Lawrence Systems
In-depth tutorials, discussions on network engineering, security, and technology solutions.
Lawrence Systems offers a look at how we run our company, the products we use and solutions we provide for our clients. We discuss and create tutorials for firewalls, storage solutions, MSP tools, security tools and open source topics. We do a live show every Thursday where we engage with our audience and have some laughs about working in the IT industry.
420 Eureka Road PMB 225
Wyandotte, MI 48192 USA
Content Creation Ethics and Guidelines can be found here:
www.lawrencesystems.com/content-ethics/
Posts
Lawrence Systems
Who says open source is just for tinkering? Companies like Vates prove it can power a real business.
From infrastructure to invoices, backups to team collaboration, this video explores how open source tools keep their operations secure, flexible, and surprisingly efficient. A roadmap for anyone curious about turning free tools into serious business value.
1 day ago | [YT] | 22
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Lawrence Systems
Have any of you tested the new pfSense Nexus multi-instance management (MIM) solution? I am working on new video covering the pfsense updates for 2025 which included their new Nexus system for pfsense plus which costs $49 per device per year.
1 day ago | [YT] | 174
View 35 replies
Lawrence Systems
Still doing some fine tuning but you can do some nice workflows using n8n to monitor TrueNAS, video coming soon. I did just release a video on how to get n8n setup using docker here https://youtu.be/Vyppuv98Cgs
4 days ago | [YT] | 326
View 10 replies
Lawrence Systems
Matt here, and it’s time for another Tech Throwback!
First developed in 1965 by E.A. Johnson for air traffic control, the touchscreen interface allowed operators to select options directly on a display. This tech is now embedded in billions of phones, tablets, ATMs, and kiosks.
Touchscreens drove consumer electronics, public info systems, and mobile computing. Modern innovations like capacitive multi-touch trace their roots to Johnson’s early resistive and capacitive concepts.
Early touchscreen patents became the subject of tech licensing disputes, especially as smartphones took off in the 2000s. They revolutionized how humans interact with machines, enabling intuitive input for non-technical users.
What was your first memorable experience with a touchscreen device? Mine was probably the original Palm Pilot, but my most vivid memory of touchscreens improving user experience is when they replaced the big buttons (they were like 2U-wide SA-style R3 keycaps) placed on either side of an ATM machine’s screen.
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Every Thursday, we press pause to remember the technology that helped us get to where we are today. From vintage hardware to deprecated software, we honor the innovations that helped shape the world and inspired us.
Do you have a favorite photo or #techthrowback memory to share? Join in on the fun in the comments!
6 days ago | [YT] | 53
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Lawrence Systems
Turning a Mini PC into a NAS sounds like a stretch - but that’s half the fun.
Here’s an experiment using an NVMe-to-SATA adapter to see how far small form-factor hardware can go. It’s compact, it’s unconventional, and it just might inspire your next budget-friendly homelab build.
1 week ago | [YT] | 53
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Lawrence Systems
For homelab hardware, what do you tend to repurpose most?
1 week ago | [YT] | 80
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Lawrence Systems
Matt here, and it’s time for another Tech Throwback!
While testing radar magnetrons at Raytheon in 1945, engineer Percy Spencer noticed a chocolate bar melting in his pocket. This accidental observation led to the microwave oven, transforming cooking worldwide.
Microwave ovens accelerated home meal preparation, created new frozen-food industries, and even influenced industrial processes like drying and sterilization.
Raytheon patented the first commercial microwave in 1945; early models were expensive, requiring government and commercial adoption before entering homes.
Millions adopted microwaves quickly, changing daily life, meal habits, and food culture. My family’s first microwave in the mid-1980s had a single dial that acted as a timer. Forty years later, and I find myself giggling at the “POTATO” button whenever I try to use it 😉
Bonus: Ska/Punk about accidentally placing metal in the microwave while warming up SpaghettiOs!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFtYD...
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Every Thursday, we press pause to remember the technology that helped us get to where we are today. From vintage hardware to deprecated software, we honor the innovations that helped shape the world and inspired us.
Do you have a favorite photo or #techthrowback memory to share? Join in on the fun in the comments!
1 week ago | [YT] | 61
View 4 replies
Lawrence Systems
Three years in, still the best label maker I’ve owned. Reliable, simple, and it hasn’t jammed once - can’t say that about most printers:
1 week ago | [YT] | 59
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Lawrence Systems
Tech meets cozy: rock the T568B Ethernet hoodie and show the world your love for perfectly aligned wires. Structured wiring never looked this good.
shop.lawrencesystems.com/products/ethernet-hooded-…
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 157
View 20 replies
Lawrence Systems
When experimenting with NVMe and ZFS, what’s most important to you?
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 67
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