Hello, I'm Kevin Petit

June 2021 - Current

GuildLab Mortsel

Founder

Sometimes you want to do more and start working on your own projects - and GuildLab is my vehicle for this. It allows me to do consultancy, both in terms of Linux/Windows servers, as well as WordPress consultancy.

I am someone who doesn't give up: give me something to do and I will keep working on it until it is perfect.

Projects you can hire me for include:

• Provisioning/setting up servers.
• Resolve configuration issues with software.
• Install and configure software on your server.
• Set up monitoring for your servers.
• Resolve issues with your WordPress: working on speeding it up, updating your website and securing it.
• Security auditing of your server and improving the security of it.
• Finding and resolving issues on servers.
• Fixing infected WordPress-websites.
• Programming projects
• Example project: bridge between WordPress and Odoo with real-time sync.

I can do a lot of things, so if you want to hire me, just contact me on ke@vinpet.it.

January 2022 - January 2025

Klarrio Antwerp

Infrastructure and automation engineer

For Klarrio, I worked on a variety of projects (ranging from projects for the biggest ISP in a neighbouring country as well as one of the biggest European tech companies). I'm was mainly focussed on setting up and running Kubernetes clusters in the cloud.

It is hard to explain what Klarrio does, but to put it simply the main focus was on building a platform as a service that could run cloud-agnostic and also on premise.

During my time at Klarrio, I was part of the infrastructure team (later on renamed "Yellow") and was responsible for the initial build up of our pre-operational team ("Silver").

Things I have worked on:

• Setting up Kubernetes clusters with Terraform on Azure and Google Cloud. Main focus was on Google Cloud.
• Initial proof of concept around GitOps with Flux.
• Build initial set-up of GitOps implementation with Flux.
• Created/documented GitOps component based on Flux.
• Devised a way on how to set up clusters with Flux in an environment with extra strict security rules, without access to external image repositories.
• Managing (and setting up) clusters with Flux.
• Writing Golang-based tool for image vendoring.
• Created a Golang-based tool for automation of GitHub related tasks (creation of repositories, branch protection, ...).
• Built a Golang-based tool to verify correct rights within our repositories.
• Forked and expanded the GitOps Zombies tool, updated it and prepared for integration within our clusters.
• Worked on automating the fetching of Flux-metrics and parsing these to a CSV file with a Golang-based tool.
• Building up (and initially leading) a pre-operational team.
• Helped define a release process for our various components and platform releases.
• Representing the internal "Silver" (pre-operational) team in demos and presentations.
• Attending conferences and re-presenting Klarrio.

May 2018 - January 2022

Nucleus NV Antwerp

Full Operations Engineer

I am part of the Operations team within Nucleus, which is responsible for both maintaining and running current machines, delivering and provisioning new servers. We also work on expanding our configuration management system, which is Puppet, and roll out new features constantly.

My main tasks within the Operations team include:

• Provisioning and setting up/delivering new setups that can run both Windows Server or CentOS 6/7/8 machines.
• Resolving incoming alerts from (managed) client servers and aiming to solve issues before they occur thanks to our monitoring tools (Zabbix/Nagios).
• Debugging performance issues on client websites, resolving configuration issues and pinpointing issues. I'm the most experienced team member for WordPress and I can also find my way in CodeIgniter and Laravel. In many CMS systems I'm able to find my way quickly.
• Setting up, expanding or changing the configuration on the client machines, which run a multitude of software, including MariaDB or MySQL, multiple versions of PHP and Node.JS, custom software tools, Laravel, WordPress and much more.
• Writing, maintaining and updating Bash and PowerShell scripts.
• Building of tools, including a Golang-based Let's Encrypt debug tool.
• Part of the oncall-team, which means taking up a 72 hour shift to resolve incoming issues.
• Internal expert for all Let's Encrypt issues (including renewal issues, webroot issues and others).
• Internal WordPress expert, with experience in improving the performance of WordPress and resolving malware issues.
• Advanced malware-resolver: finding and de-infecting websites.
• Searching, pinpointing and resolving Docker-problems.
• Maintaining the credential sharing system.

Tools I work with in this job include:

• Zabbix, Nagios (Thruk)
• CentOS 6/7/8
• Debian
• Chef
• Puppet
• Windows Server 2012 R2/2016/2019
• SQL Server/MySQL/PostgreSQL
• PHP
• Apache, Caddy, Nginx
• Let's Encrypt
• Golang
• Bash, PowerShell
• Plesk
• DirectAdmin
• VMware, OnApp
• WordPress, Laravel, other similar PHP-frameworks.
• ElasticSearch
• SOLR
• Docker

Dec 2016 - May 2018

Tobania / KBC Mechelen

IT Helpdesk Support Officer - DOCK!LINE

• Answering incoming help desk calls (first line).
• Treating and resolving incoming helpdesk tickets (system used: ServiceNow).
• Resolve issues concerning printing, Office, Windows, passwords and internal software and procedures.
• Writing and maintaining PowerShell scripts with a focus on automating recurring tasks.
• Taking over maintenaince of PowerShell scripts written by other departments/colleagues.
• Building a chatbot built on top op IBM Watson (BlueMix) to help solve basic IT questions.

May 2016 - Oct 2016

Kaneka Belgium Oevel

Temporary system administrator IT-department

• Designing and building an Icinga monitoring environment based on Docker, built on top of Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.
• Creation of a custom dashboard which fetches data from Icinga and a custom written API in real time.
• Building forementioned custom API on top of Laravel Lumen, which tracks the amount of logged in users in the Windows Network (using PowerShell scripts), SAP and the amount of tickets in osTickets assigned to the IT department.
• Deploying computers using MDT.
• Treating incoming phone calls (all sorts of IT-problems) and treating helpdesk tickets.
• Offering Windows Phone support.

Sep 2010 - June 2011

Unamic/HCN Zaventem

Customer Service Representative - MCT Team (Project: TV-Vlaanderen)

• Helping customers with technical, financial and commercial questions.
• Booking and crediting financial transactions (debit/credit, corrections and manual charging).
• Responsible for the follow up for the new product Internet and Telephony. I provided all of the documentation and gave training for the product.