Cooper Hosting & Network Solutions

FlareSolverr – Bypass Cloudflare Protection for Jackett

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:00:00 +0000

A walkthrough on deploying FlareSolverr via Docker Compose in Portainer and connecting it to Jackett, allowing Jackett indexers protected by Cloudflare to work without manual intervention.

Ubuntu Server - Configuring Network Settings with Netplan

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:00:00 +0000

A comprehensive guide to configuring network settings on Ubuntu Server using Netplan. Covers static IPs, DNS, DNS search domains, default gateways, static routes, VLAN tagging, NIC bonding, and bridge interfaces.

Portainer CE - Docker Container Management Platform

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 01:10:00 +0000

An updated guide to installing Portainer CE on Docker. Covers creating the data volume, running the container with the current recommended ports, first-time setup, and an optional section on connecting remote Docker hosts using the Portainer Agent.

Install Docker and Docker Compose on Linux (Updated for Compose V2)

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:19:00 +0000

An updated guide to installing Docker and Docker Compose V2 on Linux. My original 2022 article covered the standalone Compose V1 binary, which is now deprecated — this post covers the current method using the official Docker repository and the Compose plugin.

Yolkbook

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0800

Yolkbook is a self-hosted web app for backyard chicken keepers — track egg production, manage your flock, log feed costs, and see exactly what each dozen is costing you.

IT Tools – Handy tools for developers

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:04:00 -0700

A deep dive into IT Tools, a lightweight self-hosted Docker container packed with 86 built-in tools for developers and IT professionals — including a Docker run to compose converter, password strength analyser, color code converter, crontab generator, and much more.

Migrating from Overseerr to Seerr on Linux

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 23:10:00 +0000

Seerr is a community-maintained fork of Overseerr that picks up where the original left off. This post walks through migrating your existing Overseerr Docker container to Seerr on Linux, including backing up your data, fixing permissions, and updating your Compose file.

AI Disclosure

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AI Disclosure

Last updated: March 13, 2026

At Cooper Hosting & Network Solutions, I believe in being transparent about how AI tools are used across this site and the services I provide. This page outlines my policy clearly and honestly.

Posts & Written Content

All posts published on chns.tech are co-authored with the assistance of AI tools. AI helps with research, drafting, structure, and phrasing — but every post goes through my own review, editing, and approval before it is published.

Homeschool Dashboard

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0800

Homeschool Dashboard brings structure and visibility to your homeschool day — live countdown timers, behavior tracking, multi-child scheduling, and a full-screen TV dashboard that keeps everyone on track. Register for free on our hosted instance or self-host your own.

Reset Cisco Switch to Factory Default Through Cli

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 23:46:00 -0800

A walkthrough for resetting a Cisco edge switch to factory defaults using the CLI. Covers what you need to get connected, how to boot into recovery mode, which files to delete and why, and what to expect when the switch comes back up clean.

Privacy Policy

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 3, 2026

Overview

This Privacy Policy explains how chns.tech (“this website,” “we”) handles data in connection with your visit. This site uses third-party services for analytics and advertising that collect data through cookies and similar technologies. By using this website, you consent to the data practices described below.

Cookies

This website uses cookies — small text files placed on your device by your browser. Cookies are used by the third-party services described in this policy for analytics, ad personalization, and fraud prevention. You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings, though doing so may affect site functionality and the relevance of ads shown to you.

My AI Experience and the Inlander Restaurant Week

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:07:35 +0000

How a month of heavy AI use changed my approach to problem-solving — and how I built a fully functional Inlander Restaurant Week app in under 20 minutes before dinner was even over.

Hugo - Framework for Building Websites

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 14:10:00 +0000

A walkthrough of building and deploying a static website using Hugo. Covers installing Hugo, creating a new site, adding a theme, writing content, building the site, and serving it with Nginx on Ubuntu Server.

New Website!

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:08:34 -0800

Welcome to the new and improved CHNS.tech

I took some time off after my 2024 challenge to post new content every weekend. It ended up getting the better of me and my time. I also had a few really big life events at the end of 2024 and through 2025 which took up all the free time I had. Well…I’m back and with a whole new look!

Work Journal

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:51:14 -0800

Work Journal is a lightweight desktop app for IT professionals to log their workday, track time accurately, and generate reports for billing, reviews, and accountability — without the complexity of enterprise software.

New Website Coming Soon!

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:12:46 -0800

After years on a dated WordPress setup, a brand new website is in the works—faster, cleaner, and built from the ground up with a modern design.

Verify Before Trust - Current Scams And How To Protect Yourself

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:49:24 -0800

Learn to identify common scams like AI deepfakes, SMS spoofing, and fake IT support. Practical tips to protect yourself and your family from bad actors.

Uninstalling and Resetting Ceph on Proxmox

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 22:40:34 -0800

Step-by-step commands to completely uninstall Ceph and reset its configuration on your Proxmox cluster for a fresh start.

Minisforum MS-A2 Unboxing and Hardware Review

Mon, 05 May 2025 22:10:03 -0800

Hands-on review of the Minisforum MS-A2 mini PC with dual 10GB SFP+ ports, AMD Ryzen 9000 series, and toolless design - perfect for home labs.

ByteStash – Code Snippet Organizer

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying ByteStash, a web application for organizing code snippets, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, configuration, the web interface, creating snippets, and security considerations.

Draw.io – Whiteboarding/Diagramming Web Application

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Draw.io, a free and open source whiteboarding and diagramming web application, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, the web interface, navigating the application, and embedding/publishing diagrams.

Trivy – Docker Image Vulnerability Scanning

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of using Trivy by Aqua Security to scan Docker images for vulnerabilities before deployment. Covers running the Trivy container, interpreting scan results, understanding CVE information, and making risk-based deployment decisions.

AirTrail – Airline Flight History Tracker and Map

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying AirTrail, a self-hosted airline flight tracking application, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, the web interface, adding flights, viewing flight lists, and the statistics dashboard.

Proxmox - Setup Secondary Linux Bridge on a Secondary Physical Network Interface

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:35:00 -0800

A walkthrough on creating a secondary Linux Bridge in Proxmox bound to a dedicated physical network interface, useful for separating management traffic from server data traffic or setting up an isolated storage network.

VMware ESXi to Proxmox Virtual Machine Migration Integration

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of migrating virtual machines from VMware ESXi to Proxmox using the built-in import function. Covers mounting an ESXi host, importing virtual machines, configuring settings, and troubleshooting network interface issues post-migration.

Proxmox – Reduce Quorum to 1 Node

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A quick guide on reducing the expected quorum in a Proxmox cluster to a single node, allowing you to run one node while keeping the cluster configuration intact.

Nginx Proxy Manager – Reverse Proxy

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Nginx Proxy Manager with an external MariaDB database using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, admin interface configuration, setting up proxy hosts with Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates, Cloudflare DNS integration, and configuring Access Lists for restricted access.

Setup Uptime-Kuma to monitor Docker Containers

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of configuring Uptime-Kuma to monitor Docker containers both locally and remotely. Covers updating the stack for local daemon access, configuring the Docker daemon for remote connections, setting up Docker hosts in Uptime-Kuma, and creating container monitors.

Migrate Persistent Docker files from Local Volumes to NFS Volumes

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of migrating Docker container persistent files from local volumes to NFS volumes using TrueNAS Scale and Portainer. Covers setting up NFS shares, creating NFS volumes in Portainer, copying files via the container shell, and switching containers to use the new NFS volumes.

TrueNAS Scale – Adding Secondary Network Interface, Dataset, NFS Service and Shares

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of configuring TrueNAS Scale with a secondary network interface, creating datasets, enabling and configuring the NFS service, and setting up NFS shares for external system access.

Adding a Secondary 10gbps Interface to Ubuntu Server 24.04

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A step-by-step guide on adding a secondary 10Gbps network interface to an Ubuntu Server 24.04 VM in Proxmox, covering Linux Bridge creation, adding a virtual network device, and configuring a static IP address with netplan.

Install TrueNAS Scale 24.04.2 Virtually on Proxmox

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of installing TrueNAS Scale 24.04.2 as a virtual machine on Proxmox. Covers virtual machine configuration, the TrueNAS installation process, setting a static IP address, web interface configuration, and creating a storage pool.

Trilium Notes – Hierarchical Note Taking Application

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Trilium Notes, a hierarchical note taking application, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, initial setup, theme customization including the Bing Daily Theme, and configuring the launch bar.

Lidify – Discover Artist based on your Library

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Lidify, a Docker container that integrates with Lidarr and Spotify to recommend new artists based on your existing music library. Covers Spotify developer setup, Lidarr API configuration, deployment, and using the application to discover and add artists.

Watchtower – Automatic Docker Container Updater

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Watchtower, an automatic Docker container image updater, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment configuration, the update process, using labels to filter containers, and notification options.

Lidarr – Music Management Server

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Lidarr, a music collection manager, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, media profiles, importing existing libraries, configuring indexers and download clients, and adding new artists.

Pinchflat – Channel Monitoring YouTube Downloader

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Pinchflat, a self-hosted YouTube content downloader built on yt-dlp, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, media profile configuration, source setup, and Plex integration.

SearXNG – Internet Metasearch Engine

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying SearXNG, a free internet metasearch engine that aggregates results from more than 70 search services without tracking or profiling users, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, preferences, backing up settings, and setting it as your default search engine in Google Chrome.

Issues with Expanding Windows 11 Drives

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of resolving the grayed-out Extend Volume option in Windows 11 Disk Management caused by the Recovery Partition. Covers using the DiskPart tool to remove the Recovery volume and successfully extending the OS drive.

Upgrade Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS to 24.04 LTS

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of upgrading Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS to 24.04 LTS in place. Covers the prerequisite steps, the intermediate upgrade to 23.10 if upgrading before August 15th 2024, and the full upgrade process with all prompts and confirmations.

Proxmox – Setup NFS Share and Configure Backups

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of setting up a NFS share on a Synology NAS, connecting it to Proxmox as backup storage, and configuring an automated backup routine for all virtual machines with rolling retention.

Clearing Https Redirection for Internal Http Sites in Google Chrome

Sun, 26 May 2024 01:00:00 -0800

How to fix Google Chrome forcing HTTPS on internal HTTP-only sites caused by cached HSTS policies. Covers the troubleshooting process and step-by-step instructions to clear HSTS settings and browser cache.

Tandoor Recipes

Sun, 19 May 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Tandoor Recipes, a self-hosted recipe management application, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, creating and importing recipes, sharing recipes publicly, and inviting other users to your space.

Install Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS

Sun, 12 May 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A step-by-step walkthrough of installing Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS from downloading the ISO to completing the installation. Covers network configuration, storage partitioning, profile setup, SSH, and post-install updates.

Unifi Firewall Configuration

Sun, 05 May 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of configuring the Unifi Firewall including general security settings, port forwarding, and firewall rules for network segmentation. Covers understanding traffic flow, creating ACL rules, and setting up true VLAN isolation on a Unifi network.

Kanboard – Project Management Software

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Kanboard, a free and open source Kanban-style project management platform, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, user setup, creating projects, customizing columns, categories, automatic actions, and task management.

Chocolatey – Automatic Software Package Management

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Chocolatey, a command-line package manager for Windows, through Active Directory Group Policy. Covers automated agent installation, setting up application packages with PowerShell scripts, and automatic software updates at startup.

Proxmox – Setup Cluster and Migrate Virtual Machine

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of setting up a Proxmox cluster with multiple hosts and migrating a virtual machine between them. Covers cluster creation, joining a second host, and live migrating a VM without shared storage.

UniFi Wireless Private Pre-Shared Keys Migration

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of migrating multiple UniFi wireless SSIDs into a single SSID using Private Pre-Shared Keys (PPSK). Covers configuring PPSK on the UniFi Network Application, assigning different passwords per network, migrating client devices, and removing old SSIDs.

Manyfold – 3D Printing Model Manager

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Manyfold, an open source web application for managing your collection of 3D modeling files, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, initial setup, library configuration, and uploading and organizing your 3D printing models.

Travel Router – GL-AXT1800 Setup & Review

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A deep dive setup guide and review of the GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX Travel Router. Covers initial power on and setup, WiFi repeater configuration, WireGuard VPN client setup, and the physical toggle switch feature for enabling and disabling VPN connections on the go.

WireGuard Server – VPN Docker Container

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying a WireGuard VPN Server inside a Docker Container using Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers network setup for external connections, the deployment stack, displaying peer configurations, setting up the WireGuard client on PC, and using QR codes to configure mobile devices.

Creating a Virtual Machine in Proxmox

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough on creating virtual machines in Proxmox covering the settings that work best for deployment. Covers getting installation media onto the hypervisor, deploying both Linux and Windows Server virtual machines, and installing the QEMU Guest Agent on both operating systems.

Installing & Updating Proxmox 8.1

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A step by step guide on installing Proxmox 8.1 on bare metal hardware, configuring the web management interface, setting up the No-Subscription update repository, and running the first system update. Covers hardware prerequisites, installation wizard, and initial server configuration.

My 'Zero Trust' Email Management System

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0800

I apply the zero trust firewall model to my email management. All incoming emails route to an Unsorted folder via a catch-all rule, and only emails matching specific sender and subject rules make it to my Inbox. I cover folder structure, routing rules, Outlook’s Sweep feature, and my annual archiving process.

Doku – Docker Disk Usage Dashboard

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Doku, a simple and lightweight web-based application for monitoring Docker disk usage, using Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, web interface access, and a breakdown of each information page including Dashboard, Images, Containers, Volumes, Blind Mounts, Logs, and Build Cache.

Qr Code Identification Card

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A creative way to repurpose the ID card window in your wallet with a custom card featuring a QR code linking to your social media and contact info, an emergency contact list, and a hidden cash stash. Includes a printable template and step-by-step instructions.

LinkStack – Social Media Link Page

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying LinkStack, a highly customizable link sharing platform with an intuitive user interface, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, initial setup, theme customization, appearance configuration, and setting up your social media link page.

Overseerr – Media Request Management Server

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Overseerr, a request management and media discovery tool built to work with your existing Plex ecosystem, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, Plex integration, library scanning, and optional Radarr and Sonarr configuration for a fully automated media request system.

Install Ubuntu Server 23.10

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A step by step walkthrough on installing Ubuntu Server 23.10, covering downloading the ISO, the full installation process including network configuration with static IP, guided storage configuration, profile setup, SSH setup, and running your first system update.

MeTube – YouTube Downloader

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying MeTube, a Web GUI for youtube-dl using the yt-dlp fork with playlist support, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, web interface configuration including quality, format, auto start, and download folder settings, plus Plex server integration.

Home Lab Tour 2024

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A full tour of my home lab setup for 2024 covering servers, storage, networking, security cameras, and Docker containers. Documenting where everything stands at the start of the year.

2024 Resolution! (Updated)

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0800

A self-set goal to publish 52 articles in 2024, one per week, covering Docker containers, home lab projects, and more. Includes a full tracking list and end-of-year reflection.

Tautulli – Plex Monitoring, Analytics and Notifications

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Tautulli, a 3rd party application for monitoring Plex Media Server activity and tracking various statistics, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, Plex account integration, activity logging configuration, and notification setup.

Portainer – Update to New Version

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough on how to update Portainer to the latest version using the Portainer interface and SSH commands. Covers pulling the new image, redeploying the container, and cleaning up old images.

Guide: Migrate from Cloudkey to Unifi Network Application

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0800

A complete guide on migrating from a Gen 1 Unifi Cloudkey to the Unifi Network Application running as a Docker container. Covers server prerequisites, backup and restore, deployment, device adoption, and troubleshooting.

Radarr – Movie Management Server

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Radarr, a movie collection manager for Usenet and BitTorrent users, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, media importing, quality settings, indexer and download client configuration.

Docker Container to Automatically Check-in to Southwest Flight

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0800

A quick guide on using a Docker container to automatically check-in to a Southwest Airlines flight exactly when the 24-hour window opens, ensuring the best place in line.

Sonarr – TV Show Management Server

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Sonarr, a PVR for Usenet and BitTorrent users that monitors RSS feeds for new TV show episodes, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, media importing, quality settings, indexer and download client configuration.

Jackett – Indexer for Tracker Sites

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Jackett, a proxy server that translates queries from apps like Sonarr, Radarr, and Lidarr into tracker-site-specific queries, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, configuration, and setting up indexers.

Transmission over Private Internet Access (PIA) – Bittorrent Client over VPN

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Transmission bittorrent client tunneled over Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, configuration, and verifying VPN connectivity.

How-to Save All Your Photos on Facebook to Your Pc

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 21:36:00 -0800

A step-by-step guide to downloading all your photos from Facebook to your PC, including how to request your data, extract the downloaded files, and find your photos for backup or migration.

Things I do after installing Ubuntu Server

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A basic configuration tutorial on the steps I take after doing a clean install of Ubuntu Server. Covers changing SSH port, enabling UFW firewall, unattended updates, removing old kernels, NTP, and installing Cockpit.

Installing Ubuntu Server 22.04.1 LTS on a Raspberry Pi 4

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A step-by-step walkthrough of installing Ubuntu Server 22.04.1 LTS onto a Raspberry Pi 4 using the Raspberry Pi Imager tool. Covers OS selection, SD card configuration, SSH setup, and basic first boot configuration.

Automatically Mount a Windows Share on a Linux Server

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough on how to use the CIFS Utilities Package to automatically mount a Windows file share on a Linux server at startup using Windows credentials for secure access.

Vaultwarden – Password Manager

Sun, 15 May 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Vaultwarden, the self-hosted server side of the Bitwarden password manager, using Docker and Portainer. Covers deployment, accessing your vault, setting up the Chrome extension, and the Android app.

Install Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS

Sat, 07 May 2022 18:32:00 -0800

A complete walkthrough for clean installing Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS. Covers downloading the ISO, booting from install media, configuring network settings with a static IP, disk partitioning, user profile setup, enabling OpenSSH, and performing initial system updates.

Duplicati – Restore Files

Fri, 06 May 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A follow up walkthrough on restoring files from backups using the Duplicati container. Covers restoring to the same server or a new server, connecting to remote backup storage, and restoring Docker container files.

WordPress – Website Builder

Wed, 04 May 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying WordPress, a free and open-source content management system, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment with a MySQL database, initial setup, and basic configuration of the interface.

Uptime-Kuma – Monitoring Tool

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Uptime-Kuma, a self-hosted monitoring tool for HTTP, HTTPS, TCP Ports, PING, DNS Records, and more, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, configuration, setting up monitors, and creating status pages.

Duplicati – Backup Container

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Duplicati, a backup client that securely stores encrypted, incremental, compressed remote backups, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server. Covers deployment, configuring backup jobs, scheduling, and uploading to an FTP server.

Heimdall – Application Dashboard

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 01:00:00 -0800

A walkthrough of deploying Heimdall, a simple way to organise all your most used web sites and web applications into a dashboard with an integrated search bar, using Docker and Portainer on Ubuntu Server.

Change Dns Settings

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 19:08:00 -0800

Learn what DNS is, why you should change your default DNS servers for better privacy and security, and how to do it on your router, Windows PC, Mac, and mobile devices.

VMware ESXi 6.7 - Install and Setup Guide

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 19:20:00 -0800

A step-by-step guide for doing a fresh install of VMware ESXi 6.7 on a server. Covers the OS installation, basic network configuration including static IP and DNS, NTP setup, and licensing.

Active Directory Disable/Remove Old Computer Accounts Automatically

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 19:26:00 -0800

A PowerShell script and automation guide for cleaning up stale Active Directory computer accounts. Disables accounts inactive for 180+ days, moves them to an Old Computers OU, and deletes accounts inactive for 270+ days. Includes Task Scheduler setup for full automation.

XCopy Command Guide

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 19:37:00 -0800

A guide to using the Windows XCopy command for server-to-server file transfers, covering key flags for preserving ownership, permissions, and file attributes during file server migrations.

IIS/FTP Server Setup - Windows Server 2016

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 19:41:00 -0800

A step-by-step guide for installing IIS on Windows Server 2016 to host websites, configure HTTP redirection sites, and set up an FTP server with authentication and authorization rules.

Adding a Secondary Domain Controller - Windows Server 2016

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 19:43:00 -0800

A step-by-step guide for adding a secondary domain controller to a Windows Server 2016 environment, covering AD DS role installation, server promotion, and moving Domain Naming and Schema Master Roles using PowerShell.

Windows Server 2016 - Basic Setup

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 19:45:00 -0800

A step-by-step guide for installing and configuring Windows Server 2016 Standard from bare metal, covering OS installation, network configuration, domain joining, Remote Desktop setup, and Windows Update.

High Availability File Server Setup - Windows Server 2016

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 19:49:00 -0800

A step-by-step guide for setting up a 2-node Windows Server 2016 failover cluster for high availability file sharing, covering iSCSI storage configuration, cluster creation, witness shares, and cluster-aware updating.

About

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hey, I’m Derek Cooper

I’m a Virtual Desktop Engineer based in Washington State — I spend my days architecting and managing VDI environments, and my evenings breaking things in my homelab. I’ve been passionate about technology since High School, and this blog is where I document what I build, break, and occasionally fix.

My Homelab

Three Minisforum MS-A2 mini PCs form the backbone of my lab, running serious horsepower in a small footprint — backed by a full Unifi network stack and a dedicated security camera system.

Helpful Links

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A curated collection of tools I self-host and external resources I actually use. Everything here has earned a permanent spot in my bookmarks.

Tools I Host

These run on my homelab infrastructure and are open to the public. No account required.

Draw.io Self-Hosted

My go-to for network diagrams and infrastructure planning. Self-hosted so your diagrams never leave your browser — no account, no cloud sync, no data retention.

Open Tool →

IT Tools Self-Hosted

A self-hosted Swiss Army knife for IT work — encoders, decoders, converters, hash generators, JWT debuggers, and more. I reach for this daily instead of random single-purpose websites.

Hosting

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A Professional Web Presence,
Without the Complexity

Cooper Hosting & Network Solutions builds clean, fast, informational websites for small businesses and organizations — then keeps them running on reliable, personally managed infrastructure. No page builders, no bloat, no mystery.

Looking for a simple website with direct access to support? Work directly with Derek — not a help desk, not a ticket queue — for support and changes whenever you need them.

See Pricing Get in Touch

What We Offer

Website Design & Build Custom

Every site is built to match your business — not your budget template. Whether it's a WordPress site you can manage yourself, a lightning-fast Hugo static site, or clean hand-coded HTML/CSS, the right platform is chosen based on what works best for you. The result is always mobile-responsive, fast, and easy for your visitors to navigate.