InfoWire
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As a single parent, I initially dismissed the idea of online gaming. But after buying Minecraft keys, one for each of my kids, I quickly realized how much they valued shared digital experiences. They wanted a persistent online world they could access anytime, but the setup required one of them to keep their computer running. So, I decided to build a dedicated server.
I dusted off an old PC and dove into learning Windows, security protocols, networking basics, and router configurations. Once the server was operational, the kids asked to open it up so their friends could join from school and beyond. That led to deeper lessons in advanced networking, security, routing, and DNS. We launched our first public server.
To support real time communication, I configured a second, smaller PC to run a voice server. Eventually, the kids wanted to host gaming parties, and with guidance from my mentor at the Small Business Administration, we converted the garage into a full LAN center.
From there, the challenges grew: managing network lag for both local and global users, troubleshooting hardware issues, comparing operating systems, choosing the right software stack, and dealing with ISP limitations, 35 Mbps up, 250 Mbps down. I constantly researched new technologies to improve performance and reliability.
That journey led me to formal education. The garage LAN setup inspired me to enroll in Network Administration courses. Everything I learned in class was immediately applied to our home infrastructure, which had expanded far beyond its original scope. Classmates came to the garage to learn. Professors even organized field trips so students could see a live cloud environment in action.
It’s been a fascinating and rewarding experience. Now, I’m focused on finishing my education, earning my diploma, and pursuing new dreams built on the foundation of hands on learning and real world application.
