@pete-s said in Wsus for remote vpn and on-premise users:
If you are considering having clients download updates from Microsoft directly then that means that you are going to apply all updates, doesn't it?
If that is the case, what functionality does WSUS bring to the table?
95% of WSUS administration is blindly approving updates anyway. Just let them auto update and be done.
I am working with a small business that has 2 Physical Servers and 2 VMs. Currently they are using Backup Exec 2014 and are unhappy with the product. I want to recommend another product to them. Unitrends was the first solution that came to mind. Will Unitrends work well in a mixed Physical/VM Environment?
How about blocking those sites upfront?
Udemy video training is a well accepted solution. It's not free, but well worth the costs.
I am going to put a pause on this question for the moment. I am going to force the vendor to give me specific access rights and I am not going to accept the domain admin account as the answer
I've adopted a policy of not working on friends, family, or co-worker's PCs and networking devices. My mom and dad get a free pass, though. Other than them, I dont work on family or friends computers. The temptation for an easy $50 or $100 just isn't worth your time. You may think you are done after an hour of working, but the calls for other IT help will come from this great friend or family member.
I made this mistake back in my mechanic days. Yeah, I'll replace your spark plugs for $50 or change your starter for $100. Every once in awhile I get contacted by a high school "friend" that needs car maintenance done or has a specific jeep question. It usually goes something like this :
Them: Hi
Me: Hi
Them: How have you been?
Me: Oh just effing fantastic. I am just enjoying the clear blue skies, chocolate rivers, and kids running around with gumdrop smiles
Them: Awesome.
Them: Hey I have 96 Jeep Wrangler and I want to put 35 inch tires on it. How high do i need to lift to put these tires on it?
Me: 2-3 inches with cutting and 4-5 with no cutting
Them: Great. What is the cheapest lift kit I can buy
Me: $200 will get you the height, but it wont get you the performance you want
Them: fantastic. $200 it is. I am sure you can put it on for me for a 12 pack of beer. I am also sure the performance will exceed a $4k lift kit with $2k installation.
Me: Ok. I like Miller Lite
Them: Oh wonderful I will pick up a 4 pack of natural ice or busch. Your choice, buddy. Don't worry they are tall boys so each one equals like 10 beers.
Well: I like Miller Lite and it's a cheap domestic beer
Them: Ok Natural Ice or Busch it is, but I can't exactly afford a 4 pack so a single tall boy before and another one after the job is complete.
@scottalanmiller said:
@IRJ said:
I've been involved with a Microsoft audit where we ended up suing Microsoft and winning
Wow, what did they do wrong?
They audited us incorrectly and then tried to sue us for licenses we actually paid for. We ended up getting over a million dollars from them.
Decent auto mechanics charge quite a bit more than $75 an hour. Now that is somewhat skilled profession (not as skilled as IT), but even when we look at non-skilled professions such as pest control, landscaping, etc. they still charge more than $75 an hour. Hell getting a truck or van out for anything costs more than $75.
@hubtechagain said:
My wife is good at this stuff. Love this season and holiday.
my boss told the other day that his kids came up to him last year and said "dad, we are old enough that you dont have to decorate like crazy for christmas." He said it's not for you. It's for your mom
I am running Server 2008 R2 with a SQL 2008 R2 install. Yesterday I tried to add reporting services. Unfortunately a vendor was VPNed into our system and running windows installer at the sametime. So I received several error messages and one stating that the installation would have to be canceled. I hit cancel, however, SQL acted like it completed successfully.
Now the Vendor is telling me SQL reporting services wont start. I launched the SQL install again this morning and its telling me that Reporting Services are already installed. Does anyone know a way to uninstall them without affecting SQL itself? I would like to uninstall then reinstall.
@guyinpv said in Home business ideas for transition out of 9-5?:
All the above is my opinion too.
@irj You aren't ripping at all. I need opinions from people who've been there.My last bench job was over 10 years ago, even then it was about $13/hr after 6 years at the place!
My last job interview for bench/repair/onsite general tech at "the" local "big" shop was just a year or two ago but they maxed out around $17 or $18/hr even for an onsite tech who does business clients.
I've never seen a general tech position in my local cities anywhere over basic $10 to $14/hr. It's pathetic.
The highest paying IT job I ever found/applied for was for city government which was about a $45k job with full benefits, maxing out around $70k ish.
Even hospitals and town governments pay around $40k-$50k tops.If the very best I can do in my city is government at $50k, there has to be something better I can do on my own. I just don't know what that niche is, what it looks like, what is my value/offering.
OK so if traveling technician is out, and MSP it out due to complexity and lack of experience, what other niches are there?
It seems obviously to cater to business rather than consumer, though there may be a small niche of consumers worth going after too.
Businesses must have a need for IT but not big enough to afford their own part time or full time staff. And not small enough where they just have one or two Walmart PCs and a inkjet.Maybe I just need more examples of what people actual DO if they run their own IT business, and how much can be made doing it. I might as well not leave the 9-5 if going my own way increases work load by 40% and only make a few hundred more a month! Or I can keep applying for government jobs. eww.
I would say an MSP isn't impossible, but you should probably work for one for a few years first to understand everything required.
Do we really have to wait till monday?
Just setup a VPN and be done with it. You said you are only doing this for one client and you don't know how long they will let you hang on.
How many hours will it take for you to setup these tools?
What will the cost be?
Who will maintain them after you are gone?
Will you really be saving them hours considering the amount of effort for a short term goal?
Why do you need RU or TV? Is VPN not sufficient?
@NerdyDad said in Chromebook shopping:
RAM: 8-16 GB
Storage: 128-256 GBI can order from PCM, CDW, and Amazon Business. Any suggestions?
Seems like overkill for internet acess
@Lakshmana Thank you for all your questions and particpation. Keep up the posting. You are doing fine. If you have any concerns or want to verify the validity of a possible interview. We are here to help, not attack you.
@NerdyDad said in Chromebook shopping:
Currently looking at this one because we need the bigger screen
Yeah that looks good as well. I think 16GB space will be enough it is just an internet kiosk.
