1

So this afternoon has been pretty quiet on the admin side of things. Which gives me a great opportunity to read up on stuff that I want to learn (E.g. powershell, my CCNA stuff etc). And there is only so many times you can check the status of everything in the event logs and anti-spam before you start getting bored!

So how does my fellow spiceheads look busy on a not busy day?? =P

45 Spice ups
2

Browse the Spiceworks forum?

Get working on projects I’ve been meaning to do, but couldn’t due to too much things to be done.

Check on my users to see why it’s so quiet while they’re usually a lively computerbreaking bunch. :slight_smile:

27 Spice ups
3

Surf Spiceworks.

Oh yeah that reminds me to check the spam logs.

4 Spice ups
4

make sure documentation is upto date, yeah I know totally the last things you’ll do… :wink:

7 Spice ups
5

I always have something I could be making, since I am on the development side, but for those times when I don’t want to start something new, I just hit up the Spiceworks community, and see what is going on.

2 Spice ups
6

Spiceworks, Technet articles, MSDN, Youtube instructional videos.

Everything is “Work Related” (not cat videos).

Yesterday i watched don jones on DSC in PS4 and how he setup so base MOF’s.

I could use this at my current position but it wouldnt be practical. But it is a very good thing to know.

2 Spice ups
7

What is this “not busy day” you speak of???

54 Spice ups
8

Quiet time? what is that? 0.0

14 Spice ups
9

I’m up to date on the current phases of my current project (which is awaiting approval of the design) and I’m very OCD with the documentations so they are all up to date as well xD

10

Hit up spiceworks, read some of my game wikis. I would love to study but I get weird looks when I am looking at a book and not a computer screen.

11

That’s decided then: Pop up to Liverpool & do my documentation for me :slight_smile:

5 Spice ups
12

Bit of a trek from jolly old Essex xD

13

All you need to do is adopt a permanent frown, like you’re trying to solve a complex problem or find the Higgs Boson.

25 Spice ups
14

I really like to take a little wander around the building. I stop in when I can see that someone isn’t in the middle of a lesson or lecture and see how things are going, if they have had any problems lately, what they would like to be able to do in the future. Just a way that IT is more visible and we come across as someone that does care about our users wants and needs.

When I do this I do go out slightly armed though; I always take my big legal pad and a couple of USB drives in case I need to do a little tweaking on the spot or the very least take notes.

You would be amazed how a little of this goes very well with most users (or at least my users).

23 Spice ups
15

By doing a prep work for busy days :slight_smile:

16

In addition to surfing the Spiceworks forum maybe try writing a new policy document or staff guide.

Last time I was bored I wrote a guide for some of our users on how to avoid phishing attacks and how to open emails safely.

I learnt a few bits and pieces whilst researching the guide and it reflects well on you as an employee for trying to help grow and advance your business

17

The best admins are lazy admins :slight_smile:

13 Spice ups
18

Honestly, use your time to learn something new - do a little reading, plan some 2015 projects, that way you will unintentionally end up looking busy and at the same time you’ll be significantly less bored :slight_smile:

19

Use this time to review logs, thoroughly - here are some of the ones I check…

Windows server event logs
HP Insight manager logs
UPS logs (excessive over/under voltage, transfers, battery health)
Firewall logs (also rules review, do I really need to allow that out, or in?)
Internet filter logs (who or what has been going where?)
Virus scan software logs (updating? things found?)

…also research patches/updates, including firmware updates, for all your “non-standard” software/devices that don’t auto-update.

3 Spice ups
20

Spiceworks, Studying for Security + Exam, Fail Desk if I remember to do it, Think about doing documentation and return to top of list.