Lawrence Systems

02/04/2026

Does buy once, upgrade forever, actually hold up? With CPU and GPU upgrades available for my Framework 16, we'll find out!

Check out this video to see what the experience of upgrading my Framework laptop with a Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU and RTX 5070 GPU was like, and if an upgradable system like this one is for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYSTzcq5eJg

01/07/2026

Top off your look with the Sysadmin dad hat - bold letters, tech flair, and just the right amount of “I run things here.”

https://shop.lawrencesystems.com/products/sysadmin-classic-dad-hat

01/06/2026

In this video, I demonstrate how to use Wireshark with UniFi to capture live packets directly from your network devices.

We cover how to enable SSH access, fix the common “Wireshark can’t connect” issue, and set the right filters so you can see what’s really happening on your network in real time.

Whether you’re troubleshooting DNS, DHCP, or mysterious disconnects, Wireshark lets you go beyond the UniFi dashboard and see the truth in the traffic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_H1L0XC53g

12/25/2025

Matt here, and it’s time for another Tech Throwback!

Growing up in the 1980s and 90s presented me with many “this vs. that” situations:

✅Coke vs. Pepsi (Coke)
✅Super Nintendo vs. Genesis (SNES)
✅Nacho vs. Cool Ranch (Nacho forever)
✅Ryu vs. Ken (Ken, faster)
✅Aliens vs. Predator (thank you Dark Horse Comics)

During the same time, CPU designers debated RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) vs. CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing). Each approach had strengths: RISC emphasized simplicity and speed; CISC focused on complex instructions in fewer lines of code.

Companies like Intel, IBM, and DEC were heavily invested in either side, occasionally leading to litigation and patent disputes over instruction set implementations.

The debate shaped modern computing - ARM (RISC) dominates mobile and embedded systems, while x86 (CISC) powers desktops and servers. Apple Silicon, Raspberry Pi, and energy-efficient computing all stem from this evolution.

Which architecture do you think best defines today’s computing landscape?

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Every Thursday, we press pause to remember the technology that helped us get to where we are today. From vintage hardware to deprecated software, we honor the innovations that helped shape the world and inspired us.

Do you have a favorite photo or memory to share? Join in on the fun in the comments!

12/22/2025

A few seconds, an exposed port, or the right timing can lead to a serious incident.

In this video, I break down an event that struck shortly after onboarding a client, what could have gone wrong, and why it didn’t - lessons for anyone managing real-world IT environments.

https://youtu.be/2lLKZsd4QqY

12/18/2025

Live in five! We're talking n8n, TrueNAS, and answering your Homelab questions!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXAxh8M7gW8

https://lawrence.video/Connecting With Us--------------------------------------------------- Hire Us For A Project: https://lawrencesystems.com/hire-us/Tom ...

12/18/2025

Matt here, and it’s time for another Tech Throwback!

In 1938, Roy Plunkett accidentally discovered Teflon while experimenting with refrigerants at DuPont. Today, it’s known for non-stick cookware, but it’s also used in electronics, aerospace, and medical implants.

Teflon enabled high-temperature insulation, corrosion-resistant coating, and chemical handling - transforming multiple industries.

Over time, concerns arose around PFOA, a chemical once used in Teflon production, after studies linked it to environmental persistence and potential health risks. This led to major regulatory changes and reformulations in the early 2000s, as manufacturers phased out the problematic compounds while retaining Teflon’s nonstick benefits.

Millions of households benefit daily, while industries rely on Teflon for precision, safety, and reliability. Plunkett’s ingenuity exemplifies how serendipitous discovery can lead to broad technological impact.

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Every Thursday, we press pause to remember the technology that helped us get to where we are today. From vintage hardware to deprecated software, we honor the innovations that helped shape the world and inspired us.

Do you have a favorite photo or memory to share? Join in on the fun in the comments!

12/17/2025

pfSense+ has made some changes in 2025. There's better security defaults for OpenVPN, they made PPPoE significantly faster, added VXLAN support, and Netgate Nexus - their new multi-instance management tool that you can self-host on your own system:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCNy4lkl8Mk

12/17/2025

Few people know ZFS like Allan Jude, and in this discussion, we dive deep into what makes it so powerful - and occasionally so tricky.

From alignment tuning and drive choices to ZFS with containers and NVMe optimization, we unpack what’s changing, what’s coming next, and what most users still get wrong about ZFS in the real world.

https://youtu.be/OscKOZ5nxxA

12/17/2025

RAID isn’t a backup, and failures don’t wait for a schedule.

In this video, I show how I use Syncthing for real-time backups that alert you to changes as they happen. Perfect for Homelab setups, test environments, or anyone who likes keeping data safe without waiting for a nightly job.

https://youtu.be/cccPnXnh6wA

12/12/2025

Nick Bostrom’s Superintelligence digs into the paths and perils of advanced AI - not the hype, but the hard questions about control, alignment, and unintended outcomes.

Still one of the best reads for anyone thinking beyond “AI tools” and into “AI consequences.” Do you think AI safety concerns are overblown, underplayed, or both?



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Every Friday, we slow down the scroll for a moment of quiet discovery.

Read-Only Fridays is our weekly look at books that challenge how we think about technology - from cybersecurity and systems design to the human stories behind innovation.

Have a favorite tech read or an author that changed how you see the industry? Drop your recommendation in the comments and keep the reading list growing.

12/12/2025

n8n 2.0 Docker Setup in 5 Minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyppuv98Cgs