Suggestions for Self Learning towards Information Systems Manager Role 2

[kjv1611]

So unless something does not pan out the way it SEEMS to be panning out, a layoff a few months back has landed me in a spot in which I never ever thought I'd find myself.

I'm an Information Systems Specialist for now for a small firm (under 100 employees), and have already been approached about taking on the role of Information Systems Manager / IT Director once the current person filling the role leaves the company likely in another 1-2 years.

The server-side of things is an area I haven't had a need to really dig into, to date, in any role I've had. I've only done some piddling here and there, by far nothing serious.

Here are some thoughts I am considering to do on my own, in my own time, once I find the spare time, to help along the way. It'll be likely semi-slow at least at first:
[ul]
[li]Pick up a cheap server somewhere running at least a semi-modern version of Windows Server (all our servers currently run Windows Server)[/li]
[li]Look for blogs/sites/video series of lessons for Information Systems Management to review, learn from[/li]
[li]With the system I pick up, try to do lots of testing at home... maybe (and this is a BIG maybe).. setup the server as my own Windows Domain and Data server at home, so any computers at home connect through it. Dont' know if I want to bother with that hassle, but it seems it'd be possibly the best way to learn.[/li]
[/ul]

Does anyone have any suggestions/thoughts? For instance, do any of my ideas sound like the dumbest thing I can think of? Does anyone know of a particularly good online resource that's either free or cheap (this will be out of my own pocket for the time being). For the longer term, does anyone have suggestions of possibly online Master's programs that might be cost effective and yet very informative for making someone a better expert in the field? Any other thoughts are gladly welcome. I'm just trying to stir the pot, toss out ideas.

Thanks for any advice!

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

 

[fredericofonseca]

Others will give their own more specific advise - in my own your ideas are ok but I would not get it on your own home unless you know what you are doing which is not the case.

That being said you can setup easily, either at work or at home, a single machine with vmware (only the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6 is required, not the full blown vmcenter) or hyper-v and setup a few virtual machines where you can play around without fear or breaking anything. and if you do break one of the virtual machines just rebuild or restore from backup.

Note that even for a small company like yours using a virtualization environment may save significant amount of money in licenses and hardware costs so if you don't currently have it at the office this may also be another opportunity for you to learn how to use and its benefits.

Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[johnherman]

The obvious answer is to ask the current IT Mgr/Dir to mentor you, teach you what you need to know so that when s/he leaves, you are prepared. Any reasonable Mgr/Dir would be more than happy to help teach his staff.

==================================
advanced cognitive capabilities and other marketing buzzwords explained with sarcastic simplicity

 

[ChrisHirst]

maybe (and this is a BIG maybe).. setup the server as my own Windows Domain and Data server at home, so any computers at home connect through it. Dont' know if I want to bother with that hassle, but it seems it'd be possibly the best way to learn.

That is exactly what I did, including a MS Exchange server to 'play' with, all courtesy of the "MS Action Pack".

Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.

Never mind these jesus character, stars had to die for me to live.

 

[kjv1611]

fredericofonseca, Thanks for the mention of VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6. I've used virtual machines in the past primarily to test out new versions of Windows or test running Linux on top of Windows, that type thing. And the use of Virtual Machines is something we've discussed at work to possibly resolve some issues we're running into. Hopefully some of that will pan out.

johnherman, Yes, on the job mentoring is part of the equation, but I'm thinking of what I can do on my own aside from at work. I also think of it this way, thinking of the old "hit by the bus" scenario. Things can happen, so I don't want to solely depend upon on-the-job training / mentoring.

ChrisHirst, thanks for the mention of MS Action Pack. I don't believe I've yet heard about that. I'll definitely look into it.


"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57