[ale] IT department

[George Johnson]

Actually, these guys are working out of their houses for now. There are
3 of them but they have bagged some large accounts like USLec that love
them.  They come into an account and are acting as a go between for
negotiating on maintenance contracts for equipment like SUN, HP, Cisco
and the like.  They provide other services on the side and save the
customer a large amount of $$ in the process.  They do it using the
actual OEM's.  They also repair printers and sell hardware, usually much
cheaper than the likes of SUN or Cisco (their best priced hardware).  So
I am going to need to setup a db along with the rest.

This is going to be interesting and hard work.  I hope I am up to the
challenge.

George Johnson
	
Phone 678-642-7696


-----Original Message-----
From: ale-admin at ale.org [mailto:ale-admin at ale.org] On Behalf Of Irv
To: ale at ale.org
Mullins
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 9:29 AM
To: ale at ale.org
Subject: Re: [ale] IT department

On Wednesday 27 August 2003 06:10 am, Geoffrey wrote:
> George Johnson wrote:
> > To All:
> >
> >      I have run into an opportunity to assist with starting an IT
> > department for a small business in Fla.  These are a couple of
friends
> > of mine that I have known for several years.  My problem is I have
never
> > started an IT department and need info on how to do so.  I have
looked
> > at Amazon.com, Microcenter, and other book stores for books or
magazines
> > on how to do it but only have found a PDF download so far.  I do
plan on
> > using Linux as much as possible even on laptops with Vmware running
xp
> > to keep one of the guys happy and in touch with his ACT software,
for
> > which I wish I could find a Linux replacement.  Any assistance with
> > direct info or books etc would be appreciated.
>
> How large is the company?  A lot depends on what the business does,
what
> their needs are.  I don't know that you need any books.  Common sense
> will be your best tool.  

The first thing I would do is spend a few days on site, observing their 
business, talking with employees, and generally being as nosy as
possible.
That way, you will have a better idea of what they're doing now, and how

things might be improved with the addition of "IT".  Also, whether it's
going 
to be a part-time, one-person job, or require a crew of people with
initials 
after their names:) 

<snip>

> I'll say this, although it would likely be painful for the windows
guys,
> you're better off going all Linux then to try and mix that stuff.
Samba
> is a wonderful tool, but M$ is working very hard to break it with
every
> bug, er, patch they put out.

Amen. Given the security risks nowdays, as well as Microsoft's
increasingly 
intru$ive tactics, you should inform your friends that they can plan on

doubling their IT staff if they choose Windows rather than Linux (or
Macs). 
Daily security patches, virus cleaning, and regular audits for license 
compliance can be a full-time job.

<snip>

> You've got to consider internet connectivity, which means finding an
> isp.  You'll need a firewall, something else to think about.  A home
> grown firewall would be sweet, but a small business is not the place
you
> want to start learning about such services.

A firewall is absolutely mandatory. If you know what's good for you, you

should refuse to even discuss the possibility of internet connectivity
unless 
they agree to purchase a firewall. 

> Do they want file sharing? A print server?  A lot of questions that
need
> to be answered.  Do they have any special needs? (scanners, security
> issues, specialized hardware).
>
> Are you going there to do this?

In addition, is there a local linux guru who will be available for them
to 
call on to iron out minor bugs? Or is their business large enough to 
justify hiring a full-timer?

Irv


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