Sysadmin tools that actually work.

Free calculators, cheat sheets, and deep-dive guides built by a working sysadmin. No fluff, no paywalls — just the stuff you actually need on the job.

Browse Tools →
lareware — subnet-calc
$ lareware subnet 10.0.0.0/22
Network:    10.0.0.0/22
Netmask:    255.255.252.0
Wildcard:   0.0.3.255
Broadcast:  10.0.3.255
Hosts:      1,022 usable
Range:      10.0.0.1 — 10.0.3.254
$
// tools

Interactive Utilities

Bookmark these. Use them daily. They run entirely in your browser — no data leaves your machine.

IP

Subnet Calculator

CIDR notation, VLSM breakdown, host counts, and visual subnet maps. Supports IPv4 & IPv6.

networking
DN

DNS Lookup & Propagation

Query A, AAAA, MX, CNAME, TXT, and SOA records. Check propagation across global resolvers.

dns
SS

SSL/TLS Checker

Inspect certificate chains, expiration dates, cipher suites, and HSTS headers for any domain.

security
CR

Cron Expression Builder

Visual cron schedule builder with plain-English translations and next-5-runs preview.

linux
PW

Password & Key Generator

Cryptographically random passwords, SSH keys, and API tokens. Configurable entropy.

security
PT

Port Reference

Searchable database of 6,000+ known ports with service names, protocols, and risk notes.

networking
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// latest guides

Deep Dives

Long-form tutorials and reference material written from real-world experience.

Infrastructure

Building a Production-Grade Homelab on a $500 Budget

Hardware picks, hypervisor setup, networking, and monitoring — from bare metal to running services in under a weekend.

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// gear reviews

Tested Hardware

Honest reviews with affiliate links. I only recommend gear I've actually racked and run.

Best Mini PCs for Homelabs (2026)

Beelink, Minisforum, Intel NUC alternatives — tested for noise, thermals, and VM density.

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Managed Switches Under $150

TP-Link, Netgear, and MikroTik compared. VLAN support, PoE, and fan noise tested.

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UPS Buying Guide for Home Racks

Runtime calculators, battery replacement costs, and NUT monitoring setup.

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