Network Problems

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How to tell if your Support Company / guy knows what they are doing.

Most of what's involved in keeping a basic network running isn't rocket science. It is, however, extremely hard work for the supplier to keep up to speed with the constant rate of change in the industry and to determine what is a useful development and what's just the latest marketing fad.

From the end user perspective life is really a lot easier.

Just regard computers as a business tool in the same way as the photocopier or a company car.

Should I use something other than Windows?

If someone says buy Linux because it's free / more reliable etc you need to consider how this helps your company.

For most people it's a short answer.

Will your accounts package run on Linux? Probably not. Will all the Word / Excel integration work? Probably not. If you recruit someone, how long will it take them to get the hang of your non Windows desktop?.

Will you be able to find someone to support your Linux installation with Anorak 3 web server and I've got a beard and interesting trousers Database server version 213.83.10 GTI Hobbit 3 Directors Cut with interesting command line options when your tame anorak decides that Linux has a got a bit boring or alternatively gets fired from his real job supporting Windows and can no longer afford to support your system for free?

Do you actually care how it works as long as it does?

So just put up with Windows, but don't ever buy the latest version of anything. It won't work. Wait for someone else to find the problems.

Why do I get huge bills for making software work?

Because almost all software doesn't work properly.

You have a simple choice.

Either learn how to do it yourself, or pay someone else to do it.

Someone else isn't going to spend hours downloading patches and generally trying to make it work for nothing. They need to eat as well. That's just the way it is. You could try suing Microsoft or Sage etc. but it would probably be more productive and enjoyable to amputate your own limbs with a very old and blunt Swiss Army pen knife. Don't go there. If you can find someone that appears vaguely human and can make your system work most of the time, treasure them, buy them a beer, and just make sure you have lined up a replacement when they drop dead of a heart attack brought on by the stress of maintaining a calm exterior whilst paddling like ***** below.

What should I realistically expect?

Your system should conform to the following standards. If it doesn't your supplier isn't up to the job.

	Your computers should mostly work. By this I mean they shouldn't crash or hang on a daily basis. It's too much too expect for them never to hang or slow down for a few seconds for no apparent reason.
	Major well known applications should work at least 95% of the time.
	If you have a server, it should work for weeks at a time without requiring a reboot or manual intervention
	You should be able to access the internet at all times.
	You should always be able to access shared resources such as folders and printers. If this doesn't happen you have a fundamental problem and nothing else will ever work properly. My dog could do this.
	Your email should just work. You should have a contingency plan.
	Reinstalling Windows almost never works. Reinstalling a Server is your personal key to Dante's Inferno. Abandon all hope ye that enter here.

These are the basics.

What not to do

But don't beat up your supplier if a new application or upgrade doesn't work. They almost never do. If you want to be an early adopter be prepared to suffer. For example every recent new release of Sage Line 50 has had serious issues that have required patches to fix.

You must also play your part. Don't tinker. If you do, at least tell the poor support guy what you have done, no matter how unrelated it might seem. It will save time and money. We recently spent days tracking down a problem caused by putting a DECT phone on top of a PC.

Remember that it is a tool, not a toy. If it works don't screw with it. If you want to play games or download porn fine but don't do it on the office machines. It will go wrong and you will get caught. We will know. Everything. Ask Gary Glitter.

As with anything else in life, don't cut corners. If having a web site available 24 hours a day is important to you then hosting it on the cheapest provider you can find somewhere in another country is really not very smart.

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How to tell if your Support Company / guy knows what they are doing.

Should I use something other than Windows?

Why do I get huge bills for making software work?

Copyright © 2005 - 2009 Steve Blencowe Systems Limited

Last Updated 26/05/2011