200 Pieces of Advice for Network Managers and Techies

[Lee_K_81]

Shadow copies are a god send. Quick recovery when a pupil "accidently" deletes their work.

Single Instance Storage is also amazing. Especially when staff decide to send the same joke email to all staff or upload the same documents / images to 3 different locations in the same server.

 

Step one - switch it off and on again

Step two - uninstall and reinstall

Step three - google.

 

I believe this next one is someones sig: Never argue with idiots, they will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

 

SLT dont like the words "no", "it's impossible" or "it can't be done", but some can be put off with "it will cost £x,000 to be able to do it" or "how about this way instead"

 

Keep you line manager on-side and put the effort into forming a good working relationship (needs both parties efforts though). They will then back you up and become someone you can let-off steam too about a problem before re-phrasing it and raising further up the chain.

[Dos_Box]

Wireless keyboards and mice are evil in the workplace once more than one person has them. Avoid at all costs, unless you wish to be innundated with calls along the lines of 'My mouse is moving all on its own' and 'Works keep appeaing on my screen'!

[Domino]

a)cheap

b)reliable

c)fast

 

Choose 2

[sparkeh]

You will never get used to hotswapping server hard disks

[localzuk]

You will never get used to hotswapping server hard disks

 

Its not just me then. I always have a terrible feeling in my gut when I do it.

[sippo]

A lunch break is a privelige not a necessity.

[ICT_GUY]

Once peoples voices start to slow down like a tape player when the batteries are going its time to drop your caffeine intake a little.

[Dos_Box]

You will never get used to hotswapping server hard disks

 

Or incorporating a new\replacement disk into a RAID array.

[Dos_Box]

75% Of the time 'It isn't working' = It isn't switched on\plugged in.

[ICT_GUY]

Tech Support

 

It's 10% what you know 50% what you can google and 40% attitude when dealing with the lusers that do their best to thwart the good running of your network.

 

(as seen on the side of my personal mug that I made a few years back).

[sparkeh]

'The Network' is a catch-all term for any piece of equipment or software that interacts with your IT infrastructure.

Hence, if any part fails then "The Network is down".

[36Degrees]

Most common this week:

 

There's no sound when playing a DVD but it's fine on the internet = the volume control in the DVD player software is at the bottom or muted.

[PeteM]

20% of staff will take up 80% of your Helpdesk

[witch]

Keep notes on EVERYTHING

You will forget the simplest thing once you haven't done it for a while

 

No one can be an expert in all areas of IT - so find someone who is and listen to their advice

[ljlbray]

Laughing hysterically when the servers go down stops the queue forming at the door...

[TechMonkey]

Lack of planning on the users part does not constitute an emergency on your part.

 

+1. Amen brother.

[GrumbleDook]

Lack of planning on the users part does not constitute an emergency on your part.

 

Unless it is the Head. At that point you become a saviour to whom they are eternally grateful ... which, for some people, lasts until 5 minutes before your annual review. (cynic mode disengaged)

[fafster]

Being lazy is a skill. There's nearly always a way to fix a software issue without leaving your chair, meaning you don't waste time and energy on locomotion.

[browolf]

never ever trust a non-experts description of their own problem.

[tb2571989]

We're up to 107

[Rydra]

We're up to 107

 

If your having a slow friday afternoon, counting posts on edugeek can always fill the void!

[tb2571989]

If your having a slow friday afternoon, counting posts on edugeek can always fill the void!

Heh, well, it's nearning the end of term, year 11 and 13 have gone, and most of the students are on trips or activites. I'm fighting with a csv for next years Year 7s and I'm having a quiet day before all hell breaks looks next week.

[CaterinaAnna]

Surely Number 1 should be, 'sgn up to edugeek.net'

[gl3nnym]

Use dual monitors. You will never go back.

[tmcd35]

Learn to love resetting passwords - it will take up 80% of your working days from now until you leave.

 

Remember - how ever carefully you plan, you've missed something (usually something someone forgot to tell you, or changed at the last second)

 

The first time something goes seriously wrong - blame the last guy

 

The second time something goes seriously wrong - blame 'the network'/'lack of budget'

 

The third time something goes seriously wrong - start job hunting

 

Never by surprised by how meny students have suddenly forgotten their passwords or lost their work 10 minutes before the bell

 

Laptops are evil, but teachers and pupils seem to love them. This will be the cause of meny headaches

 

The caretaker *IS* the most important person in the school