Experience 1.1

Starting in September 2006 I was hired as the Network Administrator for KSNT-TV 27 in Topeka, KS. The duties of this position included:
Windows 2000 Active Directory
• Creation, Deletion, and Management of Users (roaming and static), Groups, and Organizational Units
• Data Security Permissions
• DNS, DHCP, Group Policies
Networking/LAN
• Ethernet/FastEthernet/Gigabit Ethernet LAN infrastructure design and implementation
• Subnetting
• Wireless
• Fibre Channel (cabling, switch, HBAs)
• Cat 5, 5e, 6 cable construction and physical placement (walls, cable trays, raised flooring), patch panels, hubs
• Cisco: Catalyst 2950, Catalyst 2980, Catalyst 3750, Linksys SRW2024, 2811, PIX-515e
Microsoft Operating Systems (Server and Desktop)
• Windows 2000 Pro, XP Pro, Server NT 4.0, Server 2000, Server 2003 R2
• Microsoft Office 2000-2003
• Microsoft Visio 2002-2003
• Patches and hotfixes for desktops and servers, Trendmicro OfficeScan desktop security
Microsoft Exchange Server 2000
• Creation, Deletion, and Management of accounts, mailboxes,
• Configuration of end user email programs (Outlook, Outlook Express, OWA, and Entourage)
• Management of externally hosted POP3 email accounts
• Email filtering
Network Attached Storage
• Migration of all company data from over-tasked server with limited space and resources to a higher capacity (4TB+) server
• Creation, Deletion, and permission management of all company data
• Data available to users based on department, security, and need by way of drive mapping
• Management of dual archive servers used to store daily news stories
• Management of SATA II external hard disk storage
Backup/Data Loss/Recovery
• Conversion from CA ARCserve backup system to Bakbone Netvault backup system using Sony LIB-81 AIT-4 tape library
• Multiple scheduled backup jobs performed daily including full and incremental O/S, file based data, and Exchange mailbox/store backups, backup tapes stored in fireproof vault
• Backup data/recovery list stored on web based document server
WAN
• Ensure users maintain consistent connectivity and security to internet through Cisco PIX-515e firewall
• Upgrade from Cox Communications 1.5 T-1 data link to a Sprint Multilink Nx2 3.0 Mb T-1 data link using a Cisco 2811 Integrated Services Router
Non Linear Video Editing
• Implementation of 6 non-linear computer based video editing systems producing digital video file end product (mpeg2 format) uploaded to video playback servers by way of batch file, replacing a linear tape to tape editing system
• Custom built high performance PC based workstations running Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 video editing software used to create stories for daily newscasts. Users ingest raw video from Panasonic DVC-PRO tapes from a DVC-PRO tape deck utilizing Matrox RT.X2 video capture system.
IpSwitch WS_FTP Server management
• Creation, deletion, and management of FTP user accounts, each user account configured with folder destination, bandwidth allocation, space and file number limitations
• FTP routing configured through Cisco PIX-515e firewall
Hardware
• Troubleshooting and repair on PCs, servers, laptops, switches, monitors, printers
• Cabling – audio (RCA, XLR), video (75Ω coaxial, RG-6, RG-11), serial
• Design and installation of standard 19” equipment racks, UPS,
Telephony
• Migration from Lucent Definity phone system to Avaya IP Office digital phone system
• Creation, deletion, and management of users, extensions, voice mailboxes, passcodes, extension redirection, automated attendant voice recordings (after hours, holidays, etc…)
Web
• Update webpage content, job postings, advertisement image upload, html editing
KVM
• BlackBox KVM Multiport ServSwitch with Security Access Modules:  KVM System allowing access to over 40 Servers and PCs through a single user station
Management
• Master Control is one of the most important pieces to a television company. It is the last point of control before the television signal is sent to the transmitters then broadcast to the viewing area. I was charged with the responsibility of managing the station’s Master Control Operators. This included hiring, training, scheduling, performance reviews, vacation coordination, and firing. This required me to have a working knowledge of the position for training as well as the ability to take a shift if it became necessary.

Additional Systems
• Florical Broadcast Automation including Media Master, Media Filer, Media Timer
• Telestream Flip Factory Media Transcoder
• Associated Press ENPS Newsroom Production System
• Wide Orbit Traffic System
• Marketron Broadcast Sales System
• Apple Final Cut Pro Editing Suite
• Quest R&D – Weather, elections, school closing, alerts on air crawl system
• Acronis Snap Deploy Re-imaging software – network based re-imaging system
• Google Earth Pro – map creation software for on air topological graphics
• Curious World Maps – map creation software for on air topological graphics
• 360 Systems ImageServer 2000 – video playback server for on air newscasts
• Ross Synergy Production Switcher
• Ross Video Overdrive Live Production Control System
• Diskeeper Server, Enterprise Server
• Weather Central 3D:Live, ESP:Live, Microcast, Metline weather detection information systems

Intel Modular Blade Chassis Virtualization Project

An existing client, a medium school district consisting of a high school, middle school, elementary school, a district office, and other assorted district buildings, had purchased an Intel Modular Server Chassis in the summer of 2009. The original configuration of the server included 6 Intel Compute Modules populated with 16GB of RAM, roughly 530GB of disk space in the on-board SAN, dual switches, and 4 redundant power supplies. In addition to the modular system a dual node HP LeftHand storage appliance was installed as part of the infrastructure. The original design was for the Modular system to host virtual servers as well as virtual desktops. Due to existing infrastructure constraints the original technician performing the installation reconfigured the servers to act as physical servers and not run in a virtual environment.

The client requested that the original design of the system be implemented, so I proposed a process by which we would be able to consolidate the servers and re-establish the virtual environment as well as increasing the available memory of the compute modules to 32 GB, and adding another 6 TB of storage to the on-board SAN.

The first step was to re-establish one of the compute modules as a virtual host. This was accomplished by taking a separate standalone server running Server 2008 R2 and making it a virtual host. Then one of the compute modules that was running Server 2003 as a print server was migrated over to the standalone server which freed up the compute module (or blade). Then the blade was reinstalled with Server 2008 Enterprise x64 and configured as a virtual host. Then each blade that was configured as a physical server was converted into a virtual server using the Disk2VHD utility from Microsoft. After each blade was converted from a physical server to virtual, the blade was reinstalled with Server 2008 Enterprise x64 and configured as a virtual host.

Once all virtual servers were completed then virtual workstations were created for use in computer labs district wide.

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Small Business Server 2011 Installation

A new client requested an installation of a server to support their new non-profit children's center. A Small Business Server 2011 solution was recommend and approved. Since the installation was to be a clean install, the main preparation was information collection. Once all user data was collected, using Microsoft's SBS2011 pre-installation documentation, the network infrastructure was planned and designed. The component that was installed first was a Watchguard XTM firewall appliance. It was configured for security as well as allowing specific traffic flow in and out of the network. The server was installed using media the client ordered and configured with normal server setup. A domain and IP scheme was established during the SBS setup. In addition to the server system the install included 13 new Windows 7 desktop and laptop workstations. Each workstation was configured for domain user access as well as network shares, Exchange, and other network resources. Other components that were installed into the infrastructure were network switches, printers, and wireless access points. Overall this project was a clean and simple installation. It was very similar to other SBS08 systems I have installed since the SBS11 system is based upon Server 2008 as well.

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Microsoft Foundation Server Installation

Many of the clients that I work with are considered small to medium size businesses.  Some of them are small enough that they still run a peer to peer network and dont want to or cannot invest the type of money it takes to install an SBS or even Server Standard server.  About a year ago I was at a vendor presentation when they started to discuss Microsoft Foundation Server 2008.  I got to thinking that this could be a really great option for our smaller clients.

Fast forward to April 2011, we have a new not-for-profit company who hires us to do a server installation and eventually support their infrastructure.  The installation was to be put in as the client was creating a brand new office so there was no pre-existing server or network to speak of and all new cabling had been run.

The installation was very basic, the server was an HP DL series server which came with the HP branded media. I installed the OS on the server and configured it for a new domain.  The server was also configured to do file and print sharing as well.

In addition to the server, there were 4 other HP workstations joined to the domain and configured with individual domain users, a Watchguard XTM21W wireless firewall appliance, and a new gigabit switch.

The entire project took a total of 3 days to complete.

Exactly one week later a similar server project was installed for a different new client.  This client had 3 existing computers all running in a peer-to-peer network.  The Server 2008 Foundation server was the identical HP DL series server that was used in the previous server project.

SBS2003 to SBS2008 Migration to Same Hardware

Client decided to upgrade technologies from their existing SBS2003 environment to an SBS2008 environment.  The existing server was installed on physical server hardware that was going to be used for the SBS2008 installation.

The first phase of the process was to get the production server off of the hardware.  I implemented a temporary Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 machine to act as a virtual host running Hyper-V.  Then I created a virtual hard drive (.vhd) copy of the production server using the Sysinternals tool Disk2VHD.  Once the virtual hard drive was created and copied over to the Hyper-V server, I created a new virtual server and attached the virtual hard drives to the server and booted it up.  After resetting the network interface I tested all email and data access successfully.  With the physical production server still running, but unplugged from the network, I had the users run off the virtual SBS2003 server for a full day before starting the installation process.

The second phase of the process was to install additional memory into the physical server and install SBS2008 in migration mode using the unattended answer file.  Once the answer file was created and placed on the root of a flash drive I started the installation.  After the server was installed I started the migration process using the Migration Wizard in the SBS Console.  The next step was moving Exchange mailboxes and client data from the old server to the new, that was performed remotely during the evening hours.  I had previously created an RDP rule that would allow me access to the server.  The following day I verified that email flow was running properly to and from the new server, as well as the clients having access to their data shares.

The final process was installing and migrating over the remaining items from the source server to the destination server, things like antivirus management consoles, printers, and additional data.  After a few days of running successfully on the destination server, the source server was demoted, Exchange was removed, and it was maintained as a member server due to an application that was not supported on the new Server Operating System.

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SBS2008 Virtualization Project

Existing client had an environment consisting onf one server running SBS2003 and a single application server running Windows Server 2000.  Concept of the project was to implement new technology while consolidating hardware.  New server hardware was purchased with 24GB of RAM, quad-core processor, dual power supplies, and over 2TB of storage.

First phase of the project was to migrate applications over to the new server.  I installed Server 2008 R2 x64 Std on the physical hardware that acted as the virtual host.  I then installed Server 2008 R2 x64 virtually using the Std licening from the SBS2008 Premium media.  Migrated 3 separate L.O.B. applications over to the new application server.

Second phase of the project was to implement the new SBS2008 server virtually.  Once again, installed the SBS08 virtually then migrated all data, settings, mailboxes, and services from the old SBS2003 to the new SBS2008 server.  Demoted and shut down the old server.