Questions for a network manager...

[Guest Guest]

Been asked to think up some techie questions for the prospective NM. TBH i dont really know where to start, do i ask him specific questions or what...? I am the technician so i think its fair to say he has to be more knowledgable than me in specific topics but he may have a less broad range of knowledge due to coming from industry... for example no exposure to Moodle isnt a big deal aslong as he can learn.

 

Any help? Our network briefly consists of;

 

6 MS Server 2003 servers providing services including;

RIS/WDS

WSUS

Software deployment via MSIs/GPO

As well as the normal Active Directory infrastructure, DHCP, DNS, etc

 

Debian and Ubuntu web servers, virtualised on VMware, providing services including;

Virtual Learning Environment - Moodle

Intranet - Postnuke

Helpdesk - GLPI

Room booking system - MRBS

 

Over 300 XP Clients

HP Procurve Switches with 1gb fibre backbone, and 10/100 clients.

3M Digital Signage systems

 

Joomla based website.

 

 

:beer:

[Little-Miss]

Did you go for the job?

[Pyroman]

yeah this strikes me as a little odd, can't they promote you ane take on a techie?

[Guest Guest]

PM'ed

[jamesb]

I've seen this happen before, so you're not the first tech I've seen having to interview his own NM.

 

As to questions I might ask:

 

- Sketch out a suitable AD structure for a school with x years, x staff, x students in each year (shows that he understands AD, doesn't need to show where each individual one lies but a general structure so that policies can be applied effectively)

 

- Basic knowledge of system administration, does he know about remote desktop, how to use command line and so on.

 

- Project management and proposals. How might he implement a particular system, or go about proposing it?

 

- An appreciation for different operating systems and their uses, and a willingness to learn and expand his knowledge.

 

- A big one, how would he seek help if he doesn't understand something? I've known some NMs who will refuse to look to their technicians for help, for whatever reason, if he's coming in from industry then he is going to need to ask you how things work so you need to make sure that he's willing to look to you, and other sources of information.

[elsiegee40]

I assume you'll be asking the questions?

 

If not, don't do it. It's all very well thinking up questions, but unless the asker understands the answers, there isn't much point.

[plkrtn]

I would apply if I were you!

 

Don't write up questions they ask only for them to not understand the responses. And never, EVER should anyone interview the person that is to become the line manager, thats just amazingly naive thinking on behalf of the person whose organising the panel.

Edited January 15, 2009 by plkrtn

[Guest Guest]

I assume you'll be asking the questions?

 

If not, don't do it. It's all very well thinking up questions, but unless the asker understands the answers, there isn't much point.

 

Yes ill be asking the questions, pointless otherwise.

[plkrtn]

Yes ill be asking the questions, pointless otherwise.

 

You shouldn't be interviewing for a position that is going to end up line managing you.

If you're good enough to come up with the questions for the post, you're good enough to apply for it... or to be promoted into it and have you be replaced.

[Guest Guest]

For reasons id rather not discuss on a public board im not getting the job.

 

I undertstand where you are coming from but if i dont have any say we could end up with a "manager" rather than a "techie/manager" which with the workload i am carrying is not an option.

[IrritableTech]

Show them round the site, giving them a good idea on the physical structure and current systems in place. Then you can base questions on how the candidate would improve what is already in place, and where the school could be in 3/5/10 years time.

 

This will give you a good idea on observational skills. It will indicate how up to date they are with the technology and will give you ideas on how they would move the school forward.

 

Thats what my school did for my interview. Seemed like a good idea to me.

[Guest Guest]

Q. People are reporting the network is down. Upon investigation it is found that a pupil has taken the ethernet cable out of the back of a PC and plugged it back into the switch (ie both ends of the cable are attached to the switch).

What has happened, and how could it be prevented in the future.

 

A. Keywords; Loopback, broadcast storm, spanning tree.

 

 

Do you think that is too specific or should anyone with experiance of medium-large networks know the answer to this?

Edited January 16, 2009 by Guest

[FN-GM]

Q. People are reporting the network is down. Upon investigation it is found that a pupil has taken the ethernet cable out of the back if a PC and plugged it back into the switch (ie both ends of the cable are attached to the switch).

What has happened, and how could it be prevented in the future.

 

A. Keywords; Loopback, broadcast storm, spanning tree.

 

 

Do you think that is too specific or should anyone with experiance of medium-large networks know the answer to this?

 

That one is though but ask away. Make sure you ask AD questions and get him / her to do a physical test.

 

Z

[Guest Guest]

her to do a physical test.

 

ok then

[Guest blacksheep]

I would wait until youve had a look at her first Must remember that for anymore I interview..

 

I do agree though I would find it quite demoralising interviewing someone to be your line manager, but you said you had your reasons.

[Dom_]

If they've worked in education before they'll have more than likely spotted a loopback, but if they've come from an industrial background you're probably being a bit too specific, you could ask them what steps they would take if the network goes down.