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.
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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 »
Maintaining the system is always a good idea, and it should be habitual. We break maintenance into three types: a) continual, b) periodic, and c) occasional. We recommend you get into a routine by inserting to-do’s or calendar reminders to run maintenance until you do it automatically. So let’s look at a good maintenance plan:
What maintenance should I run on my computer, if any? Read More »
There is no one “great” answer to this question. Usually saving disk space also maximizes performance of your computing platform. We fundamentally recommend: a) proper maintenance (see other tips below) and b) the occasional ‘spring cleaning’ (as also discussed below) combined with the c) use of a utility to clean your unused space (we like
How can I save Disk Space? 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, just like a costume or mask hides who you are in real life. Here’s the breakdown of the analogy: VPN vs. Costume Analogy VPN Function Costume Equivalent Hides your IP
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 »
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 »
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 »
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. I often get asked for a list of products that are in my “go bag”, when I work on networks.
The Network Products We Use in Our “Go Bag” Read More »
We get this question often: I am new to Telecom, or I just started at a service provider, and I need to learn Telecom basics – how can I come up to speed? This is a GREAT question – and the truth is: you need to get up to speed. The more you understand the
New to Telecom/Datacom. How can I come up to speed? Read More »
Someone asked the following “getting started” question on the Wireshark Discord site, and it prompted me to write this FAQ to help newcomers to Wireshark understand how to navigate the initial complexity of packet capture. Hi everyone! I’m new here and just downloaded wireshark for a Computer Comm class. I need to capture traffic sent
A Simple Capture and Filter Exercise for Wireshark Read More »
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) was once seen as a promising Layer 2 networking technology due to its ability to handle a variety of traffic types (voice, video, and data) with high efficiency and quality of service (QoS) performance guarantees. I spent several years working with and then teaching ATM courses to my fellow telecom engineers.
What ever happened to ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)? Read More »
Network Address Translation (NAT) and Network Port Address Translation (NPAT) are not considered a security function because its primary purpose is to modify the L3 network address information in IPv4 packet headers and L4 port numbers of TCP or UDP while in transit. NAT and NPAT are not needed in IPv6 networking. NAT is primarily
Why are NAT/NPAT not a security function? Read More »
