YouTubers can come from anywhere. In Chuck of NetworkChuck’s case, he sold toilets. However, growing up he’d been a bit of a tech kid. His dad was in IT and would being back old hardware that both would tinker with.
“I got back into tech – partly out of necessity and maybe a little bit of survival,” Chuck says. “My wife and I had just had our first daughter, and the pressure to provide was getting real. In between sales calls, I would crack open my CompTIA A+ study guide, hoping to earn my first IT certification and land my first job in IT. And that’s exactly what happened. I started as a junior helpdesk support specialist (I didn’t know you could be lower than tier 1 helpdesk) and knew almost nothing. But for the first time ever, I didn’t hate going to work. I became obsessed! I’d stay late to study and help the system and network admins with their projects. It was a whole new world for me. I had always loved technology, but I had never experienced this level of nerdiness.”
“The reason I love tech – especially things like Raspberry Pi – is that they’re not only fun, but they translate to real-world skills,” Chuck continues. “The projects you build with something like a Raspberry Pi can lead to incredibly fulfilling and lucrative careers.”
How did you get into Linux?
Networking led me to Linux. While most of my time as a network engineer was spent with Cisco IOS, some of the newer switches had a Linux back end, and Cisco phone systems used Red Hat. I was tasked with spinning up a few Linux virtual machines for the development team, and Linux kept popping up everywhere. I was terrified.
I knew I had to learn Linux, but I wasn’t quite ready to take the leap yet. Then I heard about Raspberry Pi – these small, lightweight computers people were using for fun projects – and I just couldn’t resist. One afternoon, I took my lunch break, drove to MicroCenter, and bought my first Raspberry Pi, a 2 [Model B].
I had no idea what I was doing, but as I fumbled my way through setting it up and tried a few projects, I got addicted. The Raspberry Pi was my gateway drug to Linux.
What do you usually use Raspberry Pi for?
Everything. I use it for home automation with Home Assistant, running a DNS server with AdGuard, hosting a Time Server with TimeBeat, turning it into a travel router and a travel NAS, and even as a wireless hacking tool with Kali Linux.
What’s your favourite thing you’ve made with Raspberry Pi?
Even though it didn’t get many views, my favourite Raspberry Pi project was building a haunted house. I used multiple Raspberry Pi, sensors, cameras, and legit haunted house props to make a walk-through experience for kids in my neighbourhood on Halloween.
How did you start out YouTubing?
I’ve always loved YouTube and have been on the platform since the very beginning. My personal channel was classic early YouTube stuff: stunt videos with my siblings and friends.
I tried daily vlogging with my family when that was hot, but it just wasn’t our thing. I loved YouTube, but I needed to focus on my career, so I put down the camera.
Then I started watching a YouTuber named Jorge Almazan. He made content about his IT journey, documenting how he got Cisco certifications and how they helped his career. It was so encouraging, and it gave me a massive boost of motivation in my own journey.
It’s where the idea of NetworkChuck was born. I was encouraged by Jorge’s channel, but there wasn’t much else like it out there. In fact, he was the only one I could find talking about tech this way. I knew it was time to pick up the camera again and make content that would help others find a fulfilling job in IT.
My first video was filmed in an IT closet at work, documenting me setting up a fleet of Cisco Firewalls.
What is one security tip you’d give everyone?
Know your attack surface and routinely audit yourself (and your family).
