About
Senior systems architect: 18+ years in enterprise infrastructure, systems administration and cloud. I also build apps, websites and software.
About Me
I’m a senior systems architect with over 18 years in enterprise infrastructure, systems administration and cloud. I design, migrate and run the platforms organizations can’t afford to lose: virtualization, data centers, storage, DNS and identity.
I lead technical teams through mission-critical change, from architecture and planning to the overnight cutover, and I treat attention to detail as a requirement, not a preference.
vSkilled started in 2014 as the place I write up home lab builds, VMware migrations and the occasional review. The archive runs from 2014 to 2020, and the site itself was rebuilt in 2026.
Core Competencies
What I Design, Migrate and Run
Virtualization & HCI
Design, upgrade and migrate VMware vSphere and Nutanix AHV estates, from cluster design and lifecycle upgrades to large-scale VM migrations, with Hyper-V and KVM where they fit.
Data Center & Migrations
Plan and run multi-site moves and live cutovers around the business, with SAN and NAS storage design and Veeam backup and disaster recovery behind them.
Network Services & Identity
Enterprise DNS, DHCP and IPAM on Infoblox, Active Directory and hybrid Entra ID, built for high availability so the basics keep answering.
Automation & Building
PowerShell and PowerCLI for repeatable operations, Python for tooling, and web and hosting platforms built with TypeScript, Astro, Next.js and PHP.
How I Work
Four Habits
- Rollback first.Every change ships with a tested way back.
- Write it down.Runbooks, diagrams and decision records that outlive the project.
- Automate the second time.Do it once by hand; script it before the third.
- Calm under pressure.Outages and overnight cutovers get a steady hand and clear communication.
Toolbox
What I Work With
Virtualization & HCI
- VMware
- Nutanix
- Hyper-V
- KVM
Cloud & Edge
- AWS
- Azure
- Google Cloud
- DigitalOcean
- Cloudflare
- Bunny CDN
Systems & Identity
- Windows Server
- Active Directory
- Entra ID
- Red Hat
- Ubuntu
- Arch Linux
Network, Storage & DR
- Infoblox DDI
- Veeam
- Ubiquiti
- Unraid
- Synology
Hosting Platforms
- Enhance
- OpenLiteSpeed
- ClientExec
- Roundcube
- cPanel
- Nginx
Automation & Code
- PowerShell
- Python
- TypeScript
- PHP
- Astro
- Next.js
- Tailwind
- SQLite
- MariaDB
Delivery & AI
- GitHub Actions
- Docker
- systemd
- Claude Code
- Codex
- MCP
Certifications
Credentials
VMwareVMware vExpert2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
VMwareVMware Certified Associate: Data Center VirtualizationVCA-DCV
VMwareVMware Certified Associate: CloudVCA-Cloud
VMwareVMware Technical Solutions ProfessionalVTSP
MicrosoftMicrosoft Certified ProfessionalWindows Server 2016 Installation, Storage and Compute (70-740)
VeeamVeeam Backup Academy Certified ProfessionalBackup Academy
BrocadeBrocade Accredited Data Center SpecialistData center networking
TintriTintri Certified Systems EngineerTCSE- GoogleGoogle AI ProfessionalAI Professional certificate
- BCITDiploma of Technical Studies, Information Systems TechnologyBritish Columbia Institute of Technology
Homelab
Off the clock I run a full-blown multi-node homelab in a 32U server rack, where new automation, hosting stacks and AI tooling get tested.
Let's Work Together
Based in British Columbia, Canada. Open to senior roles and contract work, remote or hybrid.