CLIFFS:
-Lady wants me to become an network tech. 2 locations, 10 comps, 2 servers.
-She has QuickBook problem when more than 4 user login. She uses 5 user liscence.
-She also wants me to get her backup solution for her file server.
-She wants me to teach her peons how to do basic troubleshooting their workstation+printer
-This will be 1-2 day/week type stuff.
-So, how much should I ask, and should I go for contract or company payroll?
Okay, I was working for a client doing PHP/MySQL work. I made a basic database application suite for her. When I called her to give me specifics for updates she wanted me to do, she asked me if I was interested in becoming a network admin for her. She has someone doing that job right now, but she's dissatisfied with his work. Apparently, this guy told her to "reformat PC, reinstall Windows" when a software firewall was blocking her UPS software from accessing outside of her network. He also doesn't speak English, and can't communicate with tech support. Here's the basic run down of her current network.
Warehouse -
Around 4-5 workstations of various models. Most of them are "current" performance wise (P4 3ghz + 1GB RAM). She has a business DSL line routed by a Linksys SOHO router. She uses one of her workstation as her "file server" (bad... idea). She also uses 4-5 inkjet printers to print 500+ pages/weekly (wow... expensive). For software, she mainly runs QuickBooks 2003 (multi-user liscence), UPS shipping software, MS Works Spreadsheet.
Showroom -
5 laptops that serves as a invoice/POS for her showroom. I didn't look at the specs, but I guess they're fast enough to run the software. DSL line comes from the huge building network. It's feeds to a 24 port switch and then separated by another Linksys switch/hub. A HP computer( P4 3ghz + 512mb + 200GB) is used as a "dedicated" file server. The software is similar to warehouse, except QuickBooks 2004.
Her Problem/Wishes:
Okay, apparently she's having some wierd QuickBooks problem at her showroom. It not always, but alot of times she can't have all 5 laptop launch the Quickbooks software. When the 5th one tries to launch QuickBooks 2004, it tells her that "User Maxed Out". I asked her to recreate the problem for me today, and all 5 laptops were able to go into QuickBooks. So, I'm not too sure what is the problem. I plan on visit showroom again, few days later after I research the issue and call up Quickbooks.
Outside of the QuickBooks issue, she wants me to be her IT maintenance (bitch). She wants to get a backup solution for her file servers. For the showroom, she was pretty sure she wants a on-demand backup server. For warehouse, she wasn't too sure on just data back-up or actual backup server. On a weekly basis, she wants me to do preventive maintenance on all of her computers. I'm thinking it'll be mainly Spyware/Virus scan, once I have a good firewall A/V setting in place. Sounds like a 3-4 hour job on each location per week. So ~10 hour/week type schedule. I'm pretty sure she wants maintenance done in weekend, which is perfect for me.
Here's one kicker.. she wants me to train her employees how to do basic troubleshooting (stupid stuff like "why the printer isn't printing") and simple things. That makes things a bit more interesting.
Here's my current plan for her network:
--- Keep the same structure as it is. It's small network, so the current setup isn't too bad. There some changes though, to fit her request. First, get 2x Dell PowerEdge SC420 servers. One for Warehouse, so she have actual dedicated server, and one for showroom to serve as back-up for the HP one. I'm pretty sure they can be had for $1000 total for decent model. I might look into getting Hot-swappable drives for her showroom server, since she feels that they're critical to her showroom (minimal downtime). Also, she might want to get a external hard-drive for warehouse data backup on the server.
How I think I want to be paid/employed:
Do it as support contract work for 2-3 months period. The lady's Asian, so I'm afraid she's gonna cheap me out, if I becomes an "employee" (don't pay taxes for me.. yadda yadda. Btw, I'm also Asian and I know how cheap Asians are). I'm not too sure on how contract would work though, so that'll be my homework for this weekend (tax issues and what not). I'm thinking around $15-20/hour billing sounds fair.
As for myself, I'm currently a sophmore at College going for Comp Sci degree. The only "semi-real" job I had was working as Tech Sale at a office supply store. I'm pretty confident with hardware, and somewhat confident on a network. I've done some experimentation and self-teaching at home. I think that this would be a perfect oppurtunity for me to get some experience on actually design/deploy/maintain a real-use network. So, what I want to hear is, what should I look for in terms of wages? Also, if you guys can give suggestion/criticism for my network outline, that would be awesome.
-Lady wants me to become an network tech. 2 locations, 10 comps, 2 servers.
-She has QuickBook problem when more than 4 user login. She uses 5 user liscence.
-She also wants me to get her backup solution for her file server.
-She wants me to teach her peons how to do basic troubleshooting their workstation+printer
-This will be 1-2 day/week type stuff.
-So, how much should I ask, and should I go for contract or company payroll?
Okay, I was working for a client doing PHP/MySQL work. I made a basic database application suite for her. When I called her to give me specifics for updates she wanted me to do, she asked me if I was interested in becoming a network admin for her. She has someone doing that job right now, but she's dissatisfied with his work. Apparently, this guy told her to "reformat PC, reinstall Windows" when a software firewall was blocking her UPS software from accessing outside of her network. He also doesn't speak English, and can't communicate with tech support. Here's the basic run down of her current network.
Warehouse -
Around 4-5 workstations of various models. Most of them are "current" performance wise (P4 3ghz + 1GB RAM). She has a business DSL line routed by a Linksys SOHO router. She uses one of her workstation as her "file server" (bad... idea). She also uses 4-5 inkjet printers to print 500+ pages/weekly (wow... expensive). For software, she mainly runs QuickBooks 2003 (multi-user liscence), UPS shipping software, MS Works Spreadsheet.
Showroom -
5 laptops that serves as a invoice/POS for her showroom. I didn't look at the specs, but I guess they're fast enough to run the software. DSL line comes from the huge building network. It's feeds to a 24 port switch and then separated by another Linksys switch/hub. A HP computer( P4 3ghz + 512mb + 200GB) is used as a "dedicated" file server. The software is similar to warehouse, except QuickBooks 2004.
Her Problem/Wishes:
Okay, apparently she's having some wierd QuickBooks problem at her showroom. It not always, but alot of times she can't have all 5 laptop launch the Quickbooks software. When the 5th one tries to launch QuickBooks 2004, it tells her that "User Maxed Out". I asked her to recreate the problem for me today, and all 5 laptops were able to go into QuickBooks. So, I'm not too sure what is the problem. I plan on visit showroom again, few days later after I research the issue and call up Quickbooks.
Outside of the QuickBooks issue, she wants me to be her IT maintenance (bitch). She wants to get a backup solution for her file servers. For the showroom, she was pretty sure she wants a on-demand backup server. For warehouse, she wasn't too sure on just data back-up or actual backup server. On a weekly basis, she wants me to do preventive maintenance on all of her computers. I'm thinking it'll be mainly Spyware/Virus scan, once I have a good firewall A/V setting in place. Sounds like a 3-4 hour job on each location per week. So ~10 hour/week type schedule. I'm pretty sure she wants maintenance done in weekend, which is perfect for me.
Here's one kicker.. she wants me to train her employees how to do basic troubleshooting (stupid stuff like "why the printer isn't printing") and simple things. That makes things a bit more interesting.
Here's my current plan for her network:
--- Keep the same structure as it is. It's small network, so the current setup isn't too bad. There some changes though, to fit her request. First, get 2x Dell PowerEdge SC420 servers. One for Warehouse, so she have actual dedicated server, and one for showroom to serve as back-up for the HP one. I'm pretty sure they can be had for $1000 total for decent model. I might look into getting Hot-swappable drives for her showroom server, since she feels that they're critical to her showroom (minimal downtime). Also, she might want to get a external hard-drive for warehouse data backup on the server.
How I think I want to be paid/employed:
Do it as support contract work for 2-3 months period. The lady's Asian, so I'm afraid she's gonna cheap me out, if I becomes an "employee" (don't pay taxes for me.. yadda yadda. Btw, I'm also Asian and I know how cheap Asians are). I'm not too sure on how contract would work though, so that'll be my homework for this weekend (tax issues and what not). I'm thinking around $15-20/hour billing sounds fair.
As for myself, I'm currently a sophmore at College going for Comp Sci degree. The only "semi-real" job I had was working as Tech Sale at a office supply store. I'm pretty confident with hardware, and somewhat confident on a network. I've done some experimentation and self-teaching at home. I think that this would be a perfect oppurtunity for me to get some experience on actually design/deploy/maintain a real-use network. So, what I want to hear is, what should I look for in terms of wages? Also, if you guys can give suggestion/criticism for my network outline, that would be awesome.
