Diary of a Network Geek

Not sure this is really a good thing…

I use MoveableType for this blog as well as a Fiction Blog on this site. I also use it on my other site and my wife uses it, too. So, we have a lot invested in this free software. But, I’m willing to pay for it. Especially if they’re adding features. And, there’s the rub. They’ve updated it, okay, and they added a comment registration feature, which is good, but that’s all they did. Well, they made changes to the API to make it easier to write plug-ins, but in the process, they may, or may not, have broken existing plug-ins. Now, that I’m not willing to pay for… On the other hand, what else is there? Nothing else seems to be as robust or extendable. At least, nothing that I’ve found yet. So, I have an e-mail in to them regarding my particular licensing issue, and we’ll see what they say. I may pay for the commercial version, based on the idea that my other site and/or my wife’s site will have commercial content, but we’ll have to wait and see…

Okay, so it’s not so much fun as funny.

Hey, look, the pickin’s are mighty slim on fun things for network geeks, so I’m forced to turn to funny op ed pieces. (Hint: If anyone has suggestions, I’m willing to check the link!) Anyway, this little number from Slate, compares loansharks to those paycheck/payday loan places. Frighteningly enough, the author makes a fairly good case for legalizing loansharks and outlawing the payday loan places!
Now, trust me, I’m from Chicago so I know from loansharks, okay? But, I’d rather be into them than pay the rates on those payday loans! Anyway, it’s a funny article, though it’s a sad subject.

I’ll try for something better next week, I promise!

Okay, I know that “stenopool” is outdated, but…

Well, it was funny, right? Anyway….
So, guess what the latest trend in IT is? Contract CIO’s. At least, according to this article on Australian IT. Really, with all the mergers and buyouts and “strategic restructurings” that go on, this makes sense. After all, everyone else on an IT staff might be contract and kept for just as long as there’s a need, or until the end of a particular project. So, why not have CIO’s that work the same way? Bring on one kind of CIO to steer a company through a merger, then another kind to grow the infrastructure, and a third to stabilize the whole thing for future growth.
Consider, for a minute, what’s going on at my company. Potentially outsourcing most of what we do, if not all of it. Sounds like a perfect job for someone who’s done all that before, right? But, why keep him around afterward when his, or her, skills are obsolete? Just bring in the next ex-dotcom “guru” who’s already managed an outsourced IT department. Chances are good that he’ll come a little cheaper for a longer-term contract. And, he might even go full-time. Sounds pretty familiar to me. And, it makes just as much sense for a CIO as it does for a Network Geek.

It’ll be interesting to see where this trend goes…

Prospects look good!

The company is Oceaneering International and the job itself looks great. I’d be one of two guys rolling out a world-wide network solution using Novell products. And they’re using pretty much everything: Netware, Groupwise, Zen for Desktops, Zen for Servers, you name it. This is the big-time. The slowest links they have are fractional T1, but that should be enough to use RSync to synchronize data back to the corporate office for backups. Which is the plan. So, unlike the current gig, there’d be no chasing after users at remote sites to change tapes! They also have Linux and are looking to do more with Linux. They also seem to be pretty good about training and certification. I talked with one guy there who was telling me that they reimburse for books.
Also, the benefits look great. They match 100% of the first 6% on 401k contributions. They have a vision plan, which matters to a family of glasses wearing freaks like us. And, if I’m reading the benefits description right, I’d get three weeks vacation after the first year. So, the benefits are pretty damn good.
Perhaps more importantly, the guys that I’ve met so far seem pretty easy to get along with. They’re really easy going and always cutting up, so I think I’d fit in quite well. Oh, and one of them has a full beard, so I asked if I could grow mine back. Yes. Yes, I could rebeard myself. Huzzah!

The only thing now is for them to actually make an offer. And, if they will offer enough for me to live on… In the interview they tried to low-ball me. Frankly, as much as I love the job, I just cannot take another pay cut.
So, I guess the good news is there’s been a law firm sniffing around for a Groupwise admin…. Not my favorite pidgeon-hole, but it’s better than being outsourced! So, we’ll see how it goes.
I’ll post updates!

Hmm, Linux just seems to be in the news…

So, what am I going to do, ignore it? Of course not!
Well, this is a little old, but this article on Australian IT talks about Red Hat releasing a version of Linux meant for the desktop. Hunh? I mean, hasn’t that been around for a long time? Well, I guess not according to Red Hat. Anyway, if they can get the installer to be simple enough for my mother to use, they’ll have something. Until then, though, it’s still a tool for us geeks.
Still, it’ll be interesting to see how this one plays out.

This time, it’s big business.

Apparently, Australia’s biggest four banks are looking at Linux. At least, according to this article on Australian IT, they are!
Wow, what a blow that would be to Micro$oft! Apparently, several of these banks are at least considering what it would take to revamp everything in their system to run off Linux. And, I mean, everything: ATMs, teller stations, back-office systems, you name it. Looks like it’s a great time to be a Linux geek in Australia!

And, it’s good news, too!

I’ve been called back for a second interview!! Yea!
So, obviously, the interview last week went well. And, this could be a really good job. They’re a world-wide organization with offices in some really interesting places, like Singapore, London, Africa, and Equitorial Guinea. And, best of all, they’re building a big network all based on Novell products. Oh, and they’re rolling out a PeopleSoft solution on Linux. Score! So, I would get to use all my favorite skills, learn new things, travel to exotic locales, and the main office is less than 10 minutes from my house, even with bad traffic.
Well, anyway, I found this out yesterday, but I didn’t want to detract from my “fun Friday” posting, so I waited until today to post the update.
I’ll keep you posted!

If it’s still in Beta, it’s still a game.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
Anyway, while poking around on Google, I found a neat little feature on their Google Labs page. It’s called Google Webalerts. Basically, it lets you do a search, but have the results e-mailed to you on a daily basis. Of course, the idea is that it will only show you the new things since you last searched, but I don’t know how well it works yet, but it looks cool!

Hey, it’s Friday, why not give it a try?