IT BS thread

I FUCKING HATE WINDOWS IMAGING

Give me a network, server, storage, ... anything but desktops/laptops.

I can't wait for my desktop guy to get back from vacation.

 

Your desktop guy must not have a good process in place.

We boot to usb login, select OS, it does the rest including o365. Then sccm takes over for update. Forget it an let it bake we call it.
Once crispy, login add the user, boot and done.

 

He doesn't. But then again this place didn't have very good anything when I started last Sept.
I have focused mainly on the network and server infrastructure as there were a bunch of unfinished projects that had been started years ago.

While he is out on his honeymoon I have to cover for the desktop side and I haven't done desktop support in near a decade. It does give me a good view of whats happening and I do need to focus on it now that the rest of the stuff is straightened out.

Just frustrated how hard it seems to sysprep, create an unattended file, and image windows 10 compared to how it used to be.

My unattended file hosed my image i created and ended up causing a perpetual loop so I had to start over.

Built a Windows Deployment Server and installed Microsoft Deployment Tools on it.

When I left today I at least got it to install Windows 10, join the domain, bypass the annoying setup wizard, so I made progress.

 

Any of you guys pretty familiar with cable testers? I need one that will give VLAN information. I had used a FLUKE before overseas and I don't remember the model, but looking up ones available now such as the MicroScanner 2, reviews say it does not give VLAN info. Ideally that would be what I need since we have multiple networks and each system uses a different VLAN, and with stations being moved around a lot it would save me time to view on a tester vs logging into the switch and verifying there.

 

Not really my area of expertise, but sounded interesting so I used the Google.

$455 NetAlly LSPRNTR-300 LinkSprinter 300 Network Tester with WiFi and Distance to Cable Fault Indication, w/WiFi & Distance to Cable Fault Indication

https://www.amazon.com/NETSCOUT-LSP...&qid=1488312126++&sr=8-2&keywords=LSPRNTR-300

 

I actually work in a SCIF so I can't use WIFI or anything with Bluetooth etc. Make it more difficult to find one that isn't so fancy haha. I've done some mild research more so on just what FLUKE has.

 

Found a couple from Platinum Tools, not much as of reviews for them.

$2,153 Platinum Tools TNC950AR Net Chaser Ethernet Speed Certifier, Blue/Grey

https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Tools-TNC950AR-Ethernet-Certifier/dp/B01IP0M644
And I did find this guy which I think was the one I used before

Fluke Networks CableIQ Network Cable Tester

https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Networks-CableIQ-Network-Tester/dp/B00Q6Y0LIA

I guess if any of you guys are interested, here you go haha

 

Netscout/Fluke Linkrunner AT

 

MDT works great!

I barely use WDS, it pretty much just exists to serve the boot images for PXE.

 

Yeah i am working on an MDT setup now and yes my understanding when using MDT is that WDS just acts as a PXE boot server.

 

Yup, you can do more than just PXE with WDS but my experience is MDT works better and lets you automate more.

 

https://www.globalknowledge.com/blog/2018/03/30/awesomely-geeky-it-pranks

 

Already did a lot of internet-ing on this, but it seems like the current generation of wireless routers are really jacked up. I have a Netgear Nighthawk X8 that has actually been great -- until I upped my internet speeds to Gb speeds. I have the CM1000 DOCSIS 3.1 modem, and connecting directly to it, I can see 800-900Mb speeds. Going through the router, whether wired or wireless, the best I have seen is 320Mb (which was actually on wireless). Mostly it sits around 270 Mb, which is about the same I got when I was only paying for 300 speeds.

I *think* I have everything turned off that might slow it down, and everything turned on that might speed it up. I have the latest firmware, done the factory reset, etc. I just can't get it to go much above 300. It's obviously the router that is slowing it down.

SO yesterday I was thinking, well, it's a couple of years old, maybe there's something better out there, and maybe I should go back to Linksys, or try Asus. Looking at the specs, the top routers are nearly the same hardware architecture. Apparently the Linksys EA9500v2 has upped the processor from 1.4 dual core to a 1.8 quad core -- but the ones on the shelf at Best Buy that are on sale are the v1 -- they are dumping old inventory. The EA9300 looks promising, but it says 21+ devices (what happens at 22? We have 22 normally and over 25 at times when my daughter is home from college). And apparently the MU-MIMO feature is a total crock of poo and depends on both client and router chipset as to whether it will be marginally faster or significantly slower.

Wondering what other folks are doing. Generally disappointed in the state of consumer routers. And yes, I know, 300Mb should be plenty -- but we have times where we have 2 4K streams going and a kid playing online games, as well as all of the other devices. No issues yet, but would like to see better speeds -- or drop my connection back down to 300 until the industry gets their collective crap together.

 

I've had as least double that over wireless AC

 

Can any of you give me some ideas for what IT stuff I can do remotely? Ive been the main guy for 16 years at a small business (40 people) but I may be moving to a different state. I have not yet talked to my boss about this, and I want to present him with a list of things that I could still do while not being on site, in hopes of continuing to have some sort of full time employment with this company (keep the bennies is a big one) and not having to start all over again in the new state.

I know these days a lot of companies have their IT handled off site, but I myself have never had any experience with that. I've hired a few specialist over the years, like when we installed an in-house Exchange server, but most everything else I've done hands on here.

 

Pretty much everything that doesn't require physically touching hardware. Are you desktop, network, server, storage person or what?

Obviously you cant rack switches, repair laptop/desktop/server hardware (though iLO,DRAC,etc.. will allow you to access servers even if powered off and diagnose).
If a switch fails you can't remote into so if thats a concern some type of OOB serial console server with dedicated internet or POTS line would be needed

List what you normally do during your day and if you can do it from a remote location.
99% of what I do I remote into the systems anyway so it doesn't matter if I am across the hall, across a campus, or on the other side of the planet. As long as connectivity exists I can do my job.

 

We have redundant connections, so if one switch loses wan connectivity, it switches to the second connect. Then there is a connect between the two switches. The two wan connects are on two different ISP's. So its either one or the other that goes down. Never had both go down, but they set it up so even the physical connectivity out of the office is diffent directions, north-south. Not even a physical cut in one spot won't take us out. Still can remote in and see whats happening on either switch to see the other.
Look at how your redundance is set up.
Also, If your main vpn goes down, is there another door to go to? We have our pilot connection. Whilst it's just a pilot, it's a good resource and we've had to resort to it due to overworked production. Our vpn guys have made great improvements anytime we have a large consumption (5k plus users) so it's gotten a lot better.
We also have Citrix apps as well.

What I'm saying is look at all possible scenarios to be sure your connectivity remains in one form or another. If you can prove that, then you have a shot.

 

You guys are helping a lot, looking forward to more input.

 

For starters see below, bingo.

Great advice IMO. I have a couple of side gigs. Set the main one up almost 20 years ago starting with SBS and they have about 40 employees. Which are contractors for IT.... But have since moved them to SaaS. Still need to go into their office from time to time for physical setup but it is rare.

My main sit down gig is Enterprise Technical Specialist for Electronic Content Management at the worlds #1 Medical hospital and clinic. I do not let my side job interfere with my primary job. Benefits where I work are many times what the side job has, and the pay is much better I do it more of a courtesy to the owner.

Trying to get that through to my son who is 30 and interviewing to leave a job as level 2 tech support at a company that is named after a fruit. I taught him both OS's plus real NIX years ago. He is now looking at leaving a job with some of the greatest benefits I have ever seen. For more money in his eyes but switching from hourly to salary and figuring the bottom line it is not going to wash. 90K in Boston or Seattle working the hours he is going to is not equal the 45K he is making now with great benefits.

Yes you can support most orgs from anywhere now days. But how far away are you going to be? The jobs my son is applying for are smaller places that do require occasional hands on support. Even at the Enterprise level they want to see your pearly whites from time to time. Although I support many people around the country and world that I have never seen. It depends on the culture.

Good luck and don't be afraid to look at what else may be available to you in your growth professionally and financially in a new State. It may be an opportunity for you to move vertically.

When I retired from the Navy more than 20 years ago I designed one of the best follow the sun designs you could imagine in a manufacturing vertical. Started with Citrix Winview and my certs are in Citrix Winframe LOL. Then a Troller cut the cable between here and China. SOB... But yes HA, clusters, DR, and more than one demark into the building go a long ways.

Well you are often on the smoking thread and I like your meat Keep asking and exploring. Not sure of your overall experience but moving to a new State might open up more opportunities for you. Doesn't hurt to ask around and look at options, options can be good as long as you take the fully loaded package into consideration

 

I do everything remotely, even when I'm in the office. I haven't physically touched a server in years. Our datacenters aren't even in our building.