New Edugeek Users - Introduce yourself here :)

[amnesiac]

Hello, everyone. I'm a sometime lurker, and tonight I've finally taken the plunge and joined!

I do all sorts of techie-ish stuff in a (small) university department rather than a school - I hope this isn't held against me

[CPLTD]

Hey Guys and Gals.

My name is Chris, I'm 24 from Bradford, West Yorkshire.

I recently (well 2008) graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a Computers: Network & Communication Degree.

A month a go or so I had an interview at a primary school for an ICT post. The interview went really well but didn't think I would get it because there were 5 other people interviewed that day and all I have under my belt is my degree.
I don't have any knowledge in the actual workplace, as I have only worked at my local supermarket since leaving secondary school.

But I actually got offered the job. I start next Monday (19th April). The job actually covers 3 different sites, or Pupil referral units, as they are all under the same school / headteacher (I'm not entirely sure how that works).
So I have visited 2 of the sites (the 3rd one isn't under our full control just yet) and have a list as long as my arm. The 3 sites were maintained by 3 support engineers that cost £6000 per engineer for half a day a week, so cutting costs, they hired one technician to cover the 3 sites (at least 1 day a week).

I'm greatly looking forward to this unique opportunity but as I said above, I have no experience. And my degree (mickey mouse degree if you wish) didn't cover deeply into Windows servers, active directory etc..
So I am brushing up my skills with a bit of bed time reading ( well Windows Server 2000 Administrator's Companion isn't much of a quick read), So I could possibly be on here quite a few times.

But, I'm going to make use on your search facility on your site (Which looks great btw!)

To what I can see the networks look like this:

Main Primary school:
*1 Windows Server 2003 for curriculum,
*50 odd clients running XP pro (A majority of computers and laptops are wanting replacing, there are 3 new Dell towers in a ICT suite of around 20 clients, which the old ones are taking 10 minutes+ to log in to the network, can anybody link me to a post or site about bulk buying? which is the best supplier similar to what Dell offers?)
*1 separate unknown server running Sims serving 3 clients on an admin network (Which the ICT manager wants migrating with the main server, which is the best way to have Sims? and also needs upgrading to SQL2008 as of October)

*PRU unit 1:
*1 loaned Win 2008 server (Their original server died, this job is what i'm worried about, installing Win Server and setting up the network as soon as I start (Any topics linking would be greatly appreciated!)
*50 Clients running XP Pro (No problems as of yet)

*PRU unit 2:
Unknown.

If anybody has got some experience/guidance/topic linky's I would be every grateful!

Thanks people!

welcome aboard Mullaney18,

Be sure to give me a shout for any of your Dell requirements we often supply Dell to edugeek members and show them a saving against not only Dell website but also dell education,

simon@c-p-ltd.com

[Nibbler]

Just thought I would stick my head in and say hi.

I'm a Field Technician and Consultant for a small IT firm who deal with all aspects of IT mainly home users and small businesses though we also provide support for several local primary schools as well though I mainly deal with the former. I will say that I'm not here to represent the firm I work but as individual who wants to use this site as a resource.

Nibbler

[CPLTD]

Just thought I would stick my head in and say hi.

I'm a Field Technician and Consultant for a small IT firm who deal with all aspects of IT mainly home users and small businesses though we also provide support for several local primary schools as well though I mainly deal with the former. I will say that I'm not here to represent the firm I work but as individual who wants to use this site as a resource.

Nibbler

Welcome aboard Nibbler

[Mako]

Welcome to all the people I've missed!

My first post using the new, shiny, sleek layout.

[jom]

Hi Chris, great to hear your story and congratulations on getting the job! It sounds like you're going to be straight in the deep end, which is where your experience will start! I did a similiar degree to you at Southampton Solent University, (Computer Systems and Networking), but decided to go down the PGCE root! I'm a teacher now...

Edugeek will be excellent for you I think, there is so many great people on it and help is always at hand!

Good luck with everything, and using Edugeek!

JOM
ICT Teacher, DORSET.

[aerospacemango]

Hi all,

My name is Andy and I'm an ICT Technician at Otley College in Suffolk.

I've been here about 18months, after 18 years in Casinos, so a big switch of career!

Loving the job, but not so much the students!!!

Many questions pre-occupy my mind, like....

Why DO students feel the need to visit Facebook during a lesson?....

What do they do with all the mice they steal?......

Why do the holidays have to end?.....

And my current favourite.....

What will be the reaction when they find out about all the things they now cannot do, thanks to me!!!!

Looking forward to reading through as many posts as I get time to!

Mango

[elsiegee40]

Hi all,

My name is Andy and I'm an ICT Technician at Otley College in Suffolk.

I've been here about 18months, after 18 years in Casinos, so a big switch of career!

Loving the job, but not so much the students!!!

Many questions pre-occupy my mind, like....

Why DO students feel the need to visit Facebook during a lesson?....

What do they do with all the mice they steal?......

Why do the holidays have to end?.....

And my current favourite.....

What will be the reaction when they find out about all the things they now cannot do, thanks to me!!!!

Looking forward to reading through as many posts as I get time to!

Mango

Welcome to edugeek Andy

It sounds like you've got to grips with the job pretty well in the last 18 months!

Facebook/ Mice (it used to be mouse balls, but since optical omice it's now the whole thing)/ holidays and being a right bar-steward!

The only thing you've missed out is that you are responsible for everything with a plug on it.... these things are on the desk near a computer therefore they are computer peripherals!

[FN-GM]

Hi all,

My name is Andy and I'm an ICT Technician at Otley College in Suffolk.

I've been here about 18months, after 18 years in Casinos, so a big switch of career!

Loving the job, but not so much the students!!!

Many questions pre-occupy my mind, like....

Why DO students feel the need to visit Facebook during a lesson?....

What do they do with all the mice they steal?......

Why do the holidays have to end?.....

And my current favourite.....

What will be the reaction when they find out about all the things they now cannot do, thanks to me!!!!

Looking forward to reading through as many posts as I get time to!

Mango

Welcome. I have been asking those questions myself over the years....

[witch]

Welcome to all
mullaney18: any of our sponsors will be able to help you - they are all pretty good (simon from CPLTD for new kit and John from ICT direct for really good nearly-new kit are my favourites!).
As for your problems, I think if you do some careful searching, there will be a thread to help with the server migration, and indeed ANYTHING else. If you really can't find any help - just shout, and about 10,000 of us will come running!
I take my hat off to you, and wish you all the best.

[Mullaney18]

Thanks Guys!

Il keep you posted!

[aerospacemango]

Welcome to edugeek Andy

It sounds like you've got to grips with the job pretty well in the last 18 months!

Been a steep learning curve, that's for sure!

Came into it whilst studying for CompTia A+, had an ICT Manager take a punt on me, and not looked back since!

More questions............

Why is it my fault that you've forgotten your password, and are now locked out of the system?

Have you ever heard of "Backup"?

and.........

When I turn down your request to release Facebook from the web filter, why do you continue to push the requests through? Do you think we'll change our minds?

The best thing about working in this sector is the heavy use of sarcasm!

"Yes, of course I will let you into ANY site you want!"

[aerospacemango]

Welcome to edugeek Andy

It sounds like you've got to grips with the job pretty well in the last 18 months!

Been a steep learning curve, that's for sure!

Came into it whilst studying for CompTia A+, had an ICT Manager take a punt on me, and not looked back since!

More questions............

Why is it my fault that you've forgotten your password, and are now locked out of the system?

Have you ever heard of "Backup"?

and.........

When I turn down your request to release Facebook from the web filter, why do you continue to push the requests through? Do you think we'll change our minds?

The best thing about working in this sector is the heavy use of sarcasm!

"Yes, of course I will let you into ANY site you want!"



Oh, and this is a pretty good approximation of how I look!!!

[IT_Monkeh]

Hi all,

I'm Lee, I'm an IT techie at a high school in Shropshire. I've been in the job for nearly two years, after previously working for an internet filtering company. Glad to be aboard this great site

[Pete10141748]

Welcome Lee