Hello!

The "Ferroserver" system is John Desautels's personal multipurpose home server cluster for hosting various services. The "Webhost Page" is mostly a way for John to keep his important info + interests all in one place.

Ferroserver Homepage

The personal technology hub of John Desautels - an experienced field technician & hobbyist specializing in infrastructure, computer repair, and homelab solutions.

Professional IT Experience Meets Creative Homelab Tinkering

The Ferroserver dual-server homelab system demonstrates that powerful, versatile systems don't require the latest/greatest hardware; just thoughtful design and careful implementation.

IT Operations & Computer Repair Experience

John offers personal consulting for professional computer diagnostics and restoration services pertaining to Windows and Linux systems, with extensive hands-on expertise using both operating systems & a myriad of different hardware configurations.

Home Lab Infrastructure

Two dedicated servers: Ferroserver 1 for media streaming & gaming, Ferroserver 2 for AI processing & development.

Ethical AI Development

Custom-trained language models built exclusively on public domain and FOSS datasets, running on local infrastructure.

Current Capabilities & Services

  • 24/7 Plex Media Server - Streaming up to 5TB of content across multiple devices
  • Minecraft Server Hosting - Dedicated gaming server accessible through Playit
  • AI Model Training & Deployment - Ethical LLM development on AMD Ryzen with Vega graphics
  • Video Processing - Upscaling and enhancement through Handbrake
  • Professional IT Services - Hardware repair, OS installation, network setup

Server System

Ferroserver System

The Ferroserver dual-server homelab system

Explore how my professional IT experience combined with creative home lab infrastructure can deliver reliable, easy, sometimes unconventional solutions for your technology needs.

Music

Explore my music across different platforms. Follow me on Spotify and YouTube to stay updated with the latest releases and content.

Follow me on these platforms to get notified about new releases, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates!

John Desautels - Resume

Self-driven service specialist & IT technician who is knowledgeable & proficient in computer hardware, software, & troubleshooting.

IT Experience
2+ Years
Computer Repair
8+ Years
Education
BS IT (Partial)

Professional Experience

May 2024 - Present
Food Specialist
Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Co
Banner Elk, North Carolina, United States
Oct 2023 - Jul 2024
Founder
Desautels Computer Repair
Boone, North Carolina, United States
Aug 2023 - Oct 2023
Computer Technician
Computer Tamers / Geeks at Work
Successfully fixed hundreds of computers for customers, issues ranging from screen damage, bad power supply/DC jack, bad motherboard, bad graphics card, to destroyed hard drives, water damage, battery replacements, and more. Collaborated with a fantastic team to diagnose, address, and fix PCs/laptops by utilizing teamwork, professionalism, and synergy.
Jun 2023 - Aug 2023
Internship Trainee
Computer Tamers / Geeks at Work
Actively learned how to utilize networking equipment more effectively due to strong leadership & informative teaching.
Aug 2022 - Jan 2023
Inventory Specialist
Staples
Boone, North Carolina, United States
May 2022 - Aug 2022
Technology Associate
Staples
Received printed document of recognition for satisfactory customer service & sales skills after a customer mentioned me by name via a letter to the company president.
Jan 2022 - May 2022
Sales Associate
Staples
Boone, North Carolina, United States
Jun 2018 - Aug 2018
Sandwich Maker
Jersey Mike's Subs
Boone, North Carolina, United States

Education

Aug 2019 - May 2023
Information Technology Studies
Liberty University Online
Completed coursework toward Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, did not complete.

Key Skills & Accomplishments

  • IT Operations & Computer Repair
  • Computer Diagnostics & Restoration
  • Software/OS Installation & Reloads
  • Hardware Integrity Repairs
  • Networking Equipment Installation
  • Customer Service & Professionalism

Notable Accomplishments: Successfully repaired and restored many desktop PCs, business computers, laptops, and MacBooks. Worked with major businesses & retailers to install networking equipment, test the equipment, and troubleshoot. Serviced clients one-on-one, focusing on their computer/networking needs while maintaining a professional, kind, and patient demeanor.

Download Resume

SysInfo

The Ferroserver infrastructure consists of two dedicated home lab systems, each optimized for specific tasks and running on reliable, enterprise-grade hardware repurposed for personal and creative projects.

Ferroserver 1 - Media & Gaming Hub

Built on an HP EliteDesk HTPC platform, this server leverages an Intel Core i5-6500T vPro processor with 16GB of RAM. Its primary role is managing a comprehensive Plex media library with up to 5TB of films and shows, ensuring smooth streaming across multiple devices. Additionally, it hosts a Minecraft server accessible through Playit, providing a stable gaming experience for friends and family.

Ferroserver 2 - AI & Processing Powerhouse

Running on a ThinkCentre HTPC with ZimaOS (the evolved successor to CasaOS), this system harnesses an AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE processor paired with integrated Vega 11 Graphics and 16GB of RAM. This server specializes in running custom-trained Large Language Models built exclusively on ethical AI foundations using public domain and FOSS datasets. It also handles video upscaling tasks through Handbrake, preprocessing content for the Plex library on Ferroserver 1.

Server System

Ferroserver System

The Ferroserver dual-server homelab system

Capabilities & Services

  • 24/7 Plex Media Streaming (up to 5TB library)
  • Dedicated Minecraft Server Hosting
  • Ethical AI Model Training & Deployment
  • Video Enhancement & Upscaling Processing
  • Efficient Power Consumption with Enterprise Components
  • Reliable Home Lab Infrastructure

Both servers demonstrate that powerful, versatile infrastructure doesn't require the latest hardware. By thoughtfully combining proven enterprise components with modern software solutions, the Ferroserver systems deliver reliable performance for media streaming, gaming, AI experimentation, and content processing—all while maintaining reasonable power consumption suitable for continuous home operation.

Contact

Get in touch with John Desautels for inquiries about IT services, computer repair, or other professional opportunities.