Real hardware tools
I carry a limited set of real tools including two Phillips screwdrivers, two flathead screwdrivers, a “Compaq” (Torx) screwdriver that has a star pattern on the end to open older Compaq servers, a chip extractor and static energy discharger wristband. This is the type of kit that may be purchased from national resellers such as PCZone (www.pczon.com, 1-800-258-2088) or Data Comm Warehouse (www.warehouse.com, 1-800-328-2261) for under $50. It’s safe to say that this type of toolkit is a necessary and required fixture for any MCSE. I mean, any MCSE has to be at least able to connect a cable or open a workstation! If you’re gonna earn the lofty salaries paid to MCSEs, you gotta at least have the basics down.
Because the leather pouch that contains my “real” toolkit has extra room, I carry other invaluable items. These are a “modern” network adapter such as the 3COM 3C9xx series with drivers and an “old fashioned” true NE2000 network adapter. The modern network adapter allows me to fix a common point of failure on a workstation or server: layer one of the OSI model (better known as the network adapter). Hey, anyone with the MCSE title should be able to at least replace this component. The NE2000 network adapter shows my age. In the old days when knights were bold and kings owned all the gold, the NE2000 network adapter was fashionable. Today, I carry my remaining NE2000 because it always works. There are some late nights at clients’ sites when I’ve had it up to my neck with PNP and I’m saved by my good old ISA-based NE2000 card! It’s a trick worth remembering and adding to your MCSE toolkit.
Oh, two extra items that I added to my toolkit based on my own errors and omissions are a small dental mirror that extends several inches and a pen-sized flashlight. With these tools working in tandem, I can easily see the backside of components and motherboards during surgery. Makes a heck of a difference when you’re trying to insert RAM chips into tight slots.
A CD-ROM library
If you were a physical laborer, you would of course enjoy increasing returns and perform your work better if you went to the gym and lifted weights. That activity might enable you to work longer or faster than your peer. As knowledge workers, you and I need to undertake a different type of workout. That work is to increase both our “active” knowledge base (the information we retain in our heads) and our available knowledge resources. For me, that means carrying a meaningful CD-ROM library that contains, within minutes, most of the knowledge I need as an MCSE to complete my work. So here’s what I’m carrying in my soft-sided CD-ROM carrier. These selections represent CDs that I frequently need to access and that are current. It is important to make regular additions and subtractions to your CD-ROM library so that it remains germane. Truth be told, not too long ago I had the opportunity to purge my CD-ROM library of “oldies but goodies” such as the complete CPM operating system reference.
- Microsoft TechNet (the full edition of six CDs including the Technical Information Network, Client Utilities, Microsoft BackOffice Products Evaluation, Service Packs, Server Utilities, Supplemental Drivers, and Patches). It goes without saying how valuable this collection of CDs is each and every day. Using the term “near” when performing Boolean-type searches in TechNet typically works best. “Near” finds matches within 15 words; it’s kind of a fuzzy logic search that works well for us humanoids.
- Compaq Systems Reference Library version 2.x. This resource is, of course, invaluable when you are working with Compaq servers and workstations.
- HP JetAdmin Software for JetDirect Print Servers. You would be surprised how often you need to implement a new JetDirect card and don’t have the correct software. Note the CD version I carry has the drivers for every network known to mankind (from AppleTalk to UNIX).
- Business Resources Kit and Sales Training Interactive CD. These CDs were provided by Microsoft as part of our firm’s participation in the Microsoft Certified Solution Provider program. Although these CDs are used to fortify my sales efforts, remember that we MCP consultants must hunt before we can eat.
- Windows NT Server 4.0 Secrets CD-ROM. This is included at the back of this book. Packed with meaningful utilities, this CD-ROM isn’t just a marketing ploy to ship a compact disc. Far from it. To create this CD-ROM, I sought and received the contributions of Windows NT Server professionals from the enterprise level down to the workgroup level.
- Windows Support Source CD. This is a CD-ROM subscription service from Cobb, the renowned newsletter publisher, that has an archive of articles that will interest the practicing MCSE.
- Internet service provider (ISP) CD. I carry the CD that my ISP issues containing ISP-specific signup information, drivers, and FAQs. This CD is extremely helpful in the field as I implement Internet service on behalf of my clients.
- Microsoft Evaluation & Migration Planning Kit CD (Part #098-63878). This CD contains blank templates for creating your BackOffice migration proposal, project schedule, budget, and the like. It saves a lot of time during the “management” of your project.
- Novell Support Connection CD (monthly). The rumors aren’t true. Big Red isn’t dead.
- Microsoft BackOffice CDs #1 : #4. How many times are you asked to insert a specific CD to complete the installation of a driver. How many times do you need the BackOffice CD library to install SQL Server Books Online after the fact? How many times have you tried to install client management tools for SMS and found that you didn’t have your BackOffice CD library handy?
- Windows NT Workstation, Windows 95, and Windows 98. Here again, how many times have you been asked to insert a CD so that a driver will finishing installing. Don’t forget that you need to carry at least two versions of these CDs: the original retail version and the upgrade version. Windows 95/98 has a nasty way of knowing whether an operating system was previously installed on the machine; thus it’ll ask for one “type” of CD instead of the other.
- Microsoft Project : BackOffice Deployment Templates CD (Part #098-634461). More project management templates for your BackOffice engagements. I’ve found a few extra minutes with this CD saves hours of planning time!
- Windows NT Workstation and Server Resource Kit CDs. Yes, you need both CDs. The Server edition contains several more utilities than the Workstation version. These CDs are no substitute for having the hardcopy resource kits, as I shall discuss in a moment.
- Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 (or higher) CD. How many times do you go to a site, including perhaps your own, and discover that the Windows NT machines (servers and workstations) don’t have the latest service packs installed. Just try getting official Microsoft technical support if that’s the unfortunate case.
- Office 97 (or higher) CD. Ever been caught flat footed needing the Microsoft Exchange Server resource driver for Outlook 97? I’ll bet you discovered that it wasn’t on your operating system CD. One of the places it’s magically kept is on the Office 97 CD. Just try setting up an Exchange-based mailbox, not personal folders, without this resource (bet you carry this CD after that experience).
- Network Professional Association Technical Resource CD. This “goodie” contains cross-platform utilities, product demos, and an article archive. I’ve found this CD to be of value when I’m working in heterogeneous networking environments (like every day). Check out the NPA at www.npa.org.
- McAffee VirusScan CD-ROM for Windows 95, 98, NT. Be careful to honor the licensing agreement (installed on only one machine at a time), but I typically install, run, and deinstall the virus detection program contained on this CD prior to performing surgery on a machine. The reasons are obvious.
More MCSE toolkit items
Finally, my toolkit includes an alphabet soup patchwork of resources I’ve gathered over the years and still make active use of. It is here, that upon close reflection, I think you will find that you too have gathered goods that you use almost unconsciously in your role as a network professional. I like to think of the following as my network tackle box where I have a special lure for every occasion.
- Floppies. Still very much alive, here are a few floppies that I carry in my MCSE toolkit. A good old-fashioned bootable MS-DOS 6.22 disk with EDIT, XCOPY, and a few other invaluables. How many times, for reasons you can’t quite explain, do you need to boot from A:> into a “real” DOS environment to get something done? This need always seems to rear its ugly head on Saturday night at 10 p.m. Wonder why that is? Because applications like INSTALL.EXE program contained on 3COM’s EtherDisk disk (yes, this is another mandatory floppy to carry) still only run under a true MS-DOS environment. And in many cases, this is the only way that you will be able to accurately test your 3COM network adapter for failure, configuration settings, and such. It’s also not a bad idea to make and carry a copy of the emergency repair disk (ERD) for your favorite Windows NT servers. You never know when you’ll need those.
- Resource kits and other well-tattered books. Nothing like having a resource kit or two, along with your favorite books, spread in front of you when your performing server surgery.
- PC Zone catalog, Data Comm Warehouse catalog, and so on. Like you, I receive the monthly catalog mailings from the national hardware/ these catalogs are invaluable when discussing technology solutions with clients (when you literally need to draw a few prices out of thin air).
- Computer User monthly newspaper. In Seattle, the January issue of the Puget Sound Computer User lists a potpourri of local reseller, consulting, labor, and publishing resources for the technology community to patronize (the “Business Directory” issue). This type of publication, by KFH Publications, Inc., is available in many other North American areas including Colorado (Rocky Mountain Computer User). The January issue allows me to refer my clients to competent professionals in technical areas that I don’t serve (such as UNIX).
- Dictaphone, handheld tape recorder to record observations. Nothing like creating a journal of the steps undertaken to troubleshoot a problem or build a server. An invaluable addition to carry.
- Laptop computer with ability to call to the Internet and download drivers, search the knowledge base at www.microsoft.com. If you live in Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, or Washington DC, you can use the Ricochet modem (www.ricochet.net) to establish a high-speed connection to the Internet without tying up a fax or voice line.
- An external modem with modem cable (serial 9 to 25 pinout). Sometimes the client’s modem just won’t work correctly and work needs to get done. Because of my experience with SBS, I now carry an external US Robotics 33.6 Sportster modem. It’s for “just in case” and it always works!
- A really long telephone line and an analog telephone. The really long telephone line is for reaching the telco wall jack that is always across the room. The analog telephone is to plug into that wall jack to thoroughly test the telephone service.
- Telephone numbers of peers to call for advice. There’s nothing like calling a BackOffice buddy to help you out of a jam.
- A portable file cabinet to maintain “working” client files that contain office layout drawings, field notes, and billable hour charge sheets. A well-organized MCSE is a happy MCSE. Trust me.
- A portable tape deck/radio. When the cat’s away (client or boss), why shouldn’t the mice have just a little “play”?
- Kneepads. No, these aren’t to wear so that you can kneel over and take client or supervisor abuse. I carry them to protect my old skier’s knees when I’m fishing cable around a crowded server room.
- Working suit, pullovers, and tennis shoes. Many MCSEs face today’s formal/casual clothing challenge. One moment you’re selling your MCSE services in a glass tower. The next hour you’re implementing SBS in a dusty warehouse. Better carry a change of clothes and be prepared to change in the water closet.
- Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and granola bars! Funny how an elevated blood sugar level allows you to accomplish amazing feats.
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