200 Pieces of Advice for Network Managers and Techies

[elsiegee40]

Turning it off and on again really does work.

 

Turning it on in the first place works even better. Don't expect people to understand complex technology like mains electricity switches.

[K.C.Leblanc]

Just remember, all your efforts to idiot proof a system will just create better idiots.

 

Make sure you know who equipment has been issued to, so you know who to chase when you don't get it back.

 

Always read the manual (just make sure no one sees you doing it).

 

To you a printer is just a piece of computer hardware, but to everyone else it's a status symbol. Make you are well versed in total cost of ownership unless you want to be overun with the bloody things.

 

EDIT: Can someone record this in a Baz Lurman style.

Edited July 9, 2010 by K.C.Leblanc

[TechMonkey]

Never under estimate what people don't know. Try and keep a straight face & be polite when this rule is proven correct.

Always check twice what people actually need for an event/setup & then get out what you think they will need as well, it saves faffing & stress.

[rad]

If it has a plug on it, its your responsibility

If a student/user deletes something, dont believe them, chances are its hidden somewhere.

If a student has deleted something, dont resort to getting it off the backup, chances are it involves moving to get the backup tapes.

When a toner has run out, shake it, chances are it will last longer.

If it dont work, throw it out, it isn't worth trying to fix it.

[tb2571989]

I'll collate these and remove any duplicates.

 

- When getting a call to replace a toner, check it doesn't say "Order Toner" instead of "Replace Toner"

- When setting up a projector/laptop/presentation, test it. Then test it again. And again 5 minutes before.

- When setting up laptops for the above, disable screensaver, sleep mode and anything else that will lock the workstation.

[ICT_GUY]

It is hard to balance the axiom that the customer is always right when all evidence says otherwise.

[36Degrees]

If they claim to have checked everything you asked them to (switched on, plugged in, on correct setting, etc.) NEVER assume that they actually have.

[ICT_GUY]

Macs are great for people who can't use computers.

[Rydra]

Office space is a commodity that all aspire for.

So when you get some, make sure you fill it with as much as humanly possible, the more indistinguishable and unidentifiable it is, the less likely you are to have it taken from you. Always leave at least one route that requires minimal scaling/climbing for a swift exit at the end of the day.

[Domino]

Work out what you want to change/improve, and work to find software/hardware that does that - don't find new hardware/software and try to apply it to your situation.

[sippo]

Just remember you can only be in one place at one given time.

You are not Superman.

You only have one pair of hands.

Remember to clean your Crystal Ball on a regular basis.

[Bezwick]

Remember 2 main things about Teachers, they hate the word No, unless they are using it, and they hate learning new things unless they are teaching them.

So if you need to teach a teacher how to use something, you need to convince them to ask you or they wont listen.

[ICT_GUY]

Networks should exist in splendid isolation. A Network is of thing of unimaginable beauty and complexity put together out of a myriad of components produced by thousands of companies. Putting it together and getting it to work is nothing less than a modern miracle. Such computing power assembled in one place was unimaginable just 20 years ago and yet here it is. You have breathed life into this huge sprawling and interconnected animal. You have done battle with poorly written device drivers. You will have split blood on the razor sharp edges of pc cases. You will have lost count of the number of bottles of pepsi max that you have consumed (your pulse will play an interesting beat). In the end you will know the purr of a happy network and know instinctively when something is wrong even before the first error appears in a log file.

 

Unfortunately all of your users will have no appreciation of this, they will just expect it to work like a pocket calculator even after they have clicked on angelina-jolie-naked.exe. This will make you cry and we will all feel your pain.

[mbird]

If a screen isn't working, it's usually unplugged.

If a smartboard isn't working, it's usually unplugged or got something leaning against it.

If some speakers are not working, it's usually unplugged.

[gl3nnym]

Google is your friend, use it. Chances are that somebody else has had that problem.

People lie just to get you to visit them. When a teacher says it's on fire and a demonic voice is telling them to kill their babies... the monitor is probably switched off.

[bodminman]

Always make sure you have a WW2 tin hat at hand!

[cl0n3]

Never attempt any technical work on SIMs after 1pm on a Friday

[elsiegee40]

If you want to get to another part of the school and avoid being taken to one side "while you've got a minute", carry a piece of Cat5 or your tool bag, screw your face up as if you're thinking hard and walk FAST!

[Flakes]

Just because it always works for you doesn't mean that it will work for your user.

 

If you do make a mistake always blame it on the system, then quickly fix it.

 

If a teacher treats you without respect, always prioritise them to the bottom of your job list.

 

Dont assume that the training you have given will remain sufficient, even if this is the third time.

[Zourous]

Remember that staff like to change offices regularly and sometimes this means moving 10 other people to satisfy 1. With this in mind don't spend too much time making cables nice and tidy because it won't be too long before you will be undoing your work. Don't be surprised if you come across what I call the "full circle effect" when a person ends up back in a room they were in before.

 

Don't get in this situation:

1. A major college wide problem has occurred that has affected all PC's in the college.

2. You start to gather your thoughts to work out where the problem has started from.

3. Knock at door \ telephone rings with a member of staff asking you what the problem is and how long before it is all working again although they are quite happy to not get straight to the point and waffle about what they were doing leading up to said college wide problem.

4. You tell them you don't know how long it will be because you haven't yet found the source of the problem.

5. Go back to 2

 

If you are working on an ongoing problem or issue and you need to ask staff or even students feedback to what they've experienced:

 

forget getting anything useful back

expect complete red herrings to throw you completely off the scent

expect exaggerations of time in relation to the real time

expect descriptions of the situation no more detailed than 'It's not working'

 

If someone says all their emails are gone, don't believe them.

[rsenior]

Learn :

 

To grovel so that you can spend other departments budgets instead of your own.

 

That adding information to a knowldge base makes more work ,as teachers will forget how it works and constantly keeping asking you,you will then show them how it works and still go round and fix it yourself.

 

Wear your ID card with your photo facing your chest so that new staff/students have no idea who you are and can't ask you stupid questions

[pete]

All hardware wants to drink your blood, it's just some has sharper teeth than others.

Break glass in case of need for black cockerel.

Read the Limoncelli book.

That tricky config that took a while to build? You won't remember it - write it down.

Set up network monitoring, configure properly and forward critical stuff to your phone - it makes break/fix times seem miraculous and stops you walking into chaos on a Monday morning.

Edited July 9, 2010 by pete

[sparkeh]

1. Carry a piece of equipment across the school so everyone can see you.

2. Put feet up and have a cup of tea.

3. Goto 1.

[TechMonkey]

Taking the phone off the hook and locking the door is a valid response to a problem. It saves explaining that you know there is a problem & yes you are on it to everyone that is wandering around or is near a phone.

 

Communication is always important, it may cause slightly more work but at least then everyone is informed and you have comeback if something goes wrong. People also feel included and less likely to moan. But only slightly.

[Dos_Box]

I should have added at the beginning to make the information generic, and not to teacher bash please.