Diary of a Network Geek

WOW! Talk about a blast from the past!

So, I’m just sittin’ there, minding my own business, trying to look casual while reading e-mail and the boss walks in and starts firing questions about Netware licensing at me. Naturally, I’m suspicious from the start, but I listen and answer questions as best I can.
Not too long ago, we bought a company on the East Coast that had, well, an “interesting” mix of technology in their IT department. It seems a couple of these sites are have problems with the number of licensed connections available. The office has about 30 people, but they only have a 10 user license. Talk about 10lbs. of crap and a 5lbs. bag. But, wait, it gets better!! They’re running, yep, you guessed it, Netware 3.2. Oh, God, what did I do in a past life to deserve this?
Well, wailing and gnashing of teeth aside, I’m gonna’ have to deal with this. Somehow. Without spending any money. Yeah, right.
So, I dig into Uncle Jim’s Magical Bag O’ Tricks™ and pull out not one, but two copies of unserialized server.exe that I had from way, way back by way of a guy who was a developer at a Novell channel partner or some such. (Don’t worry, he’s since turned rogue and been seduced by the Evil Micro$oft Empire, so I’m not getting him in trouble.) But, you know what? The boss says to me, “That just doesn’t sound ‘right’.”
What’s this? A boss who actually cares about doing things the Right Way™ ? Whoda’ thunk it!
So, the work may not always be challenging and the pay can always be better, but at least I have a pretty damn good boss these days. That’s something. Hell, somedays, it’s the only thing.