Zoom7000

Our's does... Wish it didn't! 'Nuff said really! It's called ITASS... No, really... Look here!

Well, I've had the meeting with RM yesterday. The persons at the meeting were: Myself (Network Technician) Network Manager My Unison Rep Head of Borough Corporate ICT Borough HR Rep RM Rep RM Service Delivery Manager for Managed Services Resource Manager (Bursar and Line Manager to Network Manager) Headteacher Basically, I had a list of questions that I had put together. Before the meeting I had a brief consultation with the Unison rep who pretty much answered all the questions I had based on the knowledge he had from previous discussions with RM and the Borough. However, I asked these anyway to get the answers directly from RM and out in the open. In terms of our employment, I have to say that my fears were put to a rest to an extent. All of our T&Cs will be carried forward to RM, there will be no redundancies and everything essentially remains exactly how it is at the moment. Same annual leave, same increments (I'm due AL increments next year, this will still be the case) The only thing that will change is the application for pensions. Currently, I do not pay into the borough pension scheme. If I choose to do so before the TUPE transfer then nothing will change. If I don't apply before the transfer then I will only be able to apply for the RM scheme. Regardless, this is a decision I will need to make in due course. As for day to day activities, we are entering a "Phase 1" managed services solution. "Phase 2" being the full transfer after the new build - More on this later. Back to "Phase 1" - Basically, this will be a continuation with the current service we support with some subtle changes. I will still report to the NM. The NM will no longer report the the Resource Manager and instead will report to an "RM Area Manager for Managed Services" who will ultimately report to the "RM Service Delivery Manager for Managed Services" who was present at the meeting. My main concern was the way support will work. Teachers will ultimately need to carry out certain tasks to ensure that they have done what they can before they call us. When it gets to this stage, they will log a call, either by phone, email or web based logging system. Presumably there will be procedures for logging and prioritisation that are yet to be drawn up. I raised the concern of teachers not agreeing to this, and possible union action for being made to do something they feel they don't need to. I was told that it will be a gradual "educating" process and that they haven't had this problem in other boroughs they have implements the MSP in. I did raise the point that every borough was different and that what would they do in the event that the was a backlash, but they said along the lines of it will be discussions with teachers and well, they will deal with it when and if necessary. On to financial penalties should KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are not met. I again raised a concern as to what happens if we simply can't meet these KPIs and that the school choose to raise a financial penalty, I don't want to be getting into trouble because I can't meet targets, because that is currently the case, there are only 2 of us and it can take us days, even weeks to fix certain issues. Albeit, people are paitient right now and we aren't called to task if we don't close calls within a certain time period, I can't see this being the same case when there is money involved. Even if we are not at fault, I'm not looking forward to the prospect of having to explain why cases are not closed if the case is how it is now (i.e. Not enough personnel, not enough training, lack of corporation by teachers/other staff. We will still be buying equipment as when we need it. The equipment will need to meet borough spec which when I saw today was far behind the equipment we currently buy. Infact: Microsoft Windows Vista Compatible 1Ghz CPU (You what? Can you still get 1Ghz CPUs? Would you install Vista on a 1Ghz CPU?) 1Gb Ram - My PC at home is starting to struggle on XP with 1Gb Ram! 40Gb HDD - Are these still available? Graphics Card with WDDM and Pixel Shader 2.0 Support - Well, at least they have thought of Aero! Anyway, it needs to match this min spec and be agreed by the finance department and our RM Line Manager. We will also have full access to RM Support should we need to ask for help and advice - That I suppose is a big advantage, here's hoping their support is useful! Right, on to "Phase 2" services - In my eyes, not something I am really looking forward to. Currently the new build is scheduled for 2010 although this date is very subject to change! Anyway, a borough wide centrally managed CC4 network with an Enterprise AD and locally based servers, presumably sub domains of the centrally managed domain. Hmmm... CC4, not much for professional developement. Oh well... oh, and everything will be EcoQuiet and Eco Friendly. Users will be able to move around the borough and log in any school they have access to. Possible smart card or other form of authentication. An interesting question that the Unison rep brought up was about Open Source software, at with the Head of Corporate ICT tried to dodge but pretty much said it doesn have plans for Open Source software in the MSP. Having said that, it's open source, you can't really stop technicians installing free support tools I guess. In conclusion, I guess there were positives and not so positives to come out of the meeting. I'm glad that it seems our jobs are pretty much safe and that in the main we may find life a little easier. I suppose it'll be hard to change our normal ways, but it's out of our hands. Just the CC4 bit I am not too fond of. Oh well, November here we come!

That's good to know, so perhaps I won't need to worry about an additional MX record. lol, I hope I didn't sound that thick! I wasn't sure port forwarding was enough. I just wanted to know whether I need a separate external IP address for the mail server.

I’m doing a private job for a friend. Finally after setting up his server and domain and everything else that runs his business, he is agreeing to pay me to install and setup an Exchange Server (2007). Basically, he has a domain name setup with some dodgy Indian company. (He had some Indian tech doing his tech support before!) So, I’m in the process of getting that changed, possibly to 123 Reg. Basically, there are a few questions that I wanted to ask: We will assume that in this case the domain name is “company.com”. If I was to create the MX record for the domain to point to mail.company.com what methods can I use to ensure that mail is held in an alternate area just in case the mail server was to go down or there was a loss in Internet connection? Can this only be done if the DNS provider allows or are there services available to hold emails until the server or connection was restored? The Internet connection is going to be provided by Be*. I assume that we will need 2 static IP addresses for this. In this case the Be Thomson router has to be put into bridged mode and will therefore not provide wireless services. Can I get around this by connecting a wireless access point? With regards to the above point, is it necessary to have 2 IP addresses? Will it work with just the one? Basically the Thomson router is connected to the domain controller and the domain controller provides addresses by DHCP. Is there any way I can get the mail.company.com address to point to the internal address for the mail server?

Close to RM? lol, I don't think so... According to Google Maps, I am 79.1 miles – about 1 hour 54 mins away from Abingdon. So, no... I don't think I will be progressing into the dark HQ of RM anytime soon unless they paid me obscene amounts of money!

Well, I got called to an emergency meeting this morning with my line manager (Network Manager) and the Resource Manager (Bursar) and despite not having had any previous information except for the standard info that we were expected to be TUPEd in 2012, I was told the school have accepted an "Interim Managed Service Solution" with RM and that we will be TUPEd... this October! Why on Earth they (SLT and the Governors) have made this decision I have no idea, but hey it's happening. I (and the Network Manager) have a meeting on Wednesday with the Headteacher, Resource Manager, LEA HR and RM HR. I've called Unison and they said they will try to get a rep to attend. The guy who deals with this stuff is currently off sick. Oh well, it's happening, a bit of a shock because I didn't expect it to happen so quickly but hey... Time to take it on the chin! I certainly don't plan to disappear from EduGeek so, I will keep you guys updated on what goes on. Wish us luck!

I actually don't mind it, it's the Mrs who wants in off. Gotta keep the Mrs happy! Actually, it is starting to shed it's leaves so it might be handier to get rid of it.

You really think they care? Personally after all the crappy treatment we've had in the last few months, lack of information and avoiding answering our questions, I think it's all about money and getting the deal done!

I've tried typing in localhost and the Administrator username and password and the error I get is:

I've just installed VMWare Server on my Windows Server 2008 box and I am trying to create a VM. When I start VMWare Server Console it asks for a Host to connect to. Obviously I don't have one as it is the first time I am running it. I am trying to create a New VM, but the option is greyed out in "File > New > Virtual Machine" Anyone know why? How can I create a new VM?

My neighbours bush is growing into my garden and is fast becoming a nuisance. I didn't know the neighbours so I went to speak to them. Some Easten Europeans opened up and told me they don't mind but it's not their house and they don't have contact with the landlord, just some middle men. The question is, do I need to get permission or can I just go ahead and cut the plant because it's growing into my garden when it shouldn't be. I've attached a picture of the problem.

Don't get me wrong. Looking at the positive aspects of BSF is exactly what I am trying to do. After all, as we all know, BSF is here to stay and we might as well get on with it. I'm hoping as suggested, there will be room for career improvements and better opportunities. I just didn't expect the politics to be so bad prior to the TUPE actually taking place! Isn't this clearly room for constructive dismissal? From Directgov

Most of the stuff here I don't really have a say in. It's stuff that is in my line manager's remit (Network Manager) i.e. He was asked to spec a new server etc etc. However, I do have input and we are feeling the "politics" as a department not just individually. I don't think we have any grounds for contructive dismissal, however, now that I know about it (thank you Gatt!) I will keep an eye out. It's annoying really. I have posted many a link and confirmation here on Edugeek that our LA have chosen RM as the preferred bidder. (Confirmed on the Borough's Website, RM's Website, Yahoo News and many, many other contruction journals) This was in April. We still, as employees, have not had any formal notification of this. The reason SLT and the LA give? The contracts haven't been signed yet! Hello? Why the confirmations on both parties websites? If so, why are RM doing health checks on our network? What is interesting is that whilst I was away, RM came in to do this health check. We have had numerous issues lately. Including a failing server that needs replacing and also we suggested clustering to try to avoid future downtime. I was told that the RM rep agreed with all our concerns and suggestions. Yet, the official RM report stated we have no major problems on the network and will not need to be spending any large sums of money. In addition to this. Our server room. When the AC was installed, we had around 4 servers + Coms Cabinet. Now there are nearly 15 servers and a damn lot more switched and fiber panels in the cabinet. We have been telling the SLT for nearly a year that the AC needs replacing, but were told we have to deal with it. Yet, RM stated it needed replacing on the report, and lo and behold, we're being told to replace the AC... Now if that is not a lack of confidence in our judgements, I don't know what is. Is this a case of listen to RM because they have PLC or Ltd after their name and don't listen to the Tech's because they don't? I know I haven't missed any meetings, because simply put, there haven't been any. The SLT, LA and RM have had plenty of meetings, yet, they seem to have forgotton all about the people centrally involved in all of this - US! The school has the budget. The LA have never had any input in our curicculum network and if the contracts haven't been signed yet, as they are saying, and yes, the LA have told us to continue as normal until we are told otherwise, which we haven't, then why should we have to consult with the LA. We are being told to consult with the LA on major expenditure "just to cover our backs" Why? We know what we are doing, we always have until an official embargo on expenditure is set, why should we need to stop now? I've come to terms with accepting the BSF and everything and like I said, I will never walk, because simply put I can't afford to. I just wish people in higher positions, who will never have to worry about finances like us poorly paid technicians, and never have to worry about job security or even what their job entails, would make our lives easier in an already messed up situation that is BSF!

So, after nearly 3 weeks off work with severe back pain I finally returned to work and was filled in on what had been a quiet few weeks. However, it was immediately apparent that what had been quiet on the network support front certainly hadn't been quiet on the "political" front. Behaviour from some of the management above is almost starting to seem as if there have been certain meetings at the TUPE discussions telling them to make our lives such a pain that we walk before it gets to that stage. I certainly am not one to walk. I can't afford to, have rent to pay and a family to look after, but it is starting to get more and more frustrating. No confidence being shown in our abilities. Being asked to take advice on all major purchases from the LA and RM before we buy, and if they disagree then we aren't allowed to do it. If anything major goes wrong, management demand we log everything and call the LA and follow their instructions. What the hell do they have to do with it? The funniest thing was we were asked to replace the SQL server for Sims by the LA. We recommended a spec and management asked that we get the LA's view. So, we asked them, and they spec'd a worser spec then what we already had and what they asked us to replace! Does anyone else have the feeling that BSF is all about "Get rid of those annoying techies before we have to take them on to our company? We don't want them, you deal with them, before it is too late!"

Well I just got myself a free Unlimited Web Bolt On package from O2 so hopefully A-GPS usage will be included in that plan.

I'm on O2 (600mins 500txts) tarriff (£35/month). Does anyone know how much it will cost me to use the Assisted GPS feature on my N82? I've tried asking O2 but the CS don't have a clue what I'm talking about!

I'm currently paying the following: BT Phone Line: £11.75/month (Basic Package - Option 1) Be Unlimited: £18/month Virgin Media Telephone & Free TV: £11/month (Very Basic Freeview) I don't use the home phones at all. My wife and I both have plenty of free mins on our mobiles. I have a BT phone line because I wanted Be and the reason I have a Virgin Media telephone is because they charge £11/month for telephone and give free TV with it. The basic free TV package on it's own with a few more channels than the free one I get with the phone costs £25/month. If you can't or don't want to move from Virgin Media, the easy thing to do is threaten them that you are leaving and then watch them throw the discounts at you. Try to get through to the "Disconnections/Customer Retentions" department. My friend has barely paid anything for Broadband with VM ever by continuously calling their bluff. Works everytime.

Well, the Doctor wrote me off for 2 weeks and I'm just sat at home resting. He told me to keep off the Ibuprofen and take Paracetamol (or Paracetamol with Codine) instead. The pain in my lower back has subsided a little however, I'm now getting pain in my upper back! Anyway... I still need a new chair seeing as my wife is finding the old one a pain as well. So, any suggestions?

Yeah, I have had physiotherapy to help the issue and my back hadn't hurt in almost a year, sudden attack of pain from nowhere! I was doing a lot of swimming lately but had to stop because I have been suffering a severe cough due to an allergic reaction which the doctor is still investigating. The emergency doctor said it may have been the cough that triggered the muscle spasm. Either way, I have had it bad the last month or so. I have a doctor's appointment today that was initially a follow up to the cough, however, I'll obviously be looking for help with my new issue! What price range do you think I should be looking at?

So, I'm off work again because of a recurrence of my back injury that I sustained trying to pick up a printer when I was not too well. Dunno what caused it to flare up again, but basically, I woke up on Sunday morning and was just washing and getting ready and had a sudden attack of pain in my lower back, for no apparent reason, which rendered me totally immobile. I was bedridden all day and could not move at all, not even sit up on the sofa or chair. I called the emergency doctor who advised me to take some regular ibuprofen and she said the pain might have been caused due to a muscle spasm. I'm still in severe pain today and still unable to sit up on a chair or sofa (using the laptop in bed to write this message!) but can now walk short distances, albeit painfully, but can now at least get to the loo! Anyway, to help alleviate the problems I am suffering I figured I'd get myself a new computer chair for home seeing as my £1 freebie from Viking Direct is getting on a bit and starting to hurt when I sit on it. (Before the injury!) Loads of people have pointed me to ergonomic chairs that costs nearly £1000s. However, this is well over my budget, I'm talking < £50 which is all I can afford for the moment. Regardless, I'm looking for something good quality and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations.

Nice one, thanks Russ!

Yes, MSN made the same mistake here.

I can't buy it, because it says return the the IT Office. In our school that is curriculum IT. We're Network Support, we don't do IT!

It would be better if it wasn't the silly "Super Pursuit Mode" (Pop-Up Mode) version!

Wow, 3310, man that is old! laserblazer, download the WorldUnlock Calculator it can unlock most old Nokia's for free. I have unlocked many 3310 (back in the day now!) using it. However, if you want something different, I have a brand new Nokia 2610 sitting at home. I brought it on a 12 months free contract for my wife but she has a flashy G600 Pink so has never used it. You can have it for £20 if you want...