Networking and VoIP, from the field
Guides, reviews and opinions from Chris Sherwood and the Crosstalk Solutions team, based on the networks and phone systems we design and support every day.
Latest posts
Never Lose Remote Access Again: Comet 5G KVM
GL.iNet Comet 5G KVM review: a KVM over IP with built-in 5G RedCap failover, tested against a real upstream network outage.
UniFi Network Masterclass: Design, Deploy, and Master UniFi!
The UniFi Network Masterclass is a hands-on course on designing and deploying UniFi networks, from fundamentals to firewall rules, VLANs and VPNs.
RingCentral vs. Crosstalk Cloud PBX: The Real Cost Comparison
RingCentral vs. Crosstalk Cloud PBX cost comparison: a real RingCentral bill with its contract and fees, plus a 12-user, five-year price breakdown.
Why I'd Never Trust 3CX With My Customers' Phone Systems
Why I won't trust 3CX with customer phone systems: how it treats partners, how it handled the 2023 supply chain attack, and its licensing changes.
Introducing UI Toolkit: A Free, Open-Source Dashboard for Your UniFi Network
UI Toolkit is a free, self-hosted dashboard for UniFi networks with Wi-Fi device tracking, IDS/IPS threat monitoring and live network stats.
Free Network Services Flyer Template for IT Consultants
Download our free network services flyer template, plus how I landed my first network consulting clients: walk-ins, a free WiFi survey, and a fast proposal.
Uptime Kuma: Complete Setup Guide on Digital Ocean with Docker
How to set up Uptime Kuma on a Digital Ocean droplet with Docker and Caddy, then add monitors, Discord alerts, a status page and ufw rules.
Easy! Install UniFi OS Server on a Raspberry Pi
Step-by-step guide to install UniFi OS Server on a Raspberry Pi with Ubuntu Server and Podman, from flashing the SD card to the setup wizard.
Complete UniFi OS Server Installation on Linux: Best Practices!
Install UniFi OS Server on an Ubuntu cloud server: Podman, multi-site mode, Let's Encrypt SSL via Cloudflare and UFW firewall rules, step by step.
Run Your Own ChatGPT Locally for Free!
How to run a ChatGPT-style AI locally for free on Windows with Ollama, Docker Desktop and Open WebUI, using models like Llama and DeepSeek R1.
How To: GL.iNet + Tailscale for Secure Remote Access
How to set up Tailscale on a GL.iNet travel router like the Beryl AX for secure remote access to your home PC and the devices behind the router.
How To: OpenVPN Access Server
How to set up OpenVPN Access Server on a DigitalOcean droplet, with an SSL certificate, MFA users, split tunneling and site-to-site router access.
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