Have a question about networking or computing? Hopefully you can find an answer here!
Frequently asked questions about the CellStream consulting and training services are answered here as well as number of other topics. If you would like to ask us a question, it is easy to contact us.
We hope you find the content here useful.
The 169.254.x.x IPv4 address is called the APIPA address. APIPA stands for Automatic Private IP Addressing. It’s a fallback mechanism built into Windows (and most modern operating systems) to give your network interface a “link local” address when it can’t get one from a DHCP server. The APIPA IPv4 Addresses are any address in this […]
What is the 169.254.x.x IPv4 address? Read More »
Great question. In one sentence it is a purple tool, meaning both! Wireshark itself is a passive tool, it is non-intrusive — it doesn’t create attacks — but it’s a force multiplier for both Red and Blue Teams depending on who controls the capture point and how the data is used. Let me dig a
Is Wireshark a Red Team or Blue Team Tool? Read More »
This is a common and great question. Simply answered, a wider channel in Wi-Fi results in higher bandwidth and throughput because it allows more data to be transmitted simultaneously. Here’s a breakdown of why: Channel Width and Frequency Space More Subcarriers = More Data Streams More specifically, in a 20 MHz channel, there are 64
Why is a Wider Wi-Fi Channel Faster? Read More »
This has been a common question I get asked over the years. Frankly, I confess that I may have answered differently depending on my mood the day I was asked!! I got asked this again recently and decided to put fingers to keyboard and answer with the plusses and minuses. My answers below apply to
Should you get Certified? Read More »
I get asked this question all the time. It is indeed a great question. I previously posted an answer to this FAQ in 2017 – you can look at that here. I often point folks who ask to that post, but they claim it is ancient history. But is it? So I decided to not
If I want to get into Networking, what should I learn in 2025? Read More »
It’s graduation time. Congrats to all of you graduating!!! It seems that every year around this time someone will ask this great question. In my day, the answer was simple: none! Not anymore. If you’re interested in pursuing a degree in Network Engineering (what I call Network Science) and related technologies, several universities across the
Where can I get a degree in Network Engineering? Read More »
Great question. The short answer is Yes – Starlink supports IPv6. Starlink is fully dual stack when it comes to IPv4 and IPv6 addressing. It is IPv6 capable and supports native IPv6 connectivity across all its routers, kit versions, and service plans. This includes the allocation of a /56 IPv6 prefix via DHCPv6 Prefix Delegation
Does Starlink Support IPv6? Read More »
Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT), also known as Large Scale NAT (LSN), is a network technology used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to extend the usability of the limited IPv4 address space by sharing a small pool of public IPv4 addresses among many customers. Why CGNAT Exists How CGNAT Works Technical Characteristics Challenges/Problems with CGNAT Alternatives to
Hi everyone. This relatively easy question came in today: “How do I find out the IP address of a particular web site?” The simplest way that most folks will remember is to use something called “Ping”. Ping is a basic network tool that checks if a computer or device is reachable over a network (like
How To Find the IP Address of a Web Site Read More »
Yes, VPN applications do protect your traffic. A VPN is like wearing a costume or a mask because it masks your real identity and location (for the most part anyway), just like a costume or mask hides who you are in real life. That said, someone sold you the mask, so they know who you
I often bring up the following point in classes I teach on Internet Fundamentals: did anyone see the application TikTok before it arrived on the scene? Ofcourse the answer is no. I then usually follow up with: did anyone adjust traffic capacity planning for the arrival of an application like TikTok? Again, the answer is
How Much of the Internet Traffic is TikTok? Read More »
Back in 2018 (I think) I was becoming increasingly aware of the QUIC protocol in my and other’s packet captures and I immediately dug in and wrote about it. As of recent data (now Feb 2025), QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections) is experiencing significant adoption across the internet. Websites have implemented QUIC, with HTTP/3—built upon
An update on QUIC Adoption and traffic levels Read More »
The links to the products shown here are all available through Amazon, and if you use these links, we will get a small cut through our Amazon Associates program. We thank you for doing this. Updated 6/22/2025 I often get asked for a list of products that are in my “go bag”, when I work
The Network Products We Use in Our “Go Bag” Read More »
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) is a measure of how strong a signal is compared to the background noise in a communication system. It is typically expressed in decibels (dB). The higher the SNR, the clearer and more reliable the signal. I often get asked, how is signal to noise calculated. Frankly the math is not hard.
The Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) Calculation Read More »
A great question in my two day Security class recently. The physical layer (Layer 1) of the layered model is responsible for the transmission of raw data bits over a communication medium. Although it is often considered more secure due to its reliance on physical components, it is still vulnerable to a variety of threats.
What are some examples of Physical Layer Threats in Networking? Read More »