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Do we need an Administrator?

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7 replies

by mezdor

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I work for a small Manufacturing co. About 40 employees. We have 12 systems on the network and 1 server. (DC) Do we need an Administrator? If so how many hours would it take to maintain these systems per week?
Sys are as follows
sys1= Accounting
sys2= Receptionist
sys3= Barcode sys(stand alone to admin barcode sys
sys4= Purchasing/quotes
sys5= Data input sys
sys6= NC programming/Punch press
sys7= Quality Control
sys8= CNC interface sys
sys9= Shipping
sys10= CNC programing/Machine shop
sys11= General Manager
we are using win2000 server and all workstations are 2000 pro. Internet is provided by a DSL router. WOuld like to add FTP and a more organized E-mail sys. to talk with venders and Customers. Its a small Machine/sheet metal shop.
The owner is pretty much "old school" as he does not like to invest alot of money and time to Tech.
Its taken me more then a year to upgradee to a server and win2000. Before it was P100s and 486 computers. Any information on this would help. I need more facts to upgrade any farther.
thanks

7 replies

by able-admin

You just described my workplace and employer to the "tee", event down to most of the systems.

I've been on as network\systems admin for about 3 years now. I'm also the webmaster for our internet presence so that tends to fill up about a third ofmy daily routine. Most days Its a game of "hurry up and wait". If things are working correctly I'm usually writing/refining scripts, maintaining backups, trying to keep up with the MS plethora of hotfixes, tweaking the network in general and dont even get me started on how much work goes into keeping these pc's clean, especially the ones in the shop. Other days it can be a complete madhouse. If the cnc controller goes down for the plasma table or the accounting dept. decides to delete theirquickbooks dir, then I'm bouncing off the walls. I dont know if this information helps any but feel free to ask me to elaborate on anything.

btw. what barcode setup are you using?

by mezdor

Thanks for the input. I run the machine shop as well as try to maintain the network. We are located in a remote location, (Small town aprox. 2500 people) Tring to keep both depts up and stable is a hard enough job as it is. Then I have the added stress of tring to teach these people how to use this technology and that it is a good thing. Most people do not like change.

by tbragsda

Although your setup differes from a office enviroment, the number of workstations is low, and I don't see enough server side work for a full time person. Consultants everywhere look for installs like yours. Find one you like, and stick with him/her.

How much work would you be giveing to the consultant. Thats going to be difficult. How many "trouble" calls/week/month do you estimate you have now? I would guess that most of these could be answered over the phone, and others could be batched for when your consultant comes in.

If it were my shop, I would look for someone with weekley time, and phone & remote support.

Where are you located. Bet $/donuts you could find someone on this site in < 1 hr.

by ghstinshll

Although I'm not in a position to offer any services to another company, I do have this wonderful experience with machining shops as a former consultant. Thankfully I have a more stable position now...

Don't hire an admin

Make sure someone inyour office is trained and more than comfortable with the desktops and how THEY run, this will provide you with desktop support for free.

Look into a burner and "ghost" images for all computers for this person

Look for a trustworthy consultantfor less than $85 an hr (if ur in the midwest).

Hire them for an on-call basis to support the servers and bring them back up.

Schedule them for brief stops if you're not giving them much business, so that they stay familiar with your systems. They SHOULD be updating things as MS puts out security patches, etc...

Keep your people's hands OFF those servers. You get into liability and instability because of it.

I hope this helps, as they're great guidelines for a shop. I'm sure I have more info, but have reached a stopping point for what's on the top of my head.

by lordinfidel

Again look for a consultant. Use the word of mouth system. Ask others who they use.

As an admin who "whores" himself out to a small external client base.

For those clients that I administer their network, I have them on a contract where I come in once an month and check out their server. Make sure that their backups are ok and such.

I give them x amount of hours of tel support. Then if I come in any other time it is a per hour charge, but cheaper then what it would be if I was not on a contract. But I always recieve a retainer fee. Regardless of whether or not I fixed anything.

But make sure that whoever you hire is not someones kid trying to work on systems. You are connected to the net and need someone with the skills to protect you from it.

by jroundy_99

The company I work at has 25 workstations, a Windows 2000 Server, a "Mail Server" running Windows 2K proffessional. We do not have anyone as a sys admin full time. I am sure you could learn and perform the needed functions. A few things to consider.

1. Make sure you have a good backup system. i.e. offsite rotation. This means you take a tape home every night.

2. For handling mail their is a great program called VPOP3 that we use to dole out email within the company. We are only using one POP account, but it makes virtual mailboxes. (Very nice)

by rrgilmore_2001

It sounds like you need some upgrades to start. Get rid of all your junk, in this I mean 486 to p1s. Find your self a consultant one who you can trust. Sevice calls cost and don't think they will not. bare minimun of 2-3 hrs. FTP site along with e-mail exchange with ouotlook ok your going to need a proxie server and exchange server they can be on in the same. I can go on but I am not getting paid hahaha. Yes I work for myself as a consultant. Here is the bottom line I can tell what you should do BUT WITHOUT EVAULATING THE SITUATION, it is pointless. Some one needs to come in and anyalize you pc's and you need to sit down with him/here to find out what you need not what you think you neeeed!. Here it is what's your rate of growth going to be for the next 3-5 years. what is the need for security do you have customes bank acc. # and credit card #s you know sinitive in nature. what is you current infrastructure.
sure we can give you advice but I will not without KNOWING because WITH OUT KNOWING you are ASSUMING and we all know what that is. I do not like to make an ASS out of myself.
Do your-self a favor bring someone in to set you up right, then buy your-self some administation books on exchange aND WINDOWS 2K. Do the admin work and call the pros for the big stuff.

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