Im not to sure where to post this so i think here fits....

I am wondering how you guys all deal with your system upgrades and how you deal with uptime in your network and money or lack of in your IT department.

I currently work for a company that runs all windows.

2003 domain
50 servers 2k3 (5 CITRIX, 1 file, 1 print, 5 dc's, 1 main SQL(2k), 1 IIS)
2 servers 2k
15 SQL 2k
5 SQL 2k5
the off site SQL servers replicate to head office.


400 PC's
30 thin clients

over 2 provinces, with 1 Help desk person, and 2 network techs (all located at the head office).
People have told me that my company is crazy for trying to run such a large and growing network with so few network staff... and i tend to agree

Because of how large the company has gotten recently we need to re-subnet all locations. our main SQL server is 2k and most new MS stuff needs 2k5 or newer (like forefront and SYSopmgr). Our server room is inadequate we want to go to ESX but the company seems unwilling to spend the money on IT. we have stared having bandwidth issues because of all our VPN's and SQL replication (we think thats why anyway)

so here is our problem we know we need to do after hour updates and reboots at least once a month, but management is to scared to let us run updates thinking stuff will break (PS they wont pay for a test environment so we need to test live) and they wont pay the after hour OT. They want the systems upgraded but dont want to train the IT staff on new stuff like ESX... a virtual test lab would be great. and they dont want downtime during the day.

so how do you guys all deal with this kind of stuff?
how can i make the company realize they are being dumb?

Tell them straight up. I have with a previous company I worked for... I explained it in writing and what will happen if upgrades/supplies/support staff were not increased.

I know exactly how you feel. I was the only PC tech for INSERT_COMPANY_HERE here in Halifax, NS. Trying to fix 5-10 PCs a day while doing all the reports, selling product, stocking shelves, doing callbacks, etc. is retarded for lack of a better term. At first we were the location for the "depot", where other stores would ship their computers to us to fix (10 comps a day roughly). out turn around time had to be 1-2 business days. most computers were virus infected/spyware infected or had 1 hardware issue. Mainly CDRW/DVDRW drives or motherboards. We (I) had to order parts, submit warranty claims, and fix these every day... in 3 hours a day. Because thats all I had, was 15-20 hours a week.

Finally they hired another guy and it was a bit easier, then what happened was is they put a tech in each store to fix their own PCs. That was a lot better, then they advertised and it got a lot worse. 10-15 machines a day, same stuff, no more hours. Then they wanted me to meet a certain income a month for "tech".

I told them over and over there was not enough time to fix these machines. I ended up quitting because no one listened because they knew nothing about computers and thought I was just "inserting a CD and following the prompts". They quickly realized that it was a lot more then that when I left. Called me back 3 times, I said no all three times... that was a couple years ago.

Interview @ Research In Motion in person tomorrow morning!

Do what I did a few years back when I got tired of screaming at a brick wall ... Let something break.

Then when you have their full attention, explain (calmly...) why it happened, and how it could have all been prevented if...

That will definitely get them looking/listening to you. Hopefully not fired for letting it break though!