Notes from the bench

Sep 3, 2026

Cloud hosting without WHMCS lock-in

CloudPanel on Texas metal, Laravel for signup, QuickBooks for invoices. You do not need a billing monster to host a PHP site.

Sep 2, 2026

Choosing a Cisco VAR in Greater Houston

Partner plaques expire. Ask who racks the switch, who owns the cutover, and whether authorized language is current.

Sep 1, 2026

MSP vs in-house IT for Texas operators

Split standing load from design work. A Houston-area mid-market does not need a national portal — or a single hero employee — to cover both.