[PLUG] Job ad

[Barry Roomberg <broom@voicenet.com>]

Hi.  Since I've seen a couple of 
job ads on this list without being flamed,
I don't THINK I'm breaking protocol, but
feel free to redirect me.

I'm a part time consultant to a small 
(40 employee) professional training
company in Broomall.  I do database 
work, SQL and Perl, etc.  They are 
looking for a system administrator 
/ production person.  

Note:  This is NOT the position I mentioned
at the last meeting, that was for a senior
Unix sysadmin in a database warehousing
environment.

The environment is mixed NT and Linux 
server (2 NT, 3 Linux boxen).  The NT
servers are used for a 3rd party database
app that does not run on Linux, so they
will be sticking around for a while.
All other funtionality (firewall, file 
service, print service, email, new database
work, etc) is on (or is moving to) Linux.

The printers are scattered abount, mostly
shared off of NT workstations (should be moved
to print server boxes, Jet Direct, etc).

The network has 1 switch and 3 hubs, all new,
managed.  The environment is new construction,
with multiple CAT 5+ runs almost everywhere.
The computer room has multiple dedicated power
lines.  The internet connection will be 
DSL (ordered), is currently dialup.  The DSL
will have multiple dedicated IPs for servers,
and the user population has masked 192s.  There will
be a Linux PC configured as a router/firewall.

The backups are run via SCSI 66 GB Ecrix drives.
There is one on an NT server, and one on a Linux
box.  

There are about 15 clerical type users,  3
execs, and 8 "power".  The systems are of
all types and in all stages of decreptitude.
The owner (1 person, 1 boss) is aware of the 
need for a replacement strategy.

The core app that everyone uses is written
in an old Pick on DOS database called Arev,
which is run in a DOS box under Windows.  All
systems must be configured with this in mind.
This app actually runs fine via DOS-Emu, but
does not communicate correctly with the
server based lock manager, at least during
my play with it.  You may find different,
which means you can migrate a large chunk of the
user community to Linux.

You have 1 assistant who is new to the company,
who is semi-technical, but must be treated as
a set of hands for now.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

*) Document current server layout to understand
the latticework of network dependancies.

*) Continue swapping tapes and monitoring backups.
Once a week restore the database backup to a 
different server to allow tests to make sure the 
backups worked.

*) Admin servers (user adds, rights, etc)

*) Rebuild PCs if you deem savable, more likely
buy a bunch as swap stock.

*) Support MS Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc.

*) Research, purchase, and install network print 
boxes driven from Linux queues, which in turn are
shared to user popluation via Samba.  This will
remove the NT workstation print queue support 
nightmare.

*) Troubleshoot network issues.  Experience
with some network analyzer program would be nice.
Ability to read tcpdump even better.  Ethereal
experiance is fine.

*) Supervise assistant who does various production
tasks, (export data, move from point A to point B, 
import into SQL-Server, etc).  

*) Maintain current production printers (clean,
ribbon replace, etc).  

*) Run large label print jobs.  The printer might 
chug for 4 hours per day, 6 days per month.

*) Read tapes via 9 track on a DOS PC, reboot 
into Windows and copy the files to the network
for me to pickup (approx 4 times a month).

*) Admin licenses. PAPERWORK!  Must be able
to be organized and not lose critical pieces
of paper.

*) Ability to tactfully explain to people that their
inability to get just the right font on their MS-Word
document does not take precedence over fixing the 
shared printer.  Nicely helping them after the
printer is fixed.

*) While in theory you would report to the Controller,
they will be looking to me for direction, and I in turn
will be directing you.  This means in the beginning
every decision you make will be second guessed.  
They will call me when there are problems, and it is
my job to make them happy, while trying to insure
you don't quit.  It's a juggling act.  Keep this in 
mind.


Things I will be doing but you will need to understand
and administer in the future, and possibly do instead
of me:

*) Plan a server replacement / consolidation strategy.
The 3 Linux boxes really should be one real server.
1 NT box is a horrible Frankenstein, the other a nice
new Dell server with real RAID.

*) Setup Linux based firewall for DSL line.

*) Deal with ISP DNS issues to point MX records 
to us.

*) Setup Sendmail or Qmail based email services.
Currently Sendmail is used for outgoing only,
since we are dial-up.

*) Setup POP and/or IMAP based email services.  
Currently the users use POP3 on Linux server which
polls accounts via Fetchmail.

*) Add Linux users as needed.

*) Deal with Samba issues.

*) Monitor the DSL line, deal with the ISP when there
are problems.


Salary is negotiable, depending on experience.  Tell me 
what you want, I tell the owner if you are worth it.


Any takers?

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