Joshua Buck
Network Engineer based in North Carolina.
From the lab to the lake.
I build and automate networks in my homelab, with a focus on identity-driven security (Cisco ISE), Python automation, and bringing modern Infrastructure as Code and local ML practices into the networking world.
This site is my public working notebook. It documents real configurations, scripts that actually ran, network diagrams, lessons learned, and experiments integrating Machine Learning into network operations.
Life Outside the Lab
When I’m not knee-deep in Cisco ISE configs or chasing down why a user can’t connect via dot1x (or why something just isn’t routing the way it should), you’ll usually find me at the lake or the ocean with my family — just sitting, relaxing, and watching the water.
I’ve got an older kid away at college and a newborn at home, so life’s a fun mix of big transitions and tiny, chaotic moments. We love getting away to the water for some peace and quiet whenever we can.
I’m a lifelong tinkerer and unapologetic learner. The homelab is my favorite sandbox: a place where I can break things, fix them (usually), and actually understand why they broke — all without risking anyone’s production environment. It’s equal parts playground and classroom.
Family comes first. I’m focused on being present for them, along with continuous learning, reading, and keeping up with my fitness. I’m also a recovering alcoholic, and staying active and grounded helps me show up as the best version of myself.
Coffee fuels the debugging. Science fiction fuels the big-picture thinking (there’s nothing like a good book on complex systems while the sun sets over the water). And every failed experiment is just another data point for the next success — both in tech and in life.
At the end of the day, I’m just trying to build cool, reliable systems (network and otherwise) while staying present for the people who matter most.
If you’re into more homelab nonsense and randomness (plus the occasional lake-side update), follow me on 𝕏 and in.
Core Focus Areas
Network Engineering
Cisco ISE (ERS/LDAP), Python automation, identity-driven security, Palo Alto, endpoint management.
Explore posts →Infrastructure as Code
Terraform, Ansible, Kubernetes on Proxmox, GitOps, policy-as-code, and reproducible environments.
Explore posts →ML Integration
Local LLMs (Ollama), MLOps patterns, anomaly detection, and intelligent network automation.
Explore posts →Site as Code
This entire notebook is infrastructure as code. Content lives in git, the site is built with Hugo, and it is deployed to Cloudflare. The long-term goal is to use Terraform and Ansible to create, publish, and update new lab notes with minimal manual work.