Nick Howell

Still learning.
Still building.
Still calling out the hype.

30 years of enterprise infrastructure. Storage, networking, virtualization, cloud, AI inference, home lab, and whatever else is worth writing about this week.

Nick Howell

Recent Writing

  • Mastering Massive Data Migrations with NetApp XCP

    Today’s topic is especially thrilling for me as we delve into the world of massive data migrations with a focus on NetApp’s XCP tool. I’m excited to share that DatacenterDude’s Data Center is fully operational, and it’s time to consolidate and migrate my diverse data sprawled across various consumer NAS systems onto the new C250.…

  • Installing and Configuring pfSense: A Step-by-Step Guide

    If you’ve been following my journey since moving to Las Vegas in November 2021, you know I’ve been eager to enhance my home’s network security. Today, I’m excited to walk you through the process of installing and configuring a pfSense firewall solution, marking a significant upgrade from the basic setups most homes operate with. Let’s…

  • My Networking Journey: From Cisco to MikroTik and Beyond

    Today, I’m excited to share my personal journey through the world of networking switches, highlighting my transition from Cisco to MikroTik and the evolution of my home lab setup. The Early Days with Cisco My networking journey began in the early 2000s, fueled by aspirations of earning a CCIE. Starting with a CCNA and progressing…

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The DatacenterDude Dispatch

Longer takes on Substack. Goes out when there is something worth saying.