Hey Boss, I know it's slow

[teash]

Here's the thing. I've been at my current job for about a month now, the guy I replaced went to a bigger company. I work for a small company (8 employees) including the owner.

The owner can use a computer but doesn't seem to know much about them. He has no conceptual idea as to what a database is.

The guy before me had a few certifications in Net+, A+ and MSCE or something like that.

Today he called me up to retrieve his password he forgot, no problem! When I brought it to him, he said he tried it and it didn't work. Turns out it was a Mozilla thing and his previous programmers. But it feels like I am getting to hammer on it... I don't think he understands why its Mozilla. Of course, I could go fix it but this is his pride code he is getting a US Patent on and 75g's invested in it.

What bother me is that he said the people were complaining of sluggish computers.

The average computer is a 400 Mhz, 256 mb ram, dual monitor computer running Windows 98 or ME.

Our server is a 1.2 Ghz + 512 MB ram, which is our web server and mail server also. About 10 computers connect to this server + about 50 - 100 users browsing our 3 websites.

Throughout the day the staff are hitting the scripts, accessing the database and everything else... the entire system is web based.

Excel files freeze, the inventories are taking longer to open up, etc, etc....


How do I convince my boss that its time to invest in some newer equipment? We are running NT4, Exchange 5.5, and some old op sys! His philosophy is that if its not broke, don't fix it.

He things highly of the guy before me and these problems existed before me, but I am getting the blame I think.

I don't even know how to prove my point to him!


















I really don't know what I am talking about, I just talk!

 

[jaymaechtlen]

Turns out it was a Mozilla thing and his previous programmers. "
huh?

"But it feels like I am getting to hammer on it... I don't think he understands why its Mozilla."

huh??

" Of course, I could go fix it but this is his pride code he is getting a US Patent on and 75g's invested in it"

huh???

sorry, but none of the three sentances above make any sense to me.

Re: the performace issues:
How about listing out the actual usage of the machines now, versus when they were installed. If the usage hasn't changed, then you have a problem (well, one or more problems) with the computers or system.
If the usage has changed, then you can show why you need newer/better equipment.
By "usage", of course that includes software versions, etc.
Obviously, moving from Office 97 to something newer would change the load...

 

[svanels]

What type of Bussiness is this?
8 people, inventory, programmers, mozilla, where does the money come from?

If I hired someone and within a month he was coming with the bright solution of replacing all equipment... , and that is not only related to IT, but any other bussiness

I would say: I hired you to make money for us, not bring us to bankruptcy.

My friend, I think you are too fast.

I personally found NT4 the most stable version of Windows, had to upgrade because of the advance of USB

Steven

 

[Thadeus]

"What type of Bussiness is this?
8 people, inventory, programmers, mozilla, where does the money come from?"

What does that have to do with anything?

Teash - I was in a similar situation recently. My problem is reporting software that is archaic and a database that is poorly designed. I was brought in to increase performance, but was unable to change either the app or the db design. It has been frustrating and I am not through my first year in this role yet. I am working with the dba/architect types and we will hopefully get everything replaced by Q1 2006.

The key to my moving forward was documenting all of the shortcomings in both the app and the db and then getting that document in front of the right people.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck... and don't let em get you down.

~Thadeus

 

[longhair]

teash,
upgrade the clients - no need to run 98 or me in a business anymore. maybe split the server, run exchange on it's own server - websites on their own.
best way to present upgrading the clients & servers is support. i believe ms no longer supports 98 or me, nt4 is on it's way out if not already.
hth
regards,
longhair

 

[teash]

God for a moment their I thought I was stupid, just typing off in a wild tangent where no one had a clue as to what I was talking about.

The guy sells RV and van conversion parts to the insurence and bodyshop industry. And he makes some money though he is not rolling in it. He has 4 customer service, 2 purchasers/package'ers and 1 techsupport, know it all computer guy who fixes them, programs them, and runs the network of about 15 computers, 4 printers, a webserver, backup server, and file server.
How am I to master it all.....

He came in and talked to me yesterday and said the previous 2 guys had the same type of transitional period. And since other people were complaining about their computer he wanted me to document the hardware so we can see what we have. So he listened to me a little.

Some people are using a P2 400 with 96 MB ram? How can you open a 15 mb file for reference, and order parts with a I.E. webpage open while on the phone with a customer. Something has to give. Not to mention all the other various virus protection/spy ware crap that's installed.

Another one is a Pentium 1 233, 64 mb ram running NT 4 workstation software. Both of these computers are running with 100% of its memory usage.

So I am not trying to spend this guys money, I am there so he doesn't lose any. If we wonders why his computers are slowing, and the workers are complaining about slow computers its because they are. The fastest is a 1300 Duron with 224 MB ram (video eats 32). This one is acceptable for Windows 98. We have about 4 of these machines. All the software used is older (so it runs on windows 98 machines just fine)... no load changes....

I am not getting paid tons of money for this job, it's my foot in the door to the IT world. I've a probabilty class, and a algorithm analysis class and I will have a B.S. in computer science, so I am not highly qualified either... but this job should give me a chance to earn some certifications....



For: jaymaechtlen

" Turns out it was a Mozilla thing and his previous programmers. "

##Mozilla and IE do not interpret ASP/HTML in the same manner. The standards very from browser to browser. His previous programmer (a few years ago), had never heard of Mozzila, and obviously didn't use Netscape. Hence, compatibility issues.##


"But it feels like I am getting to hammer on it... I don't think he understands why its Mozilla."

##I think he thinks it's my fault that the code doesn't work with Mozilla, he thinks I must be playing with settings or what not. I don't think he understands the web browsers differences##

" Of course, I could go fix it but this is his pride code he is getting a US Patent on and 75g's invested in it"

##I am smart enough to go through the code, and make it compatible with Mozilla, but he has a patent pending on his web based program and I don't think he wants a new guy messing with it. ##


sorry, but none of the three sentances above make any sense to me.

Do they make a little more sense now?









I really don't know what I am talking about, I just talk!

 

[svanels]

Don't take it personal, but if a user has a PII, 400 MHz that is not tuned to speed (the amount of icons on the right side of the statusbar is proportional to the headache) and he is comparing it to a home computer with the latest games and stunning graphics, obvious the work computer will lose.
Are the machines defragmented regularly, how the users (mis)handle their equipment? Long time ago I tried to put wordperfect 6.0 on a 386. In theory the disk space was enough, but I didn't succeed. It was still in the of days Win 3.11. The computer was 4 year olds, I found temp files from the day ithe machine was bought.
The whole family had the nasty habit to "kill" the computer by pressing the button on the stabilizer.

I would say observe the users, search for facts, look for technical explanations, the term slow is very broad and quite measurable. If you give an ignorant (not in the negative sense) user an Alienware with watercooled graphics card, he will screw it up also without knowing it.

And he makes some money though he is not rolling in it

He has to run a bussiness, pay people, pay taxes, make profits and maybe he wants to expand his bussiness. Having an idea of the future could help you to build a strategy for necessary upgrades.

it's my foot in the door to the IT world

You are not (yet) a seasoned IT profesional that he will follow blindfolded.
Back your proposals with facts and have a price tag ready, (ROI) if you can prove to him by investing now $100, he will probably receive $150 in two months, he surely will be interested.




Steven

 

[mattKnight]

The other thing that may be important to discuss, or at least think about is resilience.

Our server is a 1.2 Ghz + 512 MB ram, which is our web server and mail server also

Paint the picture of what may happen if this server stops working. By the sound of it - so does the company! Whilst, I am sure, your backups will be able to restore the data... The time & revenue lost will be substantial.

Take Care

Matt
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

 

[teash]

I was talking to my boss about a back up plan in case the server exploded, and we lose everything. We have a paper system we can go to and eventually when the server is fixed we e-file them all.

He knows I am new to the game, and knows it takes twice as long for me to do it the first time. Most problems in the IT world I have never seen, so he is patient.

He did tell me he would drop 3 grand in a blink of an eye to get things up and going again if they fail. Tthe guy is a business man, hard headed, but intelligent. That's why he is the boss.

I reinstalled windows ME on one users machine (1300 Duron) and it seems to be puring like a kitten. Most computers just need ram. Under no load, they averaged about 75% usage.

but anyhow.. enough with this post.
I should just wait until its time to get new software and then I can have a say in things. He will come to me and ask for my knowledge at some point. Then I can have my turn...

Until then, I go home and hug my computer and tell it how wonderful it is everyday


Peace-








I really don't know what I am talking about, I just talk!