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Hi all,

Until recently, I have been working under a highly experienced IT manager and learning my way in both development and network administration. Unfortunately he has had to leave the company and I have been left in charge!

I’m a little daunted at the moment and was wondering if anyone has any advice for me on the most important things I should do.

Our infrastructure is comprised of Exchange 2003 + 2007 in a cluster (gradually migrating to 2007). Active directory and a major bespoke software system (that I don’t yet understand) running using SQL Server.

We also have a web based client for the server that is highly important.

Our servers are (mostly) virtualised using Xen which has been very stable for about 18 months now.

I don’t really know where to start. I think I need to get a good understanding of the backup routines first but I’m not sure.

2 Spice ups
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First off, you can’t manage what you can’t count, so inventory everything that you’re responsible for. Make a list of the hardware and their operating systems, the client server apps and the departments that use them, find out where all the data is stored.

Then either you or someone you can call, needs to be able to completely disassemble and reassemble everything on your inventory.

Whatever you’re most stressed about, find some old workstations
and start building a duplicate system until you feel that when you get the call that a system is broken that you can put it back together.

If you rebuild the entire network (and make notes along the way), then you’ll feel confident to tackle anything that gets thrown at you.

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Why did you experienced boss suddenly leave? It may be a tell-tale sign of something more.

Inventory is great, learning everything on how to fix stuff is super, but that is what staff is for. How many individuals are reporting to you, or is that just the case, you are going to be the only individual in that department now, they pay you less and ask for me.

I would figure out first why the departure, second what does acting mean and they expectations the company has of you and what they had of the previous manager. Did you think he was doing a great job? What did you feel he was doing wrong? What was he doing right?

Figure out, if you want this role? Just because they gave it to you doesn’t mean you have to take it or want it. Is the pay adequate, what are their conditions to remove active from your title? Can you hire your replacement role immediately?

I wouldn’t worry so much about when a disaster strikes what do you do, because a) they don’t or shouldn’t expect you to know everything right away and b) you can’t learn the things that you don’t know so quickly and excel in this new managerial role

Managers/Directors/Heads of the Department are not going to know everything, the primary focus and why you are there is to hire those who do have knowledge beyond yours and create a synergy within your department that allows the best from the IT dollars spent in the company. If you think you are going to know everything and learn it yourself and work on every project and problem, wrong!

You have to find and depend on your employees with confidence and they will do the same in return. Be smart, don’t let them think you know everything about the system, even if you do, otherwise it is a long road ahead for you after you’ve raised your own bar. Obviously this was an abrupt decision somewhere because they didn’t have a replacement for you boss. Stabilize your position as becoming the manager and showing leadership first and foremost. If something breaks, become the hero by working on it overnight with diligence and getting it back up and running, they will reward you for that. Don’t make to many changes until you have secured your position and the acting title has been removed. Don’t push for changes either unless pushed, and the very last important rule…

Do not ever speak badly about your previous supervisor, even if someone else does. Just come up with a line that states, I’m not certain of his reasons for his choices at that time, however, I have a suggestion that I would like to present!

Good luck and congratulations!

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Thanks for both these replies, they are very helpful.

I’m actually the only member of IT staff in the company now so I don’t have to work about any actual management of staff!

My manager had to leave due to problems with the buisiness (which I can’t go into), he is still developing for us on a contract basis but we couldn’t afford to pay him. I’m still being paid at my previous rate but I’m not going to ask for anything else with the current state of buisiness.

I’m looking for advice really on things I should proactively do.

I’m ok with the actual workstations as have built and configured most (if not all) of them.

The main areas I’m worried about are backups of the server architecture and database, what happens if a domain controller just suddenly dies etc.

Exchange - anti virus / anti spam monitoring

And just general things I should be looking for incase they go wrong. Is it possible to get event logs from servers to email me if there is a serious problem occurring?

Steve

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Okay.

So how many computers to have in the place, etc…

You should probably just treat this as a consulting engage yourself at first and step outside the environment and look at it as if you were coming in and taking over as a consultatant. Download the trail versions or subscribe to some of them for some of the tools to provide you with the information you need.

There are tons of post on here regarding backup, I believe at this point, online backup is the way to go, so you don’t have to worry about tapes and things. I’m looking at a company called www.storageguard.com which backs up Exchange and SQL, charges on the compressed data not the native and charges only by the gig, which archiving being even less.

They also have baremetal restore capability, which will ease your mind of having to deal with if a Domain controller goes down. Remember you are only one now and you can’t do everything, so sell them on the fact that there are certain expenses and replaces that have to be done in order for you to run more effectively now. If you allow them to use you, which is what is going to happen, then they will continue to do so and expect even more from you.

Start first with drafting a plan of where the system needs to be stabilized and where potential problems can occur if you cannot fix them. So I guess you are back to the inventory of hardware and software, licensing information, etc…

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Sounds like your company is in a sticky situation. I hope you’re updating your resume at the moment and looking at other options.

Like what was already stated inventory and audit all hardware and software. Tackle what you know and have a third-party handle what you don’t know (this could be the vendor of the system or the contractor).

No need pulling your hair out when you don’t have to be so worried. In the grand scheme of things, it ain’t that important.

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Sticky isn’t the word!

I am taking a more relaxed view of things now. As long as everything is stable and working, I need not be so worried.

Thanks for your advice.

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Greetings.

MReeves has a wonderful thread going which you may benefit from greatly! It is the Keeping things ‘organized’ thread.

Either way, good luck!