I spent the last three days doing work that I thought was someone else’s responsibility. Normally we’re responsible for installing one of our software applications on a network that has already been set up with servers, workstations and servers functioning properly with remote access to the head office.
When I arrived at the branch office on Tuesday, all the equipment was sitting piled in a corner. The final network hook ups had not been terminated. The electrician, who left 30 minutes before I arrived, thought that I was going to terminate the network cables. Although I could have done the final hook up, I didn’t bring my tools to do the job. My understanding, based on the head office personnel instructions, was that all of the network infrastructure was already in place. While we waited for the electrician, I went about physically locating all the equipment I could. Again not our responsibility. The electrician arrived about an hour after I arrived. He stayed and waited to make sure that all equipment was functioning on the network. After about 2 hours, we were able get down to the application.
Part of our agreement with the client was that head office and we would have remote access to each branch. This would allow them to get reports and make changes to data without traveling to the branch. It would also give us access to branch servers for software upgrades and trouble shooting support without having to be on site. Another person from head office was responsible for setting up the remote access. We didn’t have remote access.The branch was closing so I agreed to return the next day.
On Wednesday, I worked on the remote connection. Still no remote connection. So after talking to the individual responsible, we tried a few things and in the process crashed the modem to the internet. Tried a few other fixes that didn’t work. So I called Bell Business Internet. See the blog entry on resolving the crash modem at http://www.softwarestrategies.ca/blog/?cat=5 .
After getting the modem working, I went to install Ultra VNC