School Technology Coordinator Tips

• Watch Warranties
• Hire Out Headaches
• Document Your Network
• "I suspect everyone and I suspect no one." Inspector Clouseau, Pink Panther.
  • Start with the network at large.  Was it not functioning at the time of the incident? If yes, were others in the workgroup having problems?  If no, is it just this user?
• Interview the Victims
  • Has it happened before?  Is this a new activity? Did it work before? What programs were you in when it happened?  Have you installed anything new recently?
• Pull the Ol' Switcheroo
  • Exchange patch cables, NICs, etc.
• Consult with the Crime Lab
  • Consult technical manuals, web sites....
• Rehabilitate the Offender
  • Make sure users close programs before turning off the computer!
  • Don't delete files unless you own it.
  • Watch for viruses
• Set up a Neighborhood Watch
  • Event Logs
• Routine Stuff You Hate To Do
• Backup
• Virus Protection
• File Quota
• Training
• Watch Your Permissions & Privileges
• Routine Desktop Maintenance
• Administrator Passwords

No-Nos

1. Turning off or restarting the server while users are logged on.
2. Deleting Important Files from the Server
3. Sending something to the printer again just because it didn't print the first time.
4. Assuming that the server is backed up.

Network Commandments

• Thou shalt back up religiously
• Thou shalt not drop thy guard against the unholy viri
• Remember thy network disk, to keep it clean of old files
• Thou shalt not tinker with things that thou knowest nothing of
• Thos shalt not covet thy neighbor's network. Don't upgrade unless you have a good reason to do so.
• Thou shalt schedule downtime before working on thy network
• Thos shalt keep an adequate supply of spare parts
• Thou shalt not steal thy neighbor's programs without a license
• Thos shalt train users in the way that they should go
• Thou shalt write down thy network configuration upon tablets of stone

Ten Closet Items

• Extra Cable
• Extra Connectors
• Preassembled Patch Cords
• Twinkies - they will probably outlast the network anyway.
• An Extra Network Card
• Complete Documentation of the Network
• Network Manuals and Disks

Credit: Networking for Dummies, Small Business Networking for Dummies.