Pc Engineering or Network administrator

[lop]

I rather be a network admin than a pc engineer.you?

[Kymmy]

Done both jobs and was happy in both.. network admin tends to get boring if there's nothing happening and hectic when something does.. as a PC engineer (I presume you mean 3rd line technical support) you tend to get the brunt of the customer complaints but you tend to get out and about (unless you're internal but at least you get to regularly tour the building)..

It though does worry me with the professional competence you've shown in your previous threads whether you'd be suitable in either role apart from maybe as a trainee..

[idi banashapan]

exactly what Kymmy just said. done both and still do both to a point (just don't answer the phone to people - I get the escalated stuff).

it's boring. there's no 'buzz' to be found in either role, imo. just stupid decisions made by people in high up positions who don't have to deal with it or have no technical knowledge of what it is they are asking (sometimes worse when they do have a little knowledge, but not much - they are the ones that throw around buzz words and tell the CEO it can be done easily at no extra cost, putting you in a really crappy spot), that you have to follow through with, even though you explain that it's not the best way of doing things.

oh, and they expect it to be done by the end of the week, at most - and this includes full testing and implementation with a working result that has no teething issues.

and when you do bust a gut to get it completed and implement that 'must-have all-important' BES server they need, they tell you they've actually signed up to use iPhones instead, so can you please configure the mail system and certificate enrolement for those instead. oh, and being Network Admin means you are automatically 24h support without the pay, even for the CEO's personal home PC issues. And of course, you will also be personally responsible for any system failure or problem, even if it's actually been coded in a way that the sales teams' bloody ridiculous 'necessary system behaviour' cannot actually be done, or if some bloody idiot got hold of an 8 port router, put it on their desk and brought the network down by creating a loop-back by plugging both ends of the cable into said router (and good luck finding that any time soon when you have a few hundred people in the company).

and if you get 10 minutes, can you run off a stupid report that no one will actually look at - but make sure it has pretty coloured pie charts. if you need to stay late to run that update, then that's ok because IT people don't have families or lives, right? And when you do finally get home, all your family and friends can call you at all hours with their computer issues - even if it's actually the DVD player that needs connecting to the TV (coz that's IT related).

And when your company moves offices, IT get to be the removals people, which is nice. that means YOU get to come in at the weekends and move crap just because it has a plug on it.

if fact, whilst you're there, you may as well move the chairs and desks too... make sure it's all ready for Monday. And of course, when there are cuts, yours is the first team to get hit, because IT is a resource user, not a money maker like sales. and no, you will NOT get the recognition for keeping everything running smoothly, but hell - they know your name when a server goes down.

and don't expect ANYONE to read the important email you send out to all staff explaining when, why and how long a server or service will be unavailable, so please do expect a plethora of phone calls when you take it down (which will be at 10pm because the company can't have it go down during sales working hours, otherwise they'd have to work later)... like me, you mean???

and what do you mean 'you'll need to look into that'?? why don't you know the answer to this highly technical question off the top of your head, instantly? and please don't expect any kind of budget to buy more SANs or servers - the company needs to expand, but IT cost do not change accordingly.

still, at least accounts got their new photocopying, faxing, printing, teleporting machine that was over priced because it was bought from a 'business office supplies' company, which you need to set up before it arrives so they can just plug it in and start using straight away.

*sigh*

don't get into IT - it's not worth it. honestly.

[lop]

what i hate of pc engineering when some one bring his/her pc to you and tell you fix it when you ask whats wrong/what happen last the person tells you nothing happened it just stop working......how ?

[damien c]

Originally Posted by idi banashapan

Exactly what Kymmy just said. done both and still do both to a point (just don't answer the phone to people - I get the escalated stuff).

It's boring there's no 'buzz' to be found in either role, imo. just stupid decisions made by people in high up positions who don't have to deal with it or have no technical knowledge of what it is they are asking (sometimes worse when they do have a little knowledge, but not much - they are the ones that throw around buzz words and tell the CEO it can be done today, putting you in a really crappy spot), that you have to follow through with, even though you explain that it's not the best way of doing things.

Oh, and they expect it to be done by the end of the week, at most - and this includes full testing and implementation with a working result that has no teething issues.

When you do bust a gut to get it completed and implement that 'must-have all-important' BES server they need, they tell you they've actually signed up to use iPhones instead, so can you please configure the mail system and certificate enrolement for those instead.

Oh, and being Network Admin means you are automatically 24h support without the pay, even for the CEO's personal home PC issues. And of course, you will also be personally responsible for any system failure or problem, even if it's actually been coded in a way that the sales teams' bloody ridiculous 'necessary system behaviour' cannot actually be done, or if some bloody idiot got hold of an 8 port router, put it on their desk and brought the network down by creating a loop-back by plugging both ends of the cable into said router (and good luck finding that any time soon when you have a few hundred people in the company).

If you get 10 minutes, can you run off a stupid report that no one will actually look at - but make sure it has pretty coloured pie charts. if you need to stay late to run that update, then that's ok because IT people don't have families or lives, right? And when you do finally get home, all your family and friends can call you at all hours with their computer issues - even if it's actually the DVD player that needs connecting to the TV (coz that's IT related).

When your company moves offices, IT get to be the removals people, which is nice. that means YOU get to come in at the weekends and move crap just because it has a plug on it.

If fact, whilst you're there, you may as well move the chairs and desks too... make sure it's all ready for Monday. And of course, when there are cuts, yours is the first team to get hit, because IT is a resource user, not a money maker like sales. and no, you will NOT get the recognition for keeping everything running smoothly, but hell - they know your name when a server goes down.

Don't expect ANYONE to read the important email you send out to all staff explaining when, why and how long a server or service will be unavailable, so please do expect a plethora of phone calls when you take it down (which will be at 10pm because the company can't have it go down during sales working hours, otherwise they'd have to work later)... like me, you mean??? and what do you mean 'you'll need to look into that'?? why don't you know the answer to this highly technical question off the top of your head, instantly?

*sigh*

don't get into IT - it's not worth it. honestly.

Sorry had to break it up as I couldn't read it but now I can .

[idi banashapan]

and when finance tell you that they files 'just vanish' from the file server.... did someone press delete??? yes, I think they did, didn't they...

---------- Post added at 14:36 ---------- Previous post was at 14:35 ----------

Originally Posted by damien c

Sorry had to break it up as I couldn't read it but now I can .

sorry - it was a total rant...

[Hugh]

Originally Posted by idi banashapan

exactly what Kymmy just said. done both and still do both to a point (just don't answer the phone to people - I get the escalated stuff). .......

......*sigh*

don't get into IT - it's not worth it. honestly.

Wow - there was a stream of conciousness if ever I saw one......

You must have had some sub-optimal managers.

Here's how it works at my place - we discussed migrating from XP and Office2k7 to Win7 and Office2k10 in a team meeting, with all the 2nd and 3rd line techs present (and the Server and Network teams); we then trialled it in the IT department and with some other departmental power-users for two months to find the "nuances" and appropriate resolutions, and then we worked with our (internal) customers to agree an implementation plan (and also train up super-users within departments for 1st line support), and we are implementing that as we speak.

Re iPhones/BES, I have refused to support Blackberries as a institutional device (and have been supported on this), and we implemented iPhones/HTC Smartphones in a manageded way, with appropriate security/kill switches, and will be doing the same for iPads - some people tried to sneak MS Sharepoint in the back door, and it was given the boot.

It doesn't have to be us/them techies/management, if both sides work together in a rational manner (but it takes both sides).

[idi banashapan]

Originally Posted by damien c

Sorry had to break it up as I couldn't read it but now I can .

k - edited!!

---------- Post added at 14:40 ---------- Previous post was at 14:38 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

Wow - there was a stream of conciousness if ever I saw one......

You must have had some sub-optimal managers.

Here's how it works at my place - we discussed migrating from XP and Office2k7 to Win7 and Office2k10 in a team meeting, with all the 2nd and 3rd line techs present (and the Server and Network teams); we then trialled it in the IT department and with some other departmental power-users for two months to find the "nuances" and appropriate resolutions, and then we worked with our (internal) customers to agree an implementation plan (and also train up super-users within departments for 1st line support), and we are implementing that as we speak.

Re iPhones/BES, I have refused to support Blackberries as a institutional device (and have been supported on this), and we implemented iPhones/HTC Smartphones in a manageded way, with appropriate security/kill switches, and will be doing the same for iPads - some people tried to sneak MS Sharepoint in the back door, and it was given the boot.

It doesn't have to be us/them techies/management, if both sides work together in a rational manner (but it takes both sides).

...and then imagine the company gets bought by another company who replaces the person who organised all this stuff and works in a very different way. one with a very black or white way of thinking... ...perhaps...

[damien c]

Originally Posted by idi banashapan

k - edited!!

---------- Post added at 14:40 ---------- Previous post was at 14:38 ----------



...and then the company gets bought by another company who works in a very different way...

No worries mate, but I can't read stuff when it's like that but I have just looked over your post and it sound's like you worked for a really bad company full of moron's.

I know where I work we have just had Internet Explorer 8 rolled out to everyone and some, of us had to test it within my department to find out if there was any issues with certain business websites etc, and other programs that we use and found that they actually worked with no issues and then, if anyone has problem's we look in to it, and then if we can't fix it we then get the IT guys round.

[Hugh]

Originally Posted by idi banashapan

k - edited!!

---------- Post added at 14:40 ---------- Previous post was at 14:38 ----------



...and then the company gets bought by another company who works in a very different way. one with a very black or white way of thinking...

It's how I've always worked - explain the risk of doing it the wrong way, with the impact of failure, and ask them to sign it off; the one place that wouldn't work that way (as you say, due to being taken over), I moved on from.

[nffc]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

It though does worry me with the professional competence you've shown in your previous threads whether you'd be suitable in either role apart from maybe as a trainee..

This...

[idi banashapan]

Originally Posted by damien c

No worries mate, but I can't read stuff when it's like that but I have just looked over your post and it sound's like you worked for a really bad company full of moron's.

I know where I work we have just had Internet Explorer 8 rolled out to everyone and some, of us had to test it within my department to find out if there was any issues with certain business websites etc, and other programs that we use and found that they actually worked with no issues and then, if anyone has problem's we look in to it, and then if we can't fix it we then get the IT guys round.

It's not all from the same company - it's kind of a mix of experience from places! but yes, I always ensure that major updates are tested in small groups before deploying to all. WSUS is pretty good for that.

[LSainsbury]

Originally Posted by idi banashapan

exactly what Kymmy just said. done both and still do both to a point (just don't answer the phone to people - I get the escalated stuff).

it's boring. there's no 'buzz'....

<snip>

+1 - What he siad!!

---------- Post added at 15:29 ---------- Previous post was at 15:27 ----------

Originally Posted by lop

what i hate of pc engineering when some one bring his/her pc to you and tell you fix it when you ask whats wrong/what happen last the person tells you nothing happened it just stop working......how ?

Then you need the skill to dig further and find out how.

---------- Post added at 15:31 ---------- Previous post was at 15:29 ----------

Originally Posted by lop

I rather be a network admin than a pc engineer.you?

I do both - and and installations to the list as welll...

And 1st, 2nd, 3rd line...

...and I get around the country and meet some "interesting" people!

[Kymmy]

My sys admin was on vms and novell data-centres so never got involved directly with users.. Last IT job though was with a small 3rd party services company where I was used as effectively 4th line (being sent in when all else had failed) and due to 3rd line incompetence I spent most of the day apologising for the company not fixing it sooner. That and the stupidity of some users is why I retired after 15 years from IT

[lop]

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

<snip>

+1 - What he siad!!

---------- Post added at 15:29 ---------- Previous post was at 15:27 ----------



Then you need the skill to dig further and find out how.

---------- Post added at 15:31 ---------- Previous post was at 15:29 ----------




I do both - and and installations to the list as welll...

And 1st, 2nd, 3rd line...

...and I get around the country and meet some "interesting" people!

ja.