Pete10141748 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 (edited) OK, so, many times now I have read in various posts about how people are "always rushing around, no time for breaks, busy busy busy" etc. especialy during the holidays (those who work during them). Well, my question is this; What do you guys actually DO that makes you so busy all the time? I only ask because me and the techie here seem to have quite a bit of "spare time" as of late, especially since we got the network/wireless set up, profiles sorted and new servers installed, and I'm getting the feeling that there's something we should be doing that I'm missing..... though I have no clue what, and neither does he! Maybe it's because we have (relatively) little equipment here (50-odd laptops and about the same number of PCs)? We don't have in-house internet control or filtering (all done by E2BN, sadly ), we used to assist in lessons but now that Staff are OK with the new system they don't ask us anymore, we have been told so often that we can't spend money on new equipment that it's hardly worth looking into "future ideas" (which I have already done a doc. for anyway)...... Don't get me wrong, we don't just sit around do nothing all day*, I'm just wondering what (if any) "active" things you NM's / Techies do with regards to "network management" as opposed to being "passive troubleshooters / problem solvers" that perhaps we don't do........unless we're just lucky in that nothing ever seems to actually go wrong around here Cheers guys, Pete *from what I remember from being at school and seeing the NM at my Uni, they seemed to spend most of the day drinking coffee and playing solitaire, only venturing out of thier rooms when a problem needed fixing! Edited March 20, 2008 by Pete10141748
tech_guy Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 Yikes, two of you and only 100 PCs?! Sounds like a dream job!
ChrisH Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 Theres always something that needs looking at or someone that needs to talk to me because they need x or y for their department. I handle lots of phone calls every day mostly getting rid of people selling stuff. There is all the admin staff to look after SIMs etc. Planning for upcoming projects. School website, moodle, Phone system painting my office etc etc. I am currently busy going through applications for a new Technician. I have a office to finish wiring later. The list is pretty endless.
jamin100 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 I've got about 150 to myself and some days find that i am in the situation where there is very little to do. When i do have some spare time i go around and perform windows updates on the machines that i can get access to. I also delete all the profiles off the machines (delprof) and defrag the machines once a term. I also go around giving the machines a quick wipe down and vaccume them out once a term. Once all thats done there is usually something that needs doing or fixing. I then start reading my MCSE Server books.
Pete10141748 Posted March 20, 2008 Author Posted March 20, 2008 Dream job You say that, but in a way it's not as it makes me feel as though I am not doing enough "real work"..... I know that sounds a bit daft, and some of you who go to multiple schools would love to spend a month here doing the (compatively) little actual "work" here Maybe it's just because its the last day of term here, but we are sitting here (on hold with RM for the last 25 minuntes after speaking to 3 people in 2 wrong departments, which doesn't help ) and just kinda wondering if there is something a bit more productive we should be doing...
tech_guy Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 and just kinda wondering if there is something a bit more productive we should be doing... Learning how to hack Columbian Drug Baron's bank accounts and transfer all the funds into your own account....?!
Pete10141748 Posted March 20, 2008 Author Posted March 20, 2008 go around and perform windows updates on the machines that i can get access to Automatic here, done with WSUS, makes life easier I also delete all the profiles off the machines (delprof) Run with the logoff script and defrag the machines once a term Already scheduled task, 1st day back next term is the next one I also go around giving the machines a quick wipe down and vaccume them out once a term Done over the last 2 days, along with projectors. Don't mean to disount your ideas Jamin School website Currently awaiting approval for my new design to go "live", and our VLP isn't used by anyone despite us taking weeks to go on training days an setting it all up.... @tech_guy; hmm, that's given me an idea....... At least no-one (yet) has mentioned something thats made me go "AHA! We don't do that and really should!" Thanks for the responses guys
Jona Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 With any downtime I have I always try to take common tasks we have to do and script them, e.g. laptop imaging, software installs, etc. Learn how to make msi's for RM networks could be a major part of this. Implement new systems - help desk system, class room booking, etc
StewartKnight Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 How about researching stuff. new software, ways to monitor the network, Linux... Heck there is loads you could do, expecially as you only have 25 computers each (excluding laptops). The amount of Uni coursework I could get done! Oh the humanity!!!
TechMonkey Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 This time of year is our quiet period. No money in any departments so they stop breaking things. I tend to research projects or new tech (currently fiddling with SharePoint and an idea for a virtual image for students) or try and do those horrible jobs that need concentration or just don't have time to do normally. Though they tend to get put off as they really are the grind jobs
Sirbendy Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 (edited) We have 2 of us and 200ish machines...most of the backend is handled by LEA for now..so we do have a fair amount of "free" time. In the new building, going our own way I do expect to be run off my feet. Looking forward to it. Currently I'm reading E-books on Office 2007 and refreshing my knowledge, and tweaking the workstation builds and playing with server08 on Virtualbox, as well as doing some scanning. Steve's doing our accounts. He does enjoy that. All our updating etc is done through WSUS as well. Occasional profile purges, stuff the defrags, clean and service/ dust the PCs once a year (did in August), clean IWBs and associated kit, the rest is done as we find the need. When we have a major blitz on the builds, it only takes a day to do as many as we want..best done in the hols though. It's far less of an arse to just reimage the machinery every 12 months than to defrag, purge profiles and tidy up loose files.. This easter, Steve will be playing with CS3, and I..well..I'll be VMing and VPNing from home, maybe pop in for a day to do some odds and sods, but I'll do most WS maintenance from home. I'd like to have a look at sharepoint etc too..so much I want to read and play with..heh.. Edited March 20, 2008 by Sirbendy
CAM Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 3/4 of my day is currently supervision, from turning up to work right up to my (late) lunch break The rest of it is spent doing the fun stuff.
dhicks Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 and I'm getting the feeling that there's something we should be doing that I'm missing..... It sounds like you've got the network management side of things pretty sorted - just as it should be. Time to get on and start developing learning resources. -- David Hicks
SYNACK Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 What do you guys actually DO that makes you so busy all the time? Hows your documentation, that might be something to do. Can't say I've had a problem with too much spare time as I have to deal with around 600pcs on my own.
DMcCoy Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 Currently All Server hardware All Server software All networking All ordering/maint for the above All software Sims support Bromcom Support all the usual network maintenance stuff. End user support for 1100 users. 400 pcs (exc laptops). One and 1/2 other techs). And lots of time spent on "Thinking on behalf of those with no brain".
Jona Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 It's far less of an arse to just reimage the machinery every 12 months than to defrag, purge profiles and tidy up loose files.. The pedant in me wants to point out that fragmentation will happen whether you re-image or not (unless you put in new drive) so you might want to consider running defrag occasionally even if you are rebuilding annually.
Sirbendy Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 (edited) oh, I know...but again, unless a machine is showing active signs of malcontent, we tend to leave them be..they're fast enough for the staff and kiddies, and they've not complained about the speeds of build 0707 yet..heh..it IS far in advance of 0706. In fact, I'm not even sure I'll replace it in the summer...0708..I don't think I have anything much to add to the image..I might just reimage with 0707 again. We've got 60gb disks that aren't hitting 80% capacity even after 12 months of use...Fragmentation isn't really something we worry about..the base image source drive got defragged thoroughly before ghosting. Edited March 20, 2008 by Sirbendy
Grommit Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 OK, so, many times now I have read in various posts about how people are "always rushing around, no time for breaks, busy busy busy" etc. especialy during the holidays (those who work during them). Well, my question is this; What do you guys actually DO that makes you so busy all the time? I only ask because me and the techie here seem to have quite a bit of "spare time" as of late, especially since we got the network/wireless set up, profiles sorted and new servers installed, and I'm getting the feeling that there's something we should be doing that I'm missing..... though I have no clue what, and neither does he! Maybe it's because we have (relatively) little equipment here (50-odd laptops and about the same number of PCs)? We don't have in-house internet control or filtering (all done by E2BN, sadly ), we used to assist in lessons but now that Staff are OK with the new system they don't ask us anymore, we have been told so often that we can't spend money on new equipment that it's hardly worth looking into "future ideas" (which I have already done a doc. for anyway)...... Don't get me wrong, we don't just sit around do nothing all day*, I'm just wondering what (if any) "active" things you NM's / Techies do with regards to "network management" as opposed to being "passive troubleshooters / problem solvers" that perhaps we don't do........unless we're just lucky in that nothing ever seems to actually go wrong around here Cheers guys, Pete *from what I remember from being at school and seeing the NM at my Uni, they seemed to spend most of the day drinking coffee and playing solitaire, only venturing out of thier rooms when a problem needed fixing! We have 660 PC's, 200 Laptops, 9 Servers... and 13 ICT Suites.. So it's rush rush rush :-)
Pete10141748 Posted March 20, 2008 Author Posted March 20, 2008 @SYNACK We've just come out the other end of doing all our documentation. I think that's maybe why we feel there is a "gap" that wasn't there before. For ages now we've spent time each day updating our hardware and software audits, our network and VLP userguides, network "handbook" for any new techies who may come along / replace us when we're gone, licensing portfolio... We seem to have files and folders (physical ones, I mean!) all over the place now I'm sure something'll happen soon enough.....knowing my luck, in repsonse to me posting this topic our server/s will decide to go into meltdown, just for a laugh To sum up, we have the following; 4x servers (1 DNS/file, 1 App, 1 Print and 1 SIMS) Cachepilot (espresso) Anti-virus (Sophos, 5 years, remote deployed and full system coverage) 50 laptops, setup for appropriate users (teachers and students) 2x laptops for Head and Dept.Head (Vista ones, too ) ICT suite, all PCs re-built from scratch (after getting rid of Winsuite!) 21 projectors / smartboards in classrooms 2x portable projectors 1x portable Smartboard Wireless Access Points suficient to cover laptop use anywhere in school Roaming profiles (created .man for pupils and .dat for staff) 11 printers (8 networked) Website (designed and created in the last month, now awaiting going live) VLP (up and running, just not used by staff much) SIMS (admin server and 6 PCs - one of the PCs is the server ) Helpdesk software and some other minor stuff. That's all been done in the last 6 months, so I guess now we have to begin planning for where we want to go next. I guess now that things are running smoothly it would be a good time to start some "professional deveopment" of some sort seeing as we have sufficient time to actually sit down a read a textbook!
elsiegee40 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 In my alleged 20 hour week I do everything on our network: Admittedly it's tiny - 34 PCs, 1 laptop, 6 IWBs Then there's still a lot of hand-holding for teachers and supporting ICT lessons On top of that I run the Library and do the school's publicty... It takes more than 20 hours!
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