August:
Work is pretty busy lately. Helping with image deployment, exam, and library systems is taking up most of my time. Library terminal server was having some hardware issue along with low disc space issue. Finally was able to schecdule a task to run a script that will clean up all the temporary files every night.
I also passed the MCITP exam and now am a Microsoft Certified IT Professional Server Administrator on Windows Server 2008.
I am off next week for the first week of MBA.
July:
What a month July has turned out to be so far! I went on a weeklong vacation with my son to Edmonton. It was great. I am excited about the MBA starting on August 14, 2011. At work we found out our CIO is leaving UNBC to be the CIO of University of Victoria. It was a bit surprising but that’s how it works I guess. I also have signed up for Windows Server 2008: Server Administrator (070-646) exam. I am also finding myself very interested in combining technology with Human Resources Management to mitigate issues that exist due to shortage in labor market. I am also learning about career framework and HRMIS. Its intriguing.
I also have found a keen interest and passion in customer service we provide at UNBC. Here is what I believe:
For anything to work I believe we need to know and embrace ITS’s vision, mission and we need to know what we value as an Information Technology Department. I was impressed with UNBC HR’s mission and vision that are printed on the wall in the department. As soon as a customer walks in they can see it. There is also a great example of departmental mission, vision, values at city of Tacoma’s website, check it out at http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=224
All these can make everyone understand why we exist. Once we have this everyone will be on the same page. Then we can move to customer service.
Many of us have developed a reflex shrug, we have pre-programmed our brain within six months of working at UNBC that, “You cannot please everyone all the time.” I think this may be true but we have to come out of this kind of train of thought. What it does is it spreads, today one, tomorrow it will be two, then three even before you know it becomes everyone! We just end up blaming the customer who is giving us hard time, when in fact customer just wants someone to listen. Many of our customers at UNBC intimidated by technology. They may have received one bad service 5 years ago but they are letting that bad experience last forever. We can be more engaging in getting them coming to us. We should reach out to them.
Once we reach all customers, we may need to continue with it. Maybe we can have client reach out initiative. While it may not be practical for everyone to contact the end users but it may be practical for one person to contact the users and keep them up-to-date with everything. Just like communication’s office, maybe an IT communication center or individual?! I see a tremendous value in one representative from the ITS reaching out to every department and discuss with them what is working and what is not.
I want to see it into action!
June:
Month of June went by very fast. I was on one week vacation at the end of the month. Also had the chance to hear from the CIO and the President of the University about the strategic plans and where things are going. It’s really great to hear from the management. I am really excited about the direction UNBC is heading and to be a part of this. I also have have setup the servers for the library and have not heard anything new yet. I am hoping things are going well. Preparing for the 70-646 exam. Its going well. I am just doing the demo exams that came on the CD with the book.
May:
This month going very fast and busy. I have built 3 servers for UNBC library. All the servers have Windows Server 2008 R2. One of them is virtual and other two are physical. First server is a IIS server to be utilized by some internal library software. Second server is another IIS server but this one is virutal is used for web access for library. Other server has SQL 2008 with Service Pack one. I dont know much about SQL server but its a big learning curve and I think everything went well. Library Systems Analyst is in contact with me for any other things that maybe required.
April:
Work has been very busy. We successfully completed MCC exam. Training the new guy also going very well. I also took the initiative to contact the other systems administrators to learn about UNBC systems. Everything is going well.
March:
You may find work journal for March is all over the place, because I wanted to add few things as they happend. Thats why first topic sent back to last in this month. If you start reading from the bottom of March section, it may make sense a bit.
So, March went by pretty well. I am scheduled to administer two exams (Online and MCCQ). Regular online exam is on schedule. Few changes made at the request of the local exam coordinator. Instead of running the exam dry-run on a Friday, this time we will run the dry run one day before the final exam. I am very optimistic and I am sure it will go well. MCCQ exam, however, is creating some concerns. Usually we run the dry run 6 to 8 weeks prior to the final exam. This year due to the large number of candidates, we have to run the exam over three days, with one contingency day. Not only that, our computer lab is booked for curriculum delivery. My plan is to set the lab for the exam on Sunday evening or early Monday morning. After the first day of exam, put the lab for curriculum usage. After that, prepare the lab for rest of the days of exams. We wanted to administer this exam at UNBC’s larger lab over one day but due to some logistical issues that did not happen.
On more operational side, Training the new guy is going very well. One user was having some computer issues but after LONG, Frustrating hours, communicating with facilities and network team, we hope we have identified the issue to be her usage of a room heater that draws extra ordinary amount of power from the same outlet her computer is plugged in, causing it to freeze. Hopefully that is the cause and after one fried Video Card and Hard drive, we hope it will resolve the issue. Week also have initiated Virtual Desktop Infrastructure project for UNBC. I am very excited about it.
Other than that just regular Apple support, computer purchase, software purchase, research lab support issues are ongoing. I am also discussing with UBC about Windows 7 deployment. Nothing significant happened but hoping it will pick up pretty soon.
Another very interesting discussion/presentation I was in last week at UBC all hands monthly meeting. MedIT discussed their project on IT Career Framework. I thought that was brilliant. All those things they presented in the presentation, I only have seen them in theory and in books when I was taking my HR classes. To see, such a great real life example was, for some reason, very exciting for me. I have sent all the information to my manager. I am hoping, there would at least be an awareness of IT Career Framework. It’s just too close to my heart, both professionally and interest wise.
Today is March 15 and I have secured the student line of credit from Royal Bank of Canada for my MBA program. So I am all set. I also have passed the 70-642 (Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure: Configuration) exam. Now I am planning on write the 70-646 to get my MCITP: Server Administrator designation. After that I will have to write three more exams to get my MCITP: Enterprise Server Administrator designation. I want to write at least two more exams prior to my MBA starts this year. I know it is very ambitious but will see how that goes.
Wow! I have a great news to share. I have been accepted to the Masters of Business Program at UNBC. I am really exciteda bout it. I have to figureout the funding which is very stressful but going well. If all goes well, I will start my class in September 2011. I just can’t express how excited I am 
I havent written the Microsoft Exam yet, its still coming.
The guys I work with in the ITS are really superb. We had cake for my birthday among our group member which was really great and I enjoyed the fact they all showed up to wish me happy birthday.
Anyways, It is only March 05, 2011 today. I just thought of updating March so early to share the MBA news. Stay tuned for more work related updates.
February:
Training the new guy is in full swing. He is doing really well. I can rely on him with many of the aspects of my day to day work but still requires more time as each situation at NMP is unique.
Domain controller updgrade is complete. I have performed all the operational testings I could to make sure everything is working. Happy to report that there was absolutely no down time during this because we planned it very well. ITS System Administrator who helped with this is really great. I have documented everything and the entire process couldn’t have gone any better.
Right now I am trying to free up more time by handing off my meetings with inter-site groups to the new guy.
I also have signed up for Microsoft Exam number 70-642 (Configuring Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure) in the middle of March. I get worried everytime I signup for an exam and this is no exception. I have studied the book beginning to end. Right now I am on my thrid revision. I also have gone through all the practice questions at the back of the book and I think I am ready, but yet, I find exams to be very stressful.
Still have not heard anything from the MBA program about my application.
January:
Well, after taking some break I have finally decided to start capturing my eventful professional/personal life on here again. Last time I shared something was in November of 2010. Lots happend since then. After the merge with ITS at UNBC, thing are going well. We have hired a new person to take care of day to day operational aspects, hoping that it will free up some time for me to do more work as a Systems Administrator. Transition is going slow because he is backfilling for another position.
I have deployed new Windows Terminal Server 2008 R2. Plan is to have a backup of this system. Currently the physical box of this system is running windows server 2008. But then new system is on the virtual environment. After users get used to the new system, I will take down the physical box and then configure it similar to the virtual environment. Then will configure it at the TSGateway to have some sort of load balancing. We never had this before. Another benefit is having the digital certificate. User are also enjoying RemoteApp.
We also have started to upgrade our domian controllers from Server 2003 to Server 2008 R2. I am getting some help from ITS guys with this.
I also have applied for Masters of Business Administration program at UNBC. See what happens.