TLP 2025: Tech, community, and a whole lot of cables 🎧💻
This year, I had the pleasure of being part of the TLP 2025 Staff, working from the ground up—literally. I was involved in everything from network infrastructure setup before the event, to live incident support during it, and finally helping with the teardown once it all wrapped up.
🚧 Pre-Event Setup: racks, cables, and network maps
One week before the event kicked off, I joined the technical setup team, where we prepared the entire network infrastructure and equipment. My responsibilities included:
- Installing switches, access points, and structured cabling
- Setting up workstations and technical zones
- Testing connectivity and simulating network load
This gave me real-world experience in large-scale physical network deployment, way beyond classroom theory or tutorials.
👨‍💻 During the Event: Incident Support in action
Once everything was live, I worked on the Incident Support Team, helping ensure a smooth experience for all participants. My tasks involved:
- Detecting, reporting, and resolving technical issues (network, hardware, configurations)
- Assisting users with real-time troubleshooting
- Coordinating with other departments to solve incidents quickly
It was high-pressure at times, but also a crash course in fast, effective problem-solving and tech communication.
🔌 Post-Event Teardown: the calm after the storm
Two days after the event ended, I was back to help with the teardown of the network and equipment, which included:
- Disconnecting and organizing technical gear
- Safely packing and storing all equipment
- Verifying inventory and assisting with logistics
Seeing the entire setup disappear after building it from scratch was surreal—and gave me a full-circle view of the entire operation.
What did I take from this experience?
- đź’Ş Real-world technical skills: networking, support, setup, and planning
- 🤝 Teamwork and coordination under pressure
- đź’ˇ A full perspective on how large-scale tech events are built and managed
Being part of the TLP 2025 tech staff wasn’t just a job—it was a chance to learn, grow, and be part of something bigger in the tech community.
Curious about other stuff I’ve done? Check out more on the blog