Ivory Tower Inc.

Four months down the road and the facts remain the same

2006-01-23T19:55:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are, four months after the last post and the FFV's are still keeping us on the edge of our seats waiting for a prolonged period of UPTIME.

There have been some changes here at Ivory Tower Inc. The Brilliant Security Person's PHB has changed. After a rigorous search for the perfect candidate, a series of exactly one interview, and a long distance call\dinner\handshake and the new PHB took her seat. An amazing fit...especially since she has followed another member of senior management from the good old days. Curious tho it was, I think she will actually effect some positive change here at Ivory Tower. It will take some time due to the entrenched opposition. Thankfully for the new PHB, those in the trenches are continuing to dig.

The FFV's have a new leader as well. It comes as no surprise really. There are only so many lies the previous leader could tell before the heat got to hot. So, now we have another liar to contend with except this one is trying to convince us he's NOT lieing. Uh-huh. Sure. So it's no longer a hack attack effecting the entire midwest...this time it's DNS? Clever...but not clever enough. Oh...one more thing...see, we KNOW what we are doing so don't try and spread that bullsh*t here. We don't play that game.

Over the past 3 weeks I don't think we have gone for more than 2 days without one incident or another achieving the Gold Standard of relieving our customers from their ability to use the product they paid for. Amazing track record isn't it.

HUH??

2005-09-23T15:11:00.000-07:00

How exactly does one become an ITE? It can't be an arduous application. Case in point...

During a recent shindig in a far away location, events were planned out with great success....kind of. The majority of these events required specific presentation hardware to be in place at specific times. Several ITE's were present, and because of their stature within the tower, they felt that they had the freedom to take whatever they wanted, when they wanted. In this case presentation equipment.

This presented an environment where not only the Simple-Minded Employee's (SME) were running around looking for equipment, but also the ITE's. No security was in place, and no accountability was observed.

Is this not part of ITE 101? To be able to coordinate events and equipment with some degree of competency? To plan the movement of equipment and delegate the personnel to have it done?

I find it funny that an Under Paid Contractor (UPC) was able to take control of the situation, finding all the lost equipment and set up each presentation on time, while a few ITE's were sitting there scratching their heads wondering what to do, and what went wrong.

Did I get a thank you? I think not.

I think I would like to be an ITE. It pays better, and I don't have to do anything difficult or responsible.

Unscheduled down time at Ivory Tower Inc.!

2005-08-02T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is never a good thing for organizations who's sole existence is based on a web presence. Many a dot-com businesses folded up the tents after brief bouts of web darkness. Here at Ivory Tower we seem to make a living off of web darkness. It seems that we get concerned when the sites ARE accessible because that means our lowest bidding Foriegn Faceless Vendors(FFVs) either didn't show up for work( and therefore were not available to screw something up) or are currently plotting the task to screw something up. Either way it's bad news. It seems we would rather just know the sites are inaccessible rather than to be waiting for the support desk phones to start ringing off the hook.

So, all that leads to the latest bout of web darkness. In the past when Ivory Tower was darkened we would be told by the FFVs that some dark hoard had descended upon our neck of cyberspace with an Über attack that is effecting our entire geographic region. After a brief scan of the usual network monitoring suspects we would see nothing pointing to the dark hoard d'jour. We would scratch our collective heads, afraid to ask the FFVs for an explanation for fear of hearing, "SEE! Even THEY are effected!". Today was a bit different in that we had no idea why the sites were inaccessible. Several of our clients were attempting to complete major projects but couldn't get to their respective sites. No word from the FFVs. Phones ringing off the hook and the Support Desk staff were becoming homicidal. No word from the FFVs.

At one point one of our ITEs came up with a brilliant idea...as only ITEs can. This particular ITE fancies himself to be a great and powerful entity in the world of Ivory Tower...even after getting the beat down by the Brilliant Security Person's PHB. We're all waiting for the NEW PHB to get her legs under her and then see what happens to the ITE in question...but I digress...

ITE looks upon the situation and is quite concerned that the clients can't get to their websites and that our Support Desk has nothing to tell them. Support Desk staff is now seeking out pitchforks and torches. Now, no one really knows what goes on inside the brain kettle of an ITE. Some have considered it and their therapy is progressing nicely. I will not even try to guess at the thought process...or lack thereof...that led to the email snippet below but rest assured, dear reader, this did in fact grace our inbox this afternoon:

Not Quite Handsome Webgeek:

Please place a page on the website informing our clients that we know their sites are not available and that we are working on the issue.

-Dr. ITE

I'm not sure if ITE's note was ever responded to. When I left the building we were all still holding our sides, wiping away the tears, and trying to catch our breath.

Fire?

2005-07-29T21:46:00.000-07:00

All that education and ITE's STILL surprise me sometimes. A couple weeks ago the fire alarm went off in the building housing Ivory Tower Inc. I found myself in the heart of ITE-dom and saw the look of surprise flash across the faces of several ITE's. Then, the question that one normally doesn't hear over the deafening tri-tone of a fire alarm:

"What should we do?"

Yes. UH huh. That's what was asked. It took a very had bite to my tongue to keep me from answering:

"You get the *bleep* out of the building if you don't wanna be reduced to charbroiled ITE!"

How Policy Is Made...

2005-07-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

My dad sent me this. Enjoy...

In the beginning there was a Plan.

And then came the Assumptions.

And the Assumptions were without form, but a cause of consultants.

And the plan was without substance.

And darkness was on the face of the Workers.

And they spoke among themselves, saying, "It is a crock of shit, and it stinks."

And the workers went unto their Supervisors and said, "It is a pile of dung, and none may abide the odor thereof."

And the Supervisors went unto their Managers, saying, "It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none can abide by it."

And the Managers went unto their Directors (A totally useless form of office clutter, paid more than the Manager's) saying, "It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength."

And the Directors spoke among themselves, saying one to another, "It contains that which aids plant growth, and it is very strong."

And the Directors went unto the Vice Presidents, saying unto them, "It promotes growth, and it is very powerful."

And the Vice Presidents went unto President saying unto him, "This new Plan will actively promote growth and Vigor of this company, with powerful effects." (They were all wearing hip high boots)

And the President looked upon the Plan and saw it was good.

And the Plan became Policy.

And this is how shit happens.

PHB's Strike again

2005-07-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

I'll be brief here, but a little explanation is due...
(as I am new here, please edit any of my follies)

PHB decided that it would be a good thing to take one professional from their employment and move him/her to another employer, in hopes of consolidating their AP.

In theory, this isn't a bad idea, but the steps taken to make this happen were as underhanded as Sandi taking documents out of the Clinton library. The professional was told that this was the move that they wanted, but they didn't want the professional to tell his employer what was going on! This also took away the professionals choice of who he cared to work for...if he wanted to stay in the Ivory Tower...which he did. So the professionals client is thus telling him who he will work for.

If this was discussed openly to get the professionals view point, I wouldn't have a problem with it. But telling someone that they are moving you to another employer for their purposes is reprehensible.

I work for my client through my employer. I would flat out say no to my client if this was proposed to me in this same fashion.

The rub! The PHB got his wish, but the professional decided to go elsewhere. Now PHB is in a bad spot! Horray for the professional! Hate to see him leave though.

The Tower Lives!

2005-07-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

Yes, It's true. We haven't all quite en masse...although we've considered it...seriously. No, we have decided there is a light at the end of this dark dark tunnel. Pay no attention to that distracting whistle or the deep rumbling coming from the area of the light...just focus on the light. Care for some Kool-Aid(c)?

Due to serious budget problems it was decided some time ago that Ivory Tower would not be rehiring unfilled positions or creating new positions until the problems cleared themselves up. Sounds great right? I'm beginning to think it was all a lie to keep the non-PHB's in the dark. Why would I believe such a scandalous thing? Well...because it's true! Now, PHB's and ITE's don't care much for the truth. Thankfully, the rest of us do. How about these numbers...since the "No Re/Hire" declaration there has been 4 new positions created and at least 6 positions rehired...some "adjusted" to other areas at Ivory Tower...none of which ended up in the most needed of areas. I'm not surprised...not even alittle.

We'll try to post here alittle more often...there's lots of fun stuff going on at Ivory Tower Inc. Let's see...we have had an open search for an Über-PHB consisting of exactly 1(one) interview of 1(one) candidate. Said interview proved this candidate would fit in nicely with the other PHB's...ahem.

What else...oh yes, we can't forget this little episode can we? Well, the BSP requested something of the FFV's called an "Incident Handling Policy". This is a document that details how computer hacks are dealt with. BSP recieved a two page document that we will attempt to scan and make available here(properly sanitized to protect the stupid). Total rubbish. Tier 1 hosting facility? I think not. More on this alittle later...promise...more posts about this wonderful place.

Cause and Effect

2005-05-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

What a week at Ivory Towers Inc! Two disasters were avoided...one by skill and experience and the other by blind stupid luck. The causes of the disasters? I guess one has to know the nature of the disasters before one can make such a judgement.

Disaster 1: File server crash brought about by poorly configured server.
Disaster 2: Enterprise Web App crash brought about by poorly configured server.

"Poorly configured server" would seem to indicate poorly skilled server operator right? At the moment of crisis that is definately the cause and the "poorly skilled" operator should be subject to severe and immediate punishment to include beating, harsh words, and termination. But wait...doesn't one have to take a closer look? I should think so.

How about a 45:1 user to Tech support ratio. How about a 30:1 ratio when including server operators. For highly experienced support people and competent users a 30:1 ratio would be almost manageable if that's all they did. When you are dealing with folks with an average of 5 years experience doing the support and adding to that totally incompetent users one begins to see a problem. The problem is that the server operator spends a significant amount of time responding to user "issues". When the server operator is interrupted every 20 to 30 minutes it becomes almost impossible to "know" one's servers and the impact of that is the inevitable eventuality of a failure of some nature. When the server operator is tasked with providing infantile hand holding for conferences where she is expected to be available to press the space bar at the passing of each slide one can expect the operator to become disgruntled. Disgruntlement is hardly an excuse for anything however. Disgruntlement brought about by complete and total disrespect by the organization is another matter entirely.

So was the week at Ivory Towers Inc. Two server failures. Both had the potential for SERIOUS and UNRECOVERABLE data loss had the technicians not had talent and ALOT of luck on their side. The various ITEs point their fingers at the server operators and programmers. The server operators and programmers offer an altogether different finger.

ITT v. ITE

2005-04-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Well...things are going to get awfully interesting. DeepThroat has an upcoming evaluation. PHB will be doing the eval.

There will be accomplishments to celebrate, and issues upon which to improve. Much of the eval will be of the "yada yada yada" variety. We all know how that works.

However, PHB always asks the question, "Are you happy here?" That is where the defecation is going to hit the circulation.

At this point, the info tech group (ITT) is really pissed at a certain couple of ITEs. Those ITEs have been saying some disparaging things about the ITTs, and have circumvented chains of command in their attempts to throw their weight around. (And--anyone who has seen these two ITEs--that is a lot of girth.)

I'm not about to back down on this one. The crap has gone on long enough, and it's time to either do something about it or let things get worse. Right now, the ITT is on the verge of an all-out mutiny.

PHB certainly understands the situation, as he is also on the receving end of the antics of the two ITEs. However, PHB has not done much to date to stand up for the ITT.

PHB has a serious morale problem on his hands. He didn't create it, but if he doesn't address it, he is going to have a Charlie Fox on his hands. We'll see what happens.

Our little ITE has grown up!

2005-04-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

Ya know, sometimes I think we're too hard on some of the ITE's here at Ivory Tower Inc. Sometimes I actually feel sorry for them. No! Really! I mean it doesn't last long but I *DO* feel sorry for them for 10 or 20 seconds sometimes.

Today we get word that one of our ITE's has went and got his "Piled Higher and Deeper". Congrats ITE. Doesn't particularly change how we think of you but we do respect your dedication.

I hear that train a comin...

2005-04-14T06:12:00.000-07:00

Methinks a certain ITE is about to be educated. Certain other VERY SENIOR PHB's are quite unimpressed with the certain ITE's behavior and the BSP(that's Brilliant Security Person)'s Not-So-PH-but-definate-B is on the right team and is backing BSP to the wall.

Hey ITE: That light at the end of the tunnel? Yeah...hear the whistle? yeah...you can't run fast enough ITE.

When ITE's go off half cocked...

2005-04-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

Ya just gotta love this. ITE's function best when treated like mushrooms while the rest of us who actually DO the work are, well, DOING the work.

Recently an evil bad guy(EBG) did some bad things to a super secret project here at Ivory Tower Inc which resulted in two seperate issues that had to be dealt with. One of our brilliant Security people took on the task of finding out what the EBG had done, when EBG did it, and what damage was caused(issue 1) and began the process of reviewing certain policies to insure Ivory Tower Inc could mitigate this threat in the future(issue2). One of the findings from Issue 1 was some passwords needed to be reset. Security person made the appropriate PHB aware and was *TOLD* the situation was rectified. A week passed. Brilliant Security Person(BSP) asked Not-Quite-Handsome Webgeek(NQHW) to check and sure enough the passwords had not been changed. BSP almost lost what little mind remained in BSP's much abused cranium and started firing off emails to the FFV's. One of which resulted in a particular ITE's mushroom being jiggled and ITE raised it's head and said something utterly stupid...as ITEs will do.

ITE seems to have real ownership issues because ITE accused BSP of sidestepping ITE and ITE's Keeper(also known as Virtual-PHB). Here's where the whole mushroom thing comes in. BSP thought it best to keep PHB's of all flavors in the dark while BSP worked out what had to be done. Since the other PHB had requested the FFV's to make the password change and BSP had no reason to distrust PHB(ahem), BSP assumed the password change had taken place or was in the works. When FFVs of all flavors revealed they had never recieved such a request BSP fired off the emails. ITE took exception and "reminded" BSP that "we will review" typically means all ITE's and PHB's get involved.

ITE doesn't know excrement from shinola. ITE has spent too much time looking at picture history books. ITE found out that you don't speak ill against BSP without getting smacked.

Note to ITE: "I was tasked by my PHB with taking care of this. When we talk with FFV's about EBG you are invited to attend"

untyped message to ITE: "STFU you arrogant little swine, when I'm ready to deal with you you'll know it."

This will more than likely be updated tomorrow...

ITE: A Web Services Expert

2005-04-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

We have two systems: system A and System B. System A is being hosted in another country. System B is hosted onsite. We are in the process of developing web services that will provide interfacing between systems A and B.

Enter a certain ITE. She's never designed a database in her life. Neither has she written a line of code in her life. She's not even my boss.

However, she is now an authority on web services. She keeps telling me that a certain programmer (Jane) in my group has developed web services for another system. She did not; Jane wrote the specifications, but another party actually developed the services.

ITE still does not understand this. That, however, has not stopped her from insisting that I develop my services the way that Jane did. Never mind that the vendor with which I am working wants to use the industry standard--IMS--for the web services.

This is what pisses me off. I've worked at several development outfits; I've been a programmer for 15 years. I've designed databases...written systems...even helped implement them.

I have NEVER had someone in a nontechnical capacity--who is not even my boss--insist on a certain method for development. I have NEVER been subjected to this level of micromanagement.

At this point, I am dead set toward looking elsewhere. That was the absolute last straw.

sure...this makes sense

2005-04-06T06:14:00.000-07:00

PHB: "We need a best practice for the use of our version control software. Who can write that for us?"

ITE: "Why not the developers? They use it more than anyone else."

PHB: "No no no...we'll get the Network Operations people to write it...yeah, that's the ticket."

*sigh*

Yet Another IT Car Wreck

2005-04-01T10:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, get this. We have have a mission critical web application here at Ivory Towers Inc. (let us call it Application X) that is wired into our main web site. Speaking of that web site, it has been determined that the code is woefully outdated and fraught with accessibility issues. (Don't ask me about the war I started with the ITEs over having the audacity to point out the fact that our accessibility sucks. How dare I imply that the thousands they paid for that site was wasted! But that's another post...)

Where was I? Oh yeah...the web site needs an Extreme Accessibility Makeover... Now as fate would have it, and as often happens in organizations like ours, instead of passing that task off to yours truly (and let's just say I have mad skillz in the areas of accessibility, web standards, and being able to make code do all sorts of things...not many can carry my mouse pad in that arena), we decide to contract the job out to Faceless Foreign Vendor. In other words, we're going to pay FFV at least twice the cost and increase the time to rollout of the product to about four times the waiting period to perform a task of which we had impeccable in house skills to accomplish.

But again, that is not the point of the post. Remember...we started out reminiscing about mission critical Application X, and there is where the real crux of the story lies.

The ITE project coordinator responsible for farming this project out to FFV is totally aware of Application X, and even considers himself an expert in Application X. Mind you without ever actually coding a single line of Applicaton X or sitting in on any of the planning or testing of Application X. However, for argument's sake, let's just let that piece of the puzzle slide on by and grant the ITE PC expert status. At least enough of an expert to realize that mission critical Application X is wired into the live site and that there is a difference between flat code and dynamic code generated by Application X. Still, ITE PC had made no plans on reviewing the code, monitoring exactly what FFV was working on, or a drafting a migration policy for the aforementioned Extreme Accessibility Makeover of the web site. Oh, and for the sake of brevity, allow me to say now that FFV has constructed nothing but a flat copy of the web site, a fact apparently lost on ITE PC.

So, yesterday morning, I see an email in my inbox from FFV to ITE PC (on which I've been graciously cc'd), announcing that they're going to move the their new code to the web server and TOTALLY replace the old code. ITE PC's response is an emphatic "Go for it!"

I'll take a dramatic sip of coffee while I let that sink in. It'll allow all you developers out there who know the ramifications take time to pick your jaws up from the floor.

So...we're going to take these considerably more accessible but otherwise flat as a cyberpancake pages and replace our old, inaccessible but extremely well-wired to Application X pages outright. (Mission critical Application X, I remind you).

On the live site.

No QA in a test environment.

No consulting the Other Faceless Foreign Vendor who built Application X.

Nothing. Just replace the code, page for page.

While there was an incredible temptation in me to just sit idly by and let all this go down, I must admit that I felt horrible at the prospect of the innocent web user coming to our site and not being able to purchase their desired widgets and doodads because some bonehead ITE PC didn't have the foresite to keep every ounce of MISSION FREAKIN' CRITICAL APPLICATION X from being stripped from our web pages!

Besides, they'd have just found a way to blame it on me anyway. As it stands, this incredible lack of planning on the ITE PC's behalf is sure to be saddled on me regardless. After all, since my only involvement in the project was to QA the work of FFV to assure it meets rigorous Ivory Towers Inc best practices, clearly that meant I was to have been closely monitoring the progress of FFVs product, coordinating their interaction with OFFV (the creators of Mission Critical Application X (tm)), and implementing a testing/migration plan as well.

UPDATE: While I rarely have a moment of sympathy for PHB, I must admit that yesterday morning I had just that. In a conference call between PHB, ITE PC, FFV's PHB, and other Ivory Tower Inc. luminaries, ITE PC was heard to exclaim loudly, unprofessionally, and most embarrassingly something along the lines of "Who was in charge in tech department of Ivory Tower Inc. that such a thing could happen?", the "such a thing" being the debaucle chronicled above. Unfortunately PHB did not answer "Well for this project, YOU WERE!"

PHB Does it again

2005-04-01T05:08:00.000-08:00

PHB is pissed.

We have two systems: A and B. One system is hosted in India; the other system is in our building. There is discussion about integrating system A with system B.

I contended that you need a common field to link two persons definitively, and even proposed an automated way to do this.

Before I could even complete a sentence, PHB responded by insisting on a manual entry process. After about three cutoffs, PHB stormed out.

As a 15-year veteran of programming, I don't appreciate such dismissive postures.

If I were a fresh, green 18-year-old out of high school, that might be one thing. (Even then, I'd not recommend such treatment of someone undeserving of such.)

In my days as a programmer, I've never had anyone treat me like a fornicating two-year-old.

Welcome to Ivory Tower Inc.

2005-03-31T20:36:00.000-08:00

Ivory Tower Inc. is an organization buried deep in the bowels of a state government that has something somewhat to do with education. There are all kinds of bizarre things that go on here at Ivory Tower Inc. Nothing illegal that I'm aware of but there must be something in the water that leads some people to make some very interesting decisions.

Let's get some definitions outta the way:

Ivory Tower Inc: umm...read the first paragraph.
ITE: Ivory Tower Elitist, those who THINK they know something when in fact that know very little.
PHB: shamelessly stolen from Dilbert. Pointy Haired Boss. Could be anyone in authority here at Ivory Tower Inc but usually is just one person in particular.
KR: Poor defeated web developer. REALLY knows his stuff but unfortunately can't SHOW it because his PHB is a ...well...you'll see.
Deepthroat: This is a programmer who is in a similiar position of KR.
Dances with Logic: Former Chief Executive for another organization now working here at Ivory Tower Inc.

Other characters may come into play as we move along. Until then...enjoy.

What is wrong with this picture?

2005-03-31T04:51:00.000-08:00

Okay…so you have an organization with plenty of talented people that perform a certain function. Let’s say that function is Widget building. The PHB of this organization is in desperately over his head. He can’t manage his people because he has no idea what Widget building is about. When he realizes he doesn’t understand the Widget building business he decides to micromanage the whole process. When that fails….he hands over the whole thing to contractors relegating his talented staff to nothing more than spectators. sigh…such is life at Ivory Tower Inc.

Overpaid Projector Operator

2005-03-21T04:53:00.000-08:00

Apparently that’s me. Big meeting today here at Ivory Tower Inc. Lots of powerpointin’ going on. When my staff setup the various projectors we set it all up, test it, and leave the correct “powerpoint” displaying and depending on the agenda we may just turn off the projector. When the time comes for the pontificatin’ and presentin’ all the ITE has to do is PUSH THE FRIGGIN BUTTON. That’s it. Phone call…

Me: Hello?
ITE: Hey, can you come and turn the projector on?
Me: You can’t be serious…
ITE: Well…we don’t want to screw it up…please?

Geesh…I guess it’s okay for ME to screw it up. Guess I should be flattered that they think so highly of me that they want ME to push the button. Never mind the fact that I’m writing several new policies, finishing up the latest incident reports, and reviewing firewall logs.

Things that really bug me...

2005-03-04T04:55:00.000-08:00

Okay…so I’m late in posting this but it’s been weighing on my mind for a while.

I have this friend (KR) who works at a certain place. My friend’s boss (PHB) is a very intelligent person with a PhD in a certian discipline that has nothing to do with what this person does to oversee my friend’s job performance. Recently the PHB sat KR down and told KR that KR shouldn’t write things about the workplace on KR’s blog…actually threatened KR’s employment in that thickly veiled way that PHB learned at PHB’s previous employer. Now, the entry in question was hardly derogatory to the workplace and KR later actually made light of it after receiving a promotion! Still PHB saw fit to make a fuss. Why? Could it be that KR tries to do the RIGHT thing in an environment where the RIGHT thing is rarely done? Could it be that KR knows the business for which KR was hired and PHB has no copulating idea? Could it be that PHB already feels threatened because the rest of the staff fully understands that PHB has reached the peak of PHB’s abilities and is now on the downward spiral? Or…could it simply be that PHB is a micromanaging twit who doesn’t know excrement from shinola and when KR says, “No wait! THAT’s the Shinola!” PHB get’s all worked up and lashes out as best PHB can.

Well, PHB, I think I know what the deal is and it’s been played out now for a couple weeks. I actually feel sorry for you because you are in way over your head and much…very much…is on the line. But…fear not…retirement is around the corner and perhaps those higher than you will find someone to actually DO your job rather than just meeting and talking about it.

Gee...it must be monday...

2005-01-24T04:45:00.000-08:00

Ya know...this is just not how you want to start the day... It would be one thing if we had a bunch of extra machines laying around and people to tend to this stuff.

Ask on a friggin SATURDAY for a new machine by MONDAY? What kind of bullcrap is this???

an email from one of our project leads...

Please create a {vanity-domain.org} email address for {new user} that associates him with Ivory Tower Inc.

{user} will begin work with us on Monday as project manager of the {cryptic name} initiative and will need a workstation in the {super-secret} office area. PHB1 is working with PHB2 on determining which office he will occupy. {user}'s workstation will need the minimum computer requirements and plugins necessary for accessing the {project software}, including the new foreign languages package, {package name} -- as well as the {super-super-secret} environment (including the {even more super secret} tool). {user} can tell you more precisely what these requirements are.

Don’t TELL me “We’re all busy”! - Updated

2005-01-20T04:47:00.000-08:00

’ve just had it. Completely and totally had it. We bust our butts trying to keep this place together and have some how managed in spite of the 47.5:1 support ratio. BUT…understand…those 47.5 users are not competent users by any stretch. There are some that are reasonably computer literate but the VAST majority sincerely believe that including OUTLOOK on a resume is a qualification to be proud of.

We’ve been tasked with a major hardware migration in preparation for an AD implementation. I have 14 servers to shuffle around….7 of those 14 are web application servers. There’s one person on staff to do this work….did I mention there are TWO of us? Oh…and we must maintain the same level of support as always. A user’s workstation rolls over…again…and we’re supposed to drop everything and jump on that to get them back up and running. Oh…the High Potentate wants VPN access from her home, “I’m running Windows 98 at home so you shouldn’t have a problem.” sigh.

If anyone out there wants a Network AdminPen TesterIncident Handler drop me a note. I can start immediately….ok I won’t do that but I’m beginning to wonder about the level of support we really have around here.

UPDATE: about 20 minutes after writing this I found an IM waiting for me. I have a friend with an insider at a federal contractor for a local military base!