Show me your IT Office Setup!

[smarties11]

Hi All,

 

Tried to find similar threads but couldn't see anything.

 

We potentially have an opportunity to have our office refurbished. It's a decent size, and there's myself and our Tech.

 

I'm looking for ideas, what would be your absolute must haves? I'm thinking recommendations for toolkits, repair benches/stations, storage etc. Want to have enough 'bays' for 5 PC/laptop/tablet repairs on the go at the same time.

 

Just at the brain storming stage and looking for some inspiration!

 

Thanks

[mrbios]

No point in showing you ours, we've in a converted corridor between the bins and student toilets. Not much to write home about here! (although in my part of the office i do have air con which is about the only thing i can show off about)

 

I think if i was recommending anything for a new refurb office though, definitely a sit stand desk for everyone. We all sit down too much in our jobs as it is, so it's good to stretch your legs more often, even if you're pinned in one place.

[hardtailstar]

Desks, work bench and cupboard/shelves full of crap

[Norphy]

 

This is mine at the moment. I’m using the dinner table, it’s not ideal…

[Sonic007]

A coffee machine or secret hidden bar.

[dhicks]

We potentially have an opportunity to have our office refurbished.

 

A condiseration: having workbenches / furniture that isn't too costly / bothersome if it gets damaged or needs changing to fit future needs. I'm currently working in an office where the benches are made from basic wooden flooring panels - it looks a little rough, but it does mean that any time we want to screw something to the underside or put a hole in to run cables, etc, no-one's too bothered about us scuffing the furniture. What we've also found handy is standard-sized units for holding various equipment - in a school setting that can mean furniture that takes Gratnells trays, but 19" rack fittings under desks come in handy, too.

[Danp]

Depending on the shape of the room, try and work a storage space that is out of sight of the corridor etc. e.g. shelves behind the door. I feel it gives a much nicer impression when an office looks tidier. We clearly have spares, part cannibalised units that need to be stored somewhere.

[LeMarchand]

I doubt many of us have the actual office setup we want, so you might be short on pics!

 

In addition to what's above, I'd say:

 

Lots of power points + lots of network points.

 

Storage where stuff is hidden from sight to prevent the, "Oh, I see you have..." type requests.

 

Tools: Depends how far you go with your repairs, but I'd say at least something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wowstick-Electric-Screwdriver-Chargeable-Electronic/dp/B07G625LYL , a phone repair kit if you have to deal with tablet etc screens, a multimeter, set of normal drivers/sockets/spanners, duct tape, WD40, multitool, external drive caddy that will take 2.5" and 3.5" disks + caddy for M2 "disks", multicard reader, USB of useful, preferably portable, software + multiboot USB with DaRT versions, Windows ISOs, any other disks you frequently use.

[Norphy]

For me:

 

• If you're using a laptop, a docking station and a spare power adapter
  
• A decent monitor, or two. Preferably 1440p resolution or higher.
  
• Noise cancelling headphones
  
• A lockable door, to which general staff don't have the key or access rights to
  
• A whiteboard and/or pinboard
  
• Sentry tower and machine gun nest*
  
• Comfortable chair. This is a must.
  

 

*may be not be entirely serious

Edited June 17, 2021 by Norphy

[Davit2005]

With working surfaces I'd also look at getting some monitors mounted to wall or off desk on vesa swivel mounts so you can plug PC into whilst rebuilding or testing them.

[Rob_D]

Dual monitors would be a must for me ideally on a dual stand or wall mounted. In fact I'd shoot for a bank of small/medium sized monitors wall mounted somewhere for monitoring kit and testing/imaging. Wall mount as many monitors as you can, it looks better IMO and gives you more desk space.

All our techs are set up with primary pc with dual monitors on a dual monitor stand, secondary testing pc (normally with default staff image) with a single smaller monitor, wall mounted, and a single wireless keyboard and mouse shared between the two machines using one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074TZKGVR They all really like the setup.

Lockable storage, even if the room is locked.

Having the kit to crimp/stamp your own network cables is super useful. So is a unit/shelf/line on the floor/wall that's exactly 1m long for checking cable length (I suck at judging this sort of thing by eye).

Otherwise the only real tool I still use on the regular is a multibit screwdriver with a (probably overkill) extensive set of security bits, and a tape measure (as I said, I can't judge size very well).

 

The one thing I've never had but would love is an office where I don't have my back to the door.

[networkmangler]

We are lucky and have an office the size of a classroom. The Comms cabs were put in the room when the building was being built so it was decided it should be our office

 

There is me, 1 IT Technician and the site manager in the office

 

We have 3 TV's on the wall, 2 showing CCTV and the 3rd with NEMS telling us of any issues (Pictured). Under the TV's we have a workbench along the wall with wall mounted monitors. Under the workbench is dado with electric and network.

 

 

One issue we still have is storage and keeping things tidy. We could do with more boxes/shelving to store things so I would defiantly counter that in

[dhicks]

Lots of power points

 

It's worth getting the sockets with built-in USB power - saves taking up a socket with a USB power brick, and if you get ones with a handy shelf you've always got somewhere to park a phone / tablet on charge.

[JackCPickup]

Where I sit and twiddle my thumbs.

 

[mrbios]

Where I sit and twiddle my thumbs.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]62227[/ATTACH]

 

All that new looking tech and then your keyboard looks like you took it off an Amiga

[Norphy]

I suspect that's an IBM Model M or one of its equally annoyingly noisy derivatives. Very highly prized mechanical keyboard.

[JackCPickup]

This is the one

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154376120923?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=154376120923&targetid=1279609265446&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1007230&poi=&campaignid=9445986145&mkgroupid=123611895558&rlsatarget=pla-1279609265446&abcId=578896&merchantid=113600849&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5auGBhDEARIsAFyNm9F6pG9iBtZoSMS5YyhxoQZfNqozZqbTit3hpUMzGw5foZrvJ2NZrlgaAl6PEALw_wcB

 

Not overly noisy.

[jthompson]

Plenty of sturdy storage bins/trays so that you can put you hand to whatever cable, adapter, charger, module, spare part you need without having to rummage or have stuff mixed together.

 

Maybe have the site agents paint the walls green to assist with novelty video conferencing backgrounds.

[Edu-IT]

I suspect that's an IBM Model M or one of its equally annoyingly noisy derivatives. Very highly prized mechanical keyboard.

I can imagine what it’s like working in that office with that keyboard!

 

Has that keyboard been around forever and just never failed or is it something you like?

[MatthewL]

I have worked in open plan offices with the rest of the organisation for years so don't really have a proper IT office, there are pros and cons of this and I don't mind it. The only thing we have is at the end of the desks is a TV although no used as we are not in that often now.

 

When I worked at my first place we had a proper IT cave nothing special but worked. Normally day to day desks then a workbench on the side for working on kit rather than cluttering up the desk, also used for imaging but then we were lucky to get a dedicated room with aload of racking to assist with imaging too.

 

As regards to a store room, cupboards with doors that close to keep it looking tidy, also don't keep stuff that isn't needed get rid. Good lighting and ventilation are a must, keep it tidy, if you have monitoring systems get a screen up as a visual, keep main desks clear where possible even if it is your desk just looks a bit nicer.

[chaplic]

 

Here's my homeworking station-of-power

 

To answer the OP, each desk should have two monitors, usb C dock. provision for phone charging. Probably connection to a normal broadband line for testing.

 

An IT office should have a separate work area, a small meeting area/ desk for customers and a big telly with various monitoring tools. All should be tidy. It is NOT a place for server racks, no where old Pcs go to die!

Edited July 15, 2021 by chaplic

[Norphy]

Where did you get the Logitech ergonomic keyboard from? Whenever I've gone looking for that (not for a while now, admittedly) I've only ever been able to find US or DE layout ones, not GB

[slugshead]

Meeting Table with conferencing kit that's permanently on test.

Big TV on the wall at the foot of table - can be used for solarwinds dashboard between "meetings".

Counter at the door that stops people wandering in too far.

A/C

 

Workshop/storage has to be in a separate room

[LeMarchand]

Where did you get the Logitech ergonomic keyboard from? Whenever I've gone looking for that (not for a while now, admittedly) I've only ever been able to find US or DE layout ones, not GB

 

Amazon have one that looks similar for £109 (slightly marked cheaper): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Wireless-Ergonomic-Stain-Resistant-Bluetooth/dp/B07W6JLQCY

 

Same model on eBay for £99.

[MartinT]

Dual or triple screens a must.

 

A big TV on the wall for information alerts.

 

Coffee machine.

 

A comprehensive set of tools that are NEVER LOANED TO ANYONE!