it turned out to be quite adequate. At times, this house can be a little cluttered, too small, and unhappy. But with all that family over, I don't know any better way to put how I felt, both about my house and inside of myself, other than "kingly". In fact, it reminds me of a quote by C. S. Lewis. As he writes in The Magician's Nephew, "You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve," said Aslan. "And that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content."
And so, if you haven't found much to be grateful for this past week, you can at least find contentedness. ...I still need to send that text, though, so I'll end here. Happy almost-december.
PS If you feel too "teched out" from this blog, here's a super-official obviously 100% accurate source to help you understand technology.