I hate being IT.
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 481
From: Santa Rosa
Car Info: 03 Sonic Yellow WRX Sport Wagon
I am IT Manager for a 20 station workgroup with two member servers (one for backups/backup). There are only two identical machines at my work, mine and my bosses. Everyone elses is older to some extent, many are 7 year old P3 machines.
I use Acronis True Image with Universal Restore to backup 9 of the more important computers nightly. I guess I'll have to get the Mobo driver but I should be able to restore any of the 9 (if they go down) to a hot spare. Still, I'm sure I'll need to load drivers, etc. No biggie though.
I wish we had homologated hardware, but it's too much of an initial investment.
Anyone know how to get the best deal on a Dell/HP/or Lenovo Server and laptop? I'm in the market for just one of each. I've been thinking Dell Outlet but they don't detail the machines very well.
I use Acronis True Image with Universal Restore to backup 9 of the more important computers nightly. I guess I'll have to get the Mobo driver but I should be able to restore any of the 9 (if they go down) to a hot spare. Still, I'm sure I'll need to load drivers, etc. No biggie though.
I wish we had homologated hardware, but it's too much of an initial investment.
Anyone know how to get the best deal on a Dell/HP/or Lenovo Server and laptop? I'm in the market for just one of each. I've been thinking Dell Outlet but they don't detail the machines very well.
Registered User
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,558
From: California
Car Info: Blown Transmissions
I love it how when I'm at work and I tell a customer the diagnosis on their computer such as bad powersupply ect ect, they come with their "I.T" to make sure I ain't bull****ting them, if they had an I.T why did they come to me to get this done? lol
Registered User
iTrader: (19)
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 751
From: South San Jose
Car Info: 2007 WRX CGM
you must work retail.. i remember that **** when i worked for geek squad
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
the sad thing, I predict, is that by the time we are around retirement age, IT departments and the CIO will be as fully respectable as the CFO, general counsel, COO. In other words, super professional** nobody f's with the IT guys and respects them fully, everybody bows down to them and STFUs when it comes to their tech support.
But unfortunately it is a long term social shift. Today tech support guys are already paid as much as engineers at tech companies, but the social recognition/respect just isn't there yet.
** (I predict IT engineering or network engineering to become a major at more universities than it already is - you don't see many IT majors at top universities yet but the need is there. Just like Computer Science wasn't a major for a long time b/c it was the "new kid on the block" and got clumped under applied sciences. But eventually it became its own major after the unique societal need was too obvious to ignore.)
But unfortunately it is a long term social shift. Today tech support guys are already paid as much as engineers at tech companies, but the social recognition/respect just isn't there yet.
** (I predict IT engineering or network engineering to become a major at more universities than it already is - you don't see many IT majors at top universities yet but the need is there. Just like Computer Science wasn't a major for a long time b/c it was the "new kid on the block" and got clumped under applied sciences. But eventually it became its own major after the unique societal need was too obvious to ignore.)
Then you take guys like me, grew up around computers and networks, don't have more than a few classes under their belt as far as formal education goes. However you put me in a room with 3 servers that all went down and a deadline that has to be met, and no spare parts for the broken machines, and I will still have 3 servers back up and running inside of 8 hours.(given 3 machines on physical using VM the two other physicals as spare parts)
I just don't have respect for the ones that come out of collage with the "I am better than you, I have a degree" attitude and don't realize its the old guys like me that know how things really work.
Registered User
iTrader: (19)
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 751
From: South San Jose
Car Info: 2007 WRX CGM
OP, i'd make a proposal to the higher ups on why you need standardized hardware (lower cost) and set up a budget for each department for whenever they need something other than the standard.. this way they'll think twice before approving something that isn't entirely needed.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
I wish we had homologated hardware, but it's too much of an initial investment.
Anyone know how to get the best deal on a Dell/HP/or Lenovo Server and laptop? I'm in the market for just one of each. I've been thinking Dell Outlet but they don't detail the machines very well.
Anyone know how to get the best deal on a Dell/HP/or Lenovo Server and laptop? I'm in the market for just one of each. I've been thinking Dell Outlet but they don't detail the machines very well.
We are a dell house, and stick to the latitude line, always changing up to the 'replacement model' only when we can't get the standard anymore. So in our case right now we have D620,D630,D820,D830 and E6400 in production. All D series use the same docking station, and ram, the E series is the next set up. So now, when a D620 goes down, we replace it with a E6400, so by 2011 we will have all E series in the line. Dell runs a series for 5 years, so that means 2014 we will start in with the F series.
Thread Starter
VIP Member
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 17,617
From: pew, pew, pew!!!
Car Info: nonplussed
how so? Just start buying the same computer type/model as old ones go out and go standard that way.
We are a dell house, and stick to the latitude line, always changing up to the 'replacement model' only when we can't get the standard anymore. So in our case right now we have D620,D630,D820,D830 and E6400 in production. All D series use the same docking station, and ram, the E series is the next set up. So now, when a D620 goes down, we replace it with a E6400, so by 2011 we will have all E series in the line. Dell runs a series for 5 years, so that means 2014 we will start in with the F series.
We are a dell house, and stick to the latitude line, always changing up to the 'replacement model' only when we can't get the standard anymore. So in our case right now we have D620,D630,D820,D830 and E6400 in production. All D series use the same docking station, and ram, the E series is the next set up. So now, when a D620 goes down, we replace it with a E6400, so by 2011 we will have all E series in the line. Dell runs a series for 5 years, so that means 2014 we will start in with the F series.
I don't know how many times I get the "your quote doesn't work because something in it is no longer available. Please do a new quote."I don't have time for that ****.
Thread Starter
VIP Member
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 17,617
From: pew, pew, pew!!!
Car Info: nonplussed
OP, i'd make a proposal to the higher ups on why you need standardized hardware (lower cost) and set up a budget for each department for whenever they need something other than the standard.. this way they'll think twice before approving something that isn't entirely needed.
Registered User
iTrader: (13)
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,184
From: Pleasanton /La Jolla
Car Info: 2005 Stg.2 Wrx
i wish i had a job to complain about.
but yes jobs are stressful, hope all things get worked out. glad to hear a lot of people are in the same boat as you op.
but yes jobs are stressful, hope all things get worked out. glad to hear a lot of people are in the same boat as you op.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
Then again last year alone we dropped 190,000 with dell (new servers, new SAN, new UPS, new drives for backup server, switches, training on VM ware, and 15 laptops) so we tend to get top notch service from them.
So... I need to vent.
[rant]
I am an IT manager. There are 3 technicians in my group including me, now. There used to be 5. We are supporting ~500 users in 14 different buildings. Quick math, our support ratio is ~167:1 - ridiculous. To top it off, we are going to be furloughed starting September. Fine.
In the past two years, I have been trying to consolidate ordering and standardize hardware. I am no longer ordering personal printers, only networked group printers. I am ordering one desktop configuration and two laptops from one manufacturer.
In the past, my department has ordered whatever the user wanted. This has mostly been an issue in regards to laptops. Everyone wants something different. Everyone's friend is telling them to order something new and cool. 50% of the time it turns out not to be a machine that is appropriate for business use. This used to be tons of work for me working up quotes for each user. It literally used to take up hours of my day working up quotes.
Standardizing hardware has streamlined support. We know what to expect and have parts and accessories should replacements be needed. It also speeds up setup and configuration as we are using a standard image that has all basic software and settings preconfigured. It is literally 30 minutes to setup a new computer vs. maybe 4 hours loading all the software and configuring.
I have to explain this to every person that tries to order something different and it is a fight every time. It really is a product of the way the department operated previously.
Now they are trying to go around me by getting quotes from techs in other departments that work in their buildings. While I appreciate the other tech's trying to help, it only turns into more work for me by having to argue department position to every person that tries to order something different.
What they don't understand is that ALL I.T. RELATED ORDERS COME THROUGH ME for approval. I am rejecting orders multiple times because they keep trying to send them through different channels. There was even one person who bought a computer at Fry's because it was cool and tried to get re-reimbursed. I got a call the next day.
him - "Can you setup my new computer?"
me - "Did we order it for you?"
him - "No, I picked it up at Fry's. It was really cool."
me - "We cannot connect it to the network if it is not company property. I already told you that we are only ordering two models. I sent you the quotes. Central IT is still running XP. They will not connect a Vista machine. I could throw XP on your fancy new computer, but there are no XP drivers for some of the hardware on your laptop. I would have told you this if you asked me before buying your fancy new laptop."
him - "THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! What do you mean I can't run my stat programs on my fancy new 8" netbook?!?!??!"
I'm sick of this. Why do you ask my advice and then not follow it? How do you expect me to support you if you don't follow the rules? That would be like me going to the doctor to get treatment for a disease and then coming up with my own cure and then expecting him to fix it when it invariably doesn't work.
"I know you said I had to take the drugs you prescribed, but I figured drinking Windex would do the same thing. I know as much about medicine as you do because I read it on the internet. Why am I still sick? It's your fault that I am still sick."
I need to find a new career.
[/rant]
[rant]
I am an IT manager. There are 3 technicians in my group including me, now. There used to be 5. We are supporting ~500 users in 14 different buildings. Quick math, our support ratio is ~167:1 - ridiculous. To top it off, we are going to be furloughed starting September. Fine.
In the past two years, I have been trying to consolidate ordering and standardize hardware. I am no longer ordering personal printers, only networked group printers. I am ordering one desktop configuration and two laptops from one manufacturer.
In the past, my department has ordered whatever the user wanted. This has mostly been an issue in regards to laptops. Everyone wants something different. Everyone's friend is telling them to order something new and cool. 50% of the time it turns out not to be a machine that is appropriate for business use. This used to be tons of work for me working up quotes for each user. It literally used to take up hours of my day working up quotes.
Standardizing hardware has streamlined support. We know what to expect and have parts and accessories should replacements be needed. It also speeds up setup and configuration as we are using a standard image that has all basic software and settings preconfigured. It is literally 30 minutes to setup a new computer vs. maybe 4 hours loading all the software and configuring.
I have to explain this to every person that tries to order something different and it is a fight every time. It really is a product of the way the department operated previously.
Now they are trying to go around me by getting quotes from techs in other departments that work in their buildings. While I appreciate the other tech's trying to help, it only turns into more work for me by having to argue department position to every person that tries to order something different.
What they don't understand is that ALL I.T. RELATED ORDERS COME THROUGH ME for approval. I am rejecting orders multiple times because they keep trying to send them through different channels. There was even one person who bought a computer at Fry's because it was cool and tried to get re-reimbursed. I got a call the next day.
him - "Can you setup my new computer?"
me - "Did we order it for you?"
him - "No, I picked it up at Fry's. It was really cool."
me - "We cannot connect it to the network if it is not company property. I already told you that we are only ordering two models. I sent you the quotes. Central IT is still running XP. They will not connect a Vista machine. I could throw XP on your fancy new computer, but there are no XP drivers for some of the hardware on your laptop. I would have told you this if you asked me before buying your fancy new laptop."
him - "THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! What do you mean I can't run my stat programs on my fancy new 8" netbook?!?!??!"
I'm sick of this. Why do you ask my advice and then not follow it? How do you expect me to support you if you don't follow the rules? That would be like me going to the doctor to get treatment for a disease and then coming up with my own cure and then expecting him to fix it when it invariably doesn't work.
"I know you said I had to take the drugs you prescribed, but I figured drinking Windex would do the same thing. I know as much about medicine as you do because I read it on the internet. Why am I still sick? It's your fault that I am still sick."
I need to find a new career.
[/rant]
Iam at my first job out of college and they were hiring when the economy was really bad, so I took it. A year in and now and I am starting to hate it. Recently, at the last huge install, the owners/project managers think they know everything and its messing things up bad.
First, one PM doesnt let anyone configure the Server but him, and its his first 2008 Server config, ONSITE! My strength is at networking and desktop support, right now, and I have done one 2003 SBS config by myself. But, my trainer and fellow tech has done a million server configs and finished a Server 2008 class 6 months ago. More than one PM started having issues with 2008 config and they wouldnt listen or let us drive the car for days. The second they let us touch it, we solved there 3 or 4 problems within 30 mins that they have been stressing over for a whole day.
Now, for networking, the PM's wants to config the Cisco stuff. Again, they know everything, but I am the only CCNA certified guy. And again, I get a bunch of crazy support calls that point to the bad router or switch config. Even as simple as wireless, I ve remoted in to find Access points configured for channel 3 and 9 when there are businesses and homes everywhere in the vicinity on channels 1, 6, or 11. WTF?!
So, when there is common mistake, its good to write a technote. So I explain a simple wireless channel theory using pictures and diagrams from Cisco with examples and they still don't get it. Now, I am in charge of the next Tech Days training time for a wireless presentation. But, to hear from my co-worker that all the big shots were talking **** about my wireless knowledge and my coworkers 2008 knowledge, but they have configured every one wrong so far and we pointed out their mistake and still think we are wrong.
In the end, I hate my job, and I have to clean up all these mistakes. A lot of the mistakes are common sense IT stuff, but our PM's are ex-mechinal engineers and one physics major. I am the only Computer'ish major with CIS, and my best friend at work is a DeVry grad.
I took the job because I needed my year of techinical experience, learned a lot, but it seems as if my learning is slowing down and becoming repetitive because the new stuff is being kept for the PM's and Senior Techs. Whats weird is that it was never like that before, only techs configured the new stuff and the PM's sold the equipment, make the Visio's, and managed the install. Now, its getting weird, and the older guys are starting to keep all the work for themselves.
I will have a place in Santa Cruz pretty soon and will always have my spot in Mtn. View....Its about time to find a new job!
Last edited by ScoobySon; Aug 31, 2009 at 03:13 PM.
Registered User
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,558
From: California
Car Info: Blown Transmissions
Yeah, I work for staples as an Easy Tech lead, I mean I don't lie to customers at all hell I even give away free service sometimes, the last thing I wanna do is rip customers off, we have numbers to meet but I still meet them because I'm honest to the people and hook them up which keeps them refering people to me. I don't trip about givin **** out here n there cuz even if numbers are not met I don't get my *** chewed out by the GM, even tho I am the lead.