About Network Rescues:
Please don't take on a new tech without checking references first. When doing a major upgrade or a new install, you are effectively putting your entire company in the hands of a tech - don't take it lightly because they can destroy your way of life. It takes alot of trust to bring someone like me in to create and maintain your network.
Its very sad to say, but generally only once a year I get to call up a tech and say to him/her "hey, you did a great job on that install". Takes them off guard to say the least but thats only once a year, what about the rest...?
Unfortunately, rescuing networks from bad installs has become a bigger part of my daily routine lately. Whenever I get a call to assess a network, I generally expect the worst and prepare for it. When the better happens, great, im happy and the customer is happy. It pains me to say this but theres alot of bad IT techs out there, and there seems to be more everyday. Anybody can put an IT cap on, start a business, and start taking on clients. Either they dont know or dont care, i'm still not sure what it is about these people. Many are there for the quick score, not for the benefit of the client and thats really sad.
How many times do I face new clients and they tell me their install has been ongoing for months and its still not working properly. The financial tally has gone well beyond the original quote and theres no end in sight. This is not a great situation for anyone. Underpowered servers, major downtime, missing data, no internet, no email, the list goes on and on. If this is you, then read on.
Generally, the server installation or cutover shouldn't take more than a weekend - and that's my goal. Start on a friday night, work through the weekend and by the next business day we're fixing up small issues. Yes, it's doable. I've installed 5 servers with a 40 computer network in one long weekend - 3 days and my work is guaranteed. Yet, some IT companies are charging phenomenal amounts for months of ongoing work? I don't get it.
Some things to look for:
Aside from the blatently obvious, what are some things to look out for? How do you recognize you have problems???
Here are a few...
Slow logins: You boot up your computer and type in your password to log in. It should only take a few seconds for your desktop to appear. Does it take a few minutes? Have you been told that slow logins are normal? No they are not normal.
Flaky network connections: Computers drop off the network, everything is overall slow, some file corruption, like a ghost in the system.
Too many times I get called from businesses saying they've had a string of techs in to look at their network but it's still not fixed - but they aren't looking at the root of the problem. Bad termination of network cabling is another big issue I see. Its not hard at all to terminate if you have the right tools, all you have to do is follow the color codes. But it amazes me how many techs cant get it right.
Wireless connections: Are you running wirelessly and having problems???
Database applications and wireless networks do NOT get along. Wireless networks are known as half duplex - meaning data can only travel one way at any given time. Transfers cannot happen both ways at one time. If you dont have a great connection, then chances are running database applications is aggrevating for you.
There are many others, but you can get them figured out with a consult.
Robert Hynes
http://www.rhcnetworks.com
Edmonton, Alberta.
Specialist in Servers, Networking and Network Security.
Please don't take on a new tech without checking references first. When doing a major upgrade or a new install, you are effectively putting your entire company in the hands of a tech - don't take it lightly because they can destroy your way of life. It takes alot of trust to bring someone like me in to create and maintain your network.
Its very sad to say, but generally only once a year I get to call up a tech and say to him/her "hey, you did a great job on that install". Takes them off guard to say the least but thats only once a year, what about the rest...?
Unfortunately, rescuing networks from bad installs has become a bigger part of my daily routine lately. Whenever I get a call to assess a network, I generally expect the worst and prepare for it. When the better happens, great, im happy and the customer is happy. It pains me to say this but theres alot of bad IT techs out there, and there seems to be more everyday. Anybody can put an IT cap on, start a business, and start taking on clients. Either they dont know or dont care, i'm still not sure what it is about these people. Many are there for the quick score, not for the benefit of the client and thats really sad.
How many times do I face new clients and they tell me their install has been ongoing for months and its still not working properly. The financial tally has gone well beyond the original quote and theres no end in sight. This is not a great situation for anyone. Underpowered servers, major downtime, missing data, no internet, no email, the list goes on and on. If this is you, then read on.
Generally, the server installation or cutover shouldn't take more than a weekend - and that's my goal. Start on a friday night, work through the weekend and by the next business day we're fixing up small issues. Yes, it's doable. I've installed 5 servers with a 40 computer network in one long weekend - 3 days and my work is guaranteed. Yet, some IT companies are charging phenomenal amounts for months of ongoing work? I don't get it.
Some things to look for:
Aside from the blatently obvious, what are some things to look out for? How do you recognize you have problems???
Here are a few...
Slow logins: You boot up your computer and type in your password to log in. It should only take a few seconds for your desktop to appear. Does it take a few minutes? Have you been told that slow logins are normal? No they are not normal.
Flaky network connections: Computers drop off the network, everything is overall slow, some file corruption, like a ghost in the system.
Too many times I get called from businesses saying they've had a string of techs in to look at their network but it's still not fixed - but they aren't looking at the root of the problem. Bad termination of network cabling is another big issue I see. Its not hard at all to terminate if you have the right tools, all you have to do is follow the color codes. But it amazes me how many techs cant get it right.
Wireless connections: Are you running wirelessly and having problems???
Database applications and wireless networks do NOT get along. Wireless networks are known as half duplex - meaning data can only travel one way at any given time. Transfers cannot happen both ways at one time. If you dont have a great connection, then chances are running database applications is aggrevating for you.
There are many others, but you can get them figured out with a consult.
Robert Hynes
http://www.rhcnetworks.com
Edmonton, Alberta.
Specialist in Servers, Networking and Network Security.
