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Check The Physical

I'm a Systems Administrator for a medium size company. Were big enough to have an IT department but small enough to only have one IT "guy". I'm it (no pun intended). The range of issues I deal with is literally one end of the spectrum to the other. We also have a small office in East Texas, with about 10 users that I support. I've got everything out there locked down and running smooth. The following actually happened, the names have been changed to protect the innocent. It's a transcript of an actual call. I swear.

Bacon: This is Bacon can I help you?

EastTexasBob: Yeah, we just hired a new guy and I'm trying to get the pc on the network and its not working.

Bacon: (Checks the IP Spreadsheet for an address to assign the new machine) Use this IP address and gateway, x.x.x.x and x.x.x.x

EastTexasBob: Ok it's asking to reboot.

Bacon: Ok, EastTexasBob, go ahead and reboot.

EastTexasBob: (After reboot) Still not working.

Bacon: Ok, do you have a link light on the network card?

EastTexasBob: No. Wait a sec. (The sound of clacking keys) Ok, its working now.

Bacon: Wha'd ya change?

EastTexasJim: I plugged the network cable in.

Bacon: Ok, call me if you need anything else.

So, once again that old troubleshooting adage instilled in me by my mentor Vernon, shows itself valuable once again. "First, ALWAYS check the physical..."

Comments

Unknown said…
Sounds like a typical day for the IS guys at my job. I admit, Ive been one of those idiots before. LOL
-Love your site. I linked you!
11:56 AM
Unknown said…
IS Guy

HELP!!!! Ive fallen and I cant get up!

Happy Friday!
1:23 PM
Mmmbacon said…
WOOO HOOOO FRIDAY LIKE A MF-er! Thanks for the link, I did same!
2:41 PM
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