Systemd, along with being an init system, contains many other functions that aim to improve long running Linux mainstays. Timers are the systemd solution to cron jobs with added functionality and features. Boiling it down, a timer is just a .timer unit file containing a time definition and a .service unit file describing the program to run once time has elapsed. Where the magic comes in, is the tight integration with systemd.

One of the more interesting DNS records that does not see much use is the location record. Defined by RFC 1876, the LOC record allows you to describe a precise latitude, longitude, and altitude linked to a host name. Imagine a trace route tool using LOC records which displays the exact router locations on a map for each hop. If you were so inclined, you could set a detailed LOC record for every computer in the office and then map that data on a 3D building diagram.

Let’s Encrypt has been a blessing for system administrators and the internet at large for years now. It was just announced that Let’s Encrypt has issued their billionth certificate and has seen site availability over HTTPS rise globally to 81%. One reason for this strong adoption is the ease of install using one of the many ACME clients available. The most popular is Certbot by the EFF. Certbot verifies domain ownership through various challenge/response mechanisms.

This is going to be a blog covering various technical topics that catch my interest as well as a place to document projects I am working on. The name comes from a misunderstanding at a conference when I misheard the speaker mention Dynamic Trunking Protocol. I had a good laugh and was happy to see that it was available as a domain.