Time for Murphy's law...

My boss and her hubby flew down to Florida, this past weekend, for the Daytona races. They're gone for two weeks, which leaves me in charge for the duration.
She says she's so happy to be able to leave and not worry about things while she's gone, knowing I'll do a "wonderful" job.
She's relaxing, and I'm a basket case...waiting for Murphy's law to kick in!
Seems whenever she leaves something MAJOR happens!!

Let's see...what'll it be this time I wonder? Perhaps the buildings will catch fire....or all the servers will crash - all at once!

Or maybe it'll just be that Murphy will sit back and watch me become a bundle of nerves and nothing will happen.

The first time my boss left me alone was the week the "I love you" virus hit. We had all the anti-virus definition files updated, of course, this virus was new and not in the updates when we were hit. Anyway, I had lots of fun...

aye, if one of us in IT leaves, somthing major always happends, Unix machine fails, printer server fails, power outage, servers down, virus's, etc... etc..

the comptuers know you are not there....

first time my boss left for a week, the csu/dsu died for our wan line, the tech that came to replace it had no clue, we were without internet and external email for a week, as soon as they got it fixed, we got nailed with the welchia virus.

I know what you mean. Every time she leaves, something happens. Last time it was a power outtage that took out a ton of businesses by the airport.
The time before that was hubs crashing all over the place, leaving users unable to work.

I can't even attrib it to a specific time of year. It happens whenever she leaves.... winter, spring, summer, fall!

Darn good thing we just had our yearly review....time for more money!

OMG I just realized it happened to me today.

My boss called me this morning and said she's staying out sick.

5 minutes later we had a power surge and sag. Just enough to make the UPS's go wild, and knock down all the workstations, and fry a few PSU's...

Then just after that she called back to see how everything is going... I bet she knew. I bet SHE hit the switch...

Same thing here. All leave for lunch and I make a sandwich and the network crashes mid bite.

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Originally Posted by Sunshine

My boss and her hubby flew down to Florida, this past weekend, for the Daytona races. They're gone for two weeks, which leaves me in charge for the duration.
She says she's so happy to be able to leave and not worry about things while she's gone, knowing I'll do a "wonderful" job.
She's relaxing, and I'm a basket case...waiting for Murphy's law to kick in!
Seems whenever she leaves something MAJOR happens!!

Let's see...what'll it be this time I wonder? Perhaps the buildings will catch fire....or all the servers will crash - all at once!

Or maybe it'll just be that Murphy will sit back and watch me become a bundle of nerves and nothing will happen.

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My boss is gone too, he has about 6 weeks left before he comes back. Went through the same thing last year. I have some days where I feel like I'm a chicken with my head cut off. At least, I'm able to contact him via email and phone if something comes up and I'm not sure how to deal with. Hang in there.. :thumbs2:

Sunshine, I know what you are doing with this thread, you are showing your presence in the lounge, without actually entering into debate over the Gay Marriage thread. So it doesn’t appear as though you are lurking, merely avoiding noticeably…almost purposefully.

Admirable, but your cause could use some fresh argument, what do ya say!?! Come on in and liven things up a little bit.

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Originally Posted by Sunshine

...Let's see...what'll it be this time I wonder? Perhaps the buildings will catch fire....or all the servers will crash - all at once!

Or maybe it'll just be that Murphy will sit back and watch me become a bundle of nerves and nothing will happen.

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I know what you mean...

My first position as network admin was in a hospital and when my immediate superior left for a 2-week vacation I started getting edgy.

Wouldn't you know it that on the first day of his vacation that something goes oh-so-terribly wrong with the backup software (ARCServe) and that all user and department files in the entire hospital get wiped off the Novell server.

I thought I was going to crap my pants when I walked into the office that day.

Luckily enough, I managed to pull the team together to start manual file retores for critical departments and initiated a backup restore for the rest, so that 8 hours later we had just about everything recovered.

I couldn't help thinking afterwards though, whether or not it could have been my nervous condition which could have influenced me to make a faux pas somewhere.

Whatever happens though, keep cool and take the time to think things through if anything major occurs.

The second thing I did after getting the file restoration process under way was go see my boss' boss to let her know exactly what had happened and what was being done to correct it.

Believe it or not, doing that actually gave me a reputation of being able to think on my feet in emergency situations.

It's actually a very good sign that they're trusting you with this. https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2006/04/1.gif

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Originally Posted by a d e p t

It's actually a very good sign that they're trusting you with this. https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2006/04/1.gif

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Exactly, think positive. Anything that goes wrong while you're in charge will be experience and hold you in good stead for the future.

Exact opposite for me, I only see my boss 2-4 days a year, if that much, so I am more nervous when the boss comes in. Sure enough, first time we got slammed with a virus.

Ya_know:
I posted in the Gay Marriage thread, it was simply ignored. I find that the best arguments are ignored whenever possible, especially when the arguments come from someone who has something to gain or lose when all is said and done. Seeing as I'm the only one, admittedly, with anything to lose, or at the very least “not gain”, mine should be the last post to be ignored. But the majority will do what they want, won’t they? :redeyes:

As for what this post is all about:
Day one rolled by with no mishaps. Let’s see how the rest of the 2 weeks go. (my fingers are crossed)

My boss, just before she left, said that she’s so happy that I’m here, because she can go on holidays without worrying what’s going on here. I guess the guy who had this position before me wasn’t the most reliable.
She even wants me to take a course in C programming when she comes back. Nervous….yes. Looking forward to the chance to learn it….yes.

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Originally Posted by Sunshine

Ya_know:
I posted in the Gay Marriage thread, it was simply ignored. I find that the best arguments are ignored whenever possible, especially when the arguments come from someone who has something to gain or lose when all is said and done. Seeing as I'm the only one, admittedly, with anything to lose, or at the very least “not gain”, mine should be the last post to be ignored. But the majority will do what they want, won’t they? :redeyes:

As for what this post is all about:
Day one rolled by with no mishaps. Let’s see how the rest of the 2 weeks go. (my fingers are crossed)

My boss, just before she left, said that she’s so happy that I’m here, because she can go on holidays without worrying what’s going on here. I guess the guy who had this position before me wasn’t the most reliable.
She even wants me to take a course in C programming when she comes back. Nervous….yes. Looking forward to the chance to learn it….yes.

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Cool..Even though I am part time, I still can go to classes and they are paid for by my employer. Plus, don't have to drive to the classes since they are "on post". :thumbs2: . Anyway, like I said..you'll be fine.

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Originally Posted by Sunshine

Ya_know:
I posted in the Gay Marriage thread, it was simply ignored. I find that the best arguments are ignored whenever possible, especially when the arguments come from someone who has something to gain or lose when all is said and done. Seeing as I'm the only one, admittedly, with anything to lose, or at the very least “not gain”, mine should be the last post to be ignored. But the majority will do what they want, won’t they? :redeyes:

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I must have 30 posts in that thread by now. If I stopped posting every time I thought I was being ignored, well…it would be pretty boring in there. Why don’t you come down from your high horse and get back in the mud with us. I really think the discussion could use your perspective…really!

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Originally Posted by Sunshine

...She even wants me to take a course in C programming when she comes back. Nervous….yes. Looking forward to the chance to learn it….yes.

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Sysadmin taking programming classes?

Unless you personally intend on going that route professionally, I'd recommend you don't. Wearing many hats today is a fact of life in IT, but adding programming to your chores - huh - tasks (http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif) runs the risk of lowering your attention and involvement in your current projects.

Of course, that all depends what they need you to do and what you're aiming for professionally. Programming looks good on a résumé, but bears little weight to system administration tasks. If it was Java... :D

I'm looking forward to SMS 2003, WLAN and misc. security classes, even going as far as SQL, but programming won't make my short list any time soon, even though it was my strongest field back in school.

The only reason I can think of taking a programming class is to take over working on some MASSIVE macros we use. Right now we use someone else, although he's employed by our company too, but in a different department. I would think she wants to keep our macros in our area. Plus, there are some ancient macros that she may want revamped.

A counterpart of mine, in the US, has suggested taking Exchange 2000 or 2003 courses, and a look at AD classes. Everything I know now is self taught/hands on experience, but I don't know how good these classes would do me as the US has strict policies in place that only they control. I'm at a loss what to suggest to my boss.

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Originally Posted by Sunshine

The only reason I can think of taking a programming class is to take over working on some MASSIVE macros we use. Right now we use someone else, although he's employed by our company too, but in a different department. I would think she wants to keep our macros in our area. Plus, there are some ancient macros that she may want revamped.

A counterpart of mine, in the US, has suggested taking Exchange 2000 or 2003 courses, and a look at AD classes. Everything I know now is self taught/hands on experience, but I don't know how good these classes would do me as the US has strict policies in place that only they control. I'm at a loss what to suggest to my boss.

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AD classes would probably be a good thing to have first, as Exchange ties into that.

Anything from Microsoft in that field is golden: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/training/

You can even track down classes in your area from there.


Those macros you mention, they're not your average Office macros, are they?

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Originally Posted by a d e p t

I'm looking forward to SMS 2003, WLAN and misc. security classes, even going as far as SQL, but programming won't make my short list any time soon, even though it was my strongest field back in school.

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I'm taking SMS2003 in April!!! :thumbs: I took the sms 2.0 classes, but hey, I figure it can't hurt...and its a way out of work for a week..... :thumbs: :thumbs:

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Originally Posted by a d e p t

Those macros you mention, they're not your average Office macros, are they?

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Nope. They do automatic file conversions, e-mails, reports, copying, deleting, etc. Everything except make the coffee for break time. (and this is just one of the massive macros - there are others)

I'll mention AD classes to my boss when she returns. I'll see if I can get in a couple of courses...one in programming, and one in AD. I'll look at Exchange a little later...maybe next year.

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Originally Posted by Coaster Creator

I'm taking SMS2003 in April!!! :thumbs: I took the sms 2.0 classes, but hey, I figure it can't hurt...and its a way out of work for a week..... :thumbs: :thumbs:

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I received the SMS 2003 Admin Companion book last week (just came out - the only SMS 2003 book out there right now) and I can tell you right now that there are enough improvements and changes to justify attending those classes again. https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gif

I also took the 2.0 classes 2-3 years ago, and I'm at the top of the list when the 2003 version courses open up mid-March / April. https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2006/04/1.gif


Sunshine: I think you'll like getting that AD training. It will probably just confirm your acquired experience, but it's always nice to have when the strangeness starts.

Thanks for the advice....it's very much appreciated!

Boss gone for a week? Hallelujah! Now I can get some work done.

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Originally Posted by Sunshine

Thanks for the advice....it's very much appreciated!

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I figured that, since the IT field is in the state it's in, anyone is better off planning training while keeping in mind the distinct possibility that a career in systems administration doesn't necessarily imply working for the same company during that whole time. https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gif

My current sysadmin position followed a short stint as freelance consultant. Before that I was client support coordinator / network analyst, after having been "hunted" away from a position as netadmin, my first "real" IT job.

All this within the last 4 years...

One of the things that really helped was that I was able to choose training according to needs I could see were either current or had the best chance of making me more... "marketable".

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Originally Posted by a d e p t

I received the SMS 2003 Admin Companion book last week (just came out - the only SMS 2003 book out there right now) and I can tell you right now that there are enough improvements and changes to justify attending those classes again. https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gif

I also took the 2.0 classes 2-3 years ago, and I'm at the top of the list when the 2003 version courses open up mid-March / April. https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2006/04/1.gif


Sunshine: I think you'll like getting that AD training. It will probably just confirm your acquired experience, but it's always nice to have when the strangeness starts.

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Yep, I got that book on order...s/b here any day now!!!

All I know is SMS is soley my baby here.....no one else has clue one...so I can dazzle em with my brialliance...**cough...cough**....:D :D

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Originally Posted by Coaster Creator

All I know is SMS is soley my baby here.....no one else has clue one...so I can dazzle em with my brialliance...**cough...cough**....:D :D

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Failing that, you can always baffle them with bull$h!t. :devil: