About Hacknix

I am Simon Adlem, a systems and security architect and engineer. Hacknix is where I write about the technical subjects I work with or pull apart out of curiosity: Linux and UNIX, network infrastructure, protocols, security, communications, architecture, distributed systems, identity and trust.

Security has been a continuous hands-on discipline throughout my career. That has included operating-system and network security, IDS and monitoring, vulnerability assessment, authorised penetration testing, incident response, technical forensic investigation, secure communications, cryptographic controls, security architecture, policy and governance.

The professional and experimental work are both part of the history, but they are not interchangeable. A hobby radio network has a different purpose, consequence and assurance model from a regulated high-assurance system. Interesting architecture begins by respecting that difference.

Why preserve the old material?

Historical technical writing has evidential value precisely because it was written at the time. The archive therefore preserves the original articles substantially as published, including rough edges. Present-day corrections and interpretations are labelled as such.

Looking back, recurring concerns around decentralisation, identity, privacy, trust boundaries, provenance and operator autonomy are visible before they developed into my present architectural thinking. That is a retrospective observation, not a claim that the current model already existed fully formed.

For current professional work and availability, see adlem.net. My work with iCoriolis is described at icoriolis.net.