Archives of the TeradataForum

Message Posted: Fri, 21 May 2004 @ 19:19:33 GMT

	<Prev	Next>		<<First	<Prev	Next>	Last>>

<-- Anonymously Posted: Friday, May 21, 2004 14:03 -->

I insist on doing all the software installs at our site myself (and I've done so for many, many years), but we don't save anything on maintenance because it's automatically included in our costs (from what I understand). So I get to do the installs myself, but NCR has to teach me what to do (although it keeps getting easier and easier) and they have to handle various unexpected problems that arise (because it usually means getting a level two guy on the phone fast). I think you may have problems with getting support if you don't use their change control process for doing upgrades.

So why spend my time on it? The benefits for me (besides making my job much more interesting) is that I have a real understanding of what's involved in an upgrade, and what things it might affect, and what's needed to back it out. I get to decide what software we do and when. I'm also responsible for problem tracking and resolution, so as part of doing software upgrades I test specific fixes to make sure they work as advertised, and when new problems occur, occasionally I can blame them on changes that were just made and back off the changes in order to run tests.

NCR guys come and go, but I'm a constant and I know my site better than they do. I'm a bit more cautious and conservative than most. And I'm better at documenting everything that's done and following up on temporary measures to be sure that we get permanent solutions. I consider it all part of my job as a systems administrator.

	<Prev	Next>		<<First	<Prev	Next>	Last>>