Josh DargieInfrastructure · Cloud · Software

Blog / how-to

Notes from the field.

Short, practical pieces on the decisions I get asked about most. No news, no trends, no AI takes.

Sep 12, 2026
5 min read

Setting Up Your First NAS the Right Way (Synology DSM)

A NAS done right on day one: drive choice, real redundancy, per-person accounts, remote access without port forwarding, and a backup for the NAS itself.

how-tonasbackupsstorage
Sep 11, 2026
4 min read

Choosing a NAS: Synology, UniFi, or TrueNAS?

Synology, UniFi's UNAS line, or a home-built TrueNAS box: an honest look at licensing, lock-in, and upkeep for business and home buyers.

how-tounifinasstorage
Sep 4, 2026
5 min read

Fixing UniFi Device Adoption Failures

A methodical way to fix a UniFi access point or switch that will not adopt: IP checks, VLAN gotchas, factory resets and SSH set-inform.

how-tounifinetworking
Sep 2, 2026
4 min read

UniFi's Whole-Home WiFi: my first take

Ubiquiti announced a WiFi 7 mesh aimed at regular houses today: the UniFi Express 7. Who it's actually for, how it stacks up against the pro setup and against eero and Orbi, and the catches.

UniFiWiFinetworkinghow-to
Aug 28, 2026
4 min read

How to set up VLANs on a UniFi network

A practical walkthrough of VLANs on UniFi: planning the segments, creating the networks, tagging Wi-Fi and switch ports, and firewalling between them.

how-tounifinetworking
Aug 21, 2026
4 min read

Setting up guest Wi-Fi on UniFi properly

How to build a guest network on UniFi that gives visitors internet and nothing else: isolation, bandwidth limits, and the portal question.

how-tounifinetworking
Aug 14, 2026
3 min read

What to do the moment you suspect malware

The first hour after 'something is wrong with this computer': what to do, what not to touch, and how to tell an infection from a slow PC.

how-tosecuritywindows

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