We Fix What Others Can't Figure Out
Started in a cluttered garage in 2018, portalxen began when two network engineers got tired of watching businesses lose hours to connection problems that should've taken minutes to solve.
We're not about fancy jargon or selling you things you don't need. Just practical training that actually helps people understand why their networks break—and how to fix them properly.
Born From Real Frustration
Back in 2017, I was working contract jobs fixing network issues for small businesses around Sydney. Same problems everywhere—dropped connections, slow speeds, mysterious outages. But here's what bothered me: these weren't complex issues. They were basic configuration mistakes that anyone could learn to spot.
The real problem? Most IT training focuses on theory and certifications. Nobody was teaching the messy, real-world troubleshooting that actually matters when your office network goes down at 3pm on a Friday.
So we started running weekend workshops out of a borrowed office space. Brought in actual faulty equipment. Made people diagnose real problems, not textbook scenarios. The response surprised us—people were hungry for this hands-on approach.
How We Actually Teach This Stuff
Our method isn't revolutionary. It's just common sense that somehow got lost in traditional IT education.
Break Things on Purpose
We give you working networks, then we break them. Your job is to figure out what went wrong and fix it. You'll make mistakes—that's the point. Better to mess up in our lab than on a client's production system.
Real Equipment, Real Problems
No simulators. No perfect lab conditions. We use the same routers, switches, and cables you'll find in actual offices. Sometimes they're finicky. Sometimes they don't cooperate. Welcome to network troubleshooting.
Small Groups Only
Maximum eight people per session. This isn't a lecture hall where you're just another face. When you're stuck, we sit down and walk through the problem with you until it clicks.
The People Behind the Lab Coats
We're a small crew. Everyone here has spent years in the field getting their hands dirty with actual network problems. No pure academics—just people who've been called at midnight because someone's email stopped working.
Callum Devereux
Lead Troubleshooting Instructor
Spent twelve years fixing networks for mining operations in Western Australia. If he can diagnose problems in the middle of the outback with spotty connectivity, he can teach you to handle office networks.
Sienna Aldridge
Network Systems Instructor
Former network admin for three different healthcare facilities. Knows every weird edge case that happens when you mix legacy systems with modern infrastructure. She's seen it all go wrong.
What We Actually Care About
Practical Over Theoretical
Theory has its place, but we focus on what you'll actually use. You'll learn the 20% of knowledge that solves 80% of real problems.
Honest About Limitations
We won't turn you into a network architect in six weeks. But we can teach you to diagnose common issues confidently and know when to escalate to specialists.
Keep It Affordable
Training shouldn't cost more than your first month's salary. We keep prices reasonable because we remember what it's like to be starting out.
Ready to Get Your Hands Dirty?
Our next intensive troubleshooting workshop starts in September 2025. Limited spots because we refuse to compromise on the small group format.
Get More Information