u/Drip_Box01

I have a Meraki site currently showing a “Disabled gateway” alert, but the MX/firewall is green in Dashboard and all of the switches are also showing green.

What exactly happens when Meraki reports a disabled gateway? Does this mean clients at the site would be unable to reach the Internet, or can Internet connectivity still work while this alert is present?

Just trying to understand what Meraki is actually testing/detecting when it marks a gateway as disabled and what impact I should expect for users.

Looking for honest opinions from both union electricians and network engineers.

I’m 30 and currently work as a network engineer making about $126k/year. On paper it sounds great, but I still pay for health insurance, parking at work, and contribute to my own 401(k).

Then I hear about union electricians making great money, getting a pension, having excellent health insurance through the union, and only paying relatively small union dues. It makes me wonder if I’d actually come out ahead financially.

Another thing I think about is job security. If I lost my IT job tomorrow, I feel like it could take a long time to find another one at a similar salary. Electricians seem to always be in demand.

I also wonder how AI will affect IT over the next 10–20 years. I know it won’t replace networking overnight, but it’s something I think about. Skilled trades like electricians seem like they’ll always be needed.

The biggest tradeoff in my mind is:

-IT: Better work-life balance and more time with my family, but maybe less long-term security.

-Union electrician: Better benefits and potentially more total compensation, but more physical work and probably less time at home.

For those of you in either field, what would you do if you were in my shoes? Am I seeing the grass as greener on the other side, or is there some truth to what I’m thinking?
I’d especially love to hear from anyone who’s worked in both industries.

Maryland Child Support Question (Looking for a Rough Estimate)

I’m trying to get a ballpark idea of what I might be looking at before speaking with an attorney.

Here’s my situation:

I live in Maryland.

I make about $125,000/year.

My oldest child’s mother makes about $45,000/year.
She has primary physical custody of our 11-year-old. and she’s talking about filing for child support now.

I have two biological children who live with me full-time and whom I financially support.

I also pay $700/month in court-ordered child support for another child.

I know there are a lot of variables (health insurance, daycare, exact number of overnights, etc.), so I’m not looking for an exact calculation.

Given Maryland’s child support guidelines and the newer multifamily adjustment rules, does anyone have a rough idea what I could expect to pay each month for my oldest child? Has anyone been in a similar situation with multiple child support obligations and children living in their home?
Just looking for realistic experiences or estimates before I meet with a lawyer.

I’m having a little buyer’s remorse and wanted some outside opinions.

I just bought a new 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander XLE AWD.

-About $54k out the door
-Traded in a 2022 Camry with positive equity
-Put $15k down
-Financed the rest at 4.9% for 60 months
-Payment is about $745/month (around $783 if I add the -Toyota extended warranty)

The main reason for upgrading was that my family is growing (one child and another on the way), and we wanted something with a true third row that we can keep for a long time.

I cross-shopped:
Toyota 4Runner
VW Atlas
Used Highlander
Grand Highlander

The Grand Highlander seemed like the best fit, but now that the excitement has worn off, I’m wondering if I should have just kept the Camry or bought something cheaper.

A few questions:
Was this a reasonable purchase or did I overbuy?
If you were in my shoes, would you have chosen something else?

Would you buy the Toyota Vehicle Service Agreement for about $1,800, or skip it?
I’m looking for honest opinions.