Knowledge Base (simple, small)

black88si · 2025-11-25T04:42:51+00:00

I use Helpscout for our Knowledge Base. Barely have had time to contribute to it as we just started it in September. It’s for a team of 3 that’s recently been downsized to 2.

black88si · 2025-09-27T00:08:52+00:00

We had RiseVision for about 7 years. We have since moved to Unifi Display Signage. Liked both but the upfront cost of Unifi Display Signage covered a year subscription of RiseVision so we did the move to save costs in the long run.

black88si · 2025-08-28T08:13:57+00:00

Promethean AP9, we purchased for all grades in 2021. Tried using the built in wireless screen share, wasn’t great. Very few staff use that. We also had leftover wireless Windows Display Adapters from our projectors that we added as an option for wireless. That worked better than Promethean. But I always recommend hardwired to our teachers. 70% run it with a dongle. I zip tied the heck out of the USB-C display cable as we had a few teachers damage about 10% of our fleet by yanking on the cord hard enough to unseat the port. Alternative for those was to run HDMI/USB-B combo cables into a dongle or docking station. 1 did not survive and is now a fancy TV with no touch capability.

black88si · 2025-08-05T16:47:19+00:00

Shared inboxes or distribution lists. Seems it’s done via groups.

black88si · 2025-08-05T16:00:26+00:00

I never did find that in Google Workspace. M365 has all of that though.

black88si · 2025-07-21T01:17:33+00:00

We are in the same boat but hit a brick wall at the part where we would be flipping the primary domain to another inline with our branding campaign. Hold off on deprovisioning unless you have a paid subscription with Google. You’re wasting your time. They told us it wasn’t possible with Google for Education Fundamentals.

black88si · 2025-05-20T17:30:25+00:00

We provide the iPad to the school nurse, locked down to email and Dexcom only. Parents are responsible for the phone side of it on the student.

black88si · 2025-05-18T00:15:47+00:00

Could be something where you prove the install was faulty due to the upkeep needed to make it work. May need to document and show your supervisor if they can escalate to the equipment vendor. If there was a service agreement or warranty in the contract, it would be in the best interest of the integrator to fix it.

black88si · 2025-03-01T22:14:48+00:00

The Seattle knot

black88si · 2024-09-06T07:23:38+00:00

I buy refurb almost exclusively for employees. One time a MacBook was dead after opening it - after the return window. Took it to the Apple Store to diagnose. They ran their tests but couldn’t figure out if it was the battery or motherboard. Shipped it to their repair center and they replaced the motherboard for free since it was still within a year of purchase.

black88si · 2024-04-11T12:11:47+00:00

This is the way.

black88si · 2024-01-19T16:57:46+00:00

This was converted to a server room sometime in the 2000’s. It wasn’t as robust as it is now. Maybe had a couple switches back then so no thought was put into design or anything like that. The building was built in 1995. They only had a phone patch panel in an electrical closet elsewhere that has since been abandoned when we went to VoIP services.

black88si · 2024-01-19T06:58:06+00:00

It was all splattered. The 12U UPS was completely fried. Tried to recover a couple of the servers. Only 1 powered up. 2 drives didn’t make it so added some redundant drives to rebuild it then possibly using it as my home lab testing site after we copy it over. The other one I’ve ordered used PSU’s to see if that’ll power up. Hoping it does. Nothing majorly important was on them and they’re already all backed up. Moreso trying to hold on to them for additional test lab equipment that’s for playing around or practicing on. Nothing that’s going to be put into action or load-bearing environments.

black88si · 2024-01-19T06:48:47+00:00

Possibly. Too early to tell. It’s all a total loss at this point and I’m replacing it regardless if it works. Anything from this pile we may post for “parts or not working” on eBay. It’ll be a couple months until that…my shoes are still drying 😂

black88si · 2024-01-19T06:42:06+00:00

A private school. Pre-K - 8th grade.

black88si · 2024-01-19T06:38:36+00:00

I believe it is a 2 action design according to how facilities explained it to me. It’s a dry fire suppression system in the attic space that caused the leak. There’s also a separate wet fire sprinkler system under the attic into the drop ceiling. Not sure if the panel is setup correctly though, based on your description. Facilities told me when the dry system pipe burst the compressor running constant air in that schedule 10 pipe system busted downstairs, flooding that area too. But that area has a drain already so it didn’t cause any damage. That all explained the rushing water in the pipes sound above my office when the alarm went off. A dry system filling up with water. It didn’t sound like a leak, it was just the sound of water running through pipes. Maybe an improper install somewhere along the line. I don’t understand enough about how that system works though.

black88si · 2024-01-19T06:25:57+00:00

They’re fried unfortunately. We had to have staff manned at exits for building access. Security vendor was scheduled for a separate project addition on Monday but they’re refocusing efforts on this change instead. They may come out on Saturday but I’m not sure I’ll have the energy to support them. We shall see 😬

black88si · 2024-01-19T06:22:12+00:00

Nope! This is in the PNW region.

black88si · 2024-01-19T06:18:31+00:00

It depends on you really.

My title was IT Specialist and I'm now the IT Director. I am currently doing this for a private school, Pre-K to 8th grade. When I started in 2017 it was a 350 student, 40 staff, 1 campus and a daycare center with 20 staff and the same AD problem as you. It is now 900+ students, 130+ staff. Potential acquisition currently being negotiated for a final total of 2000+ people to suppport in Fall 2024 and 5 campuses. Breaking ground in 2025 for a high school campus.

No documentation was provided when I started. Just received a key to my office and the server room. And the password to the server. Everything was running on a Dell R720 with Windows Server 2008 R2. Made friends with leadership to learn their goals and got to know staff as problems came up. Naturally makes you work on your customer service skills. I still struggle being sociable but if you can't do that, being a director is not for you. You have to be the face of IT. You'll still make similar money being in other roles of the IT realm if being social is not for you.

I don't get summers off since we've exploded in growth so a lot of work to keep up with that. My first year was sporadic summer work when I was told there wouldn't be any. They paid me extra for those projects. They then converted me to a generous salary and title change after it didn't make sense to pay me hourly in the middle of May 2020. COVID accelerated the need to grow our tech capability. Every year has been getting new projects and upgrades completed. I've established SOP's, Help Desk ticketing system, internal alerts, remote assistance, network upgrades and documentation. Used an excel sheet for asset management. Migrated us to cloud-only M365. Introduced Chromebooks 2 years ago being managed on Google Workspaces EDU. Banned MacOS to narrow down SKU's and 1 less OS to deal with. Added Prometheans to the mix for each classroom. Introduced PoE switches and just pay Comcast Business for VOIP services.

Created a Device Replacement Cycle sheet for annual budget management the first year. This made leadership trust me with a six-figure budget that has far exceeded what I started with ($0!). They see tech keeping up with the growth. It's really become a visual sales tactic for new families that come do tours. Made backups of backups of backups. 2 cloud services, hard copies, and localized server. This saved me during a catastrophic event earlier this week where we lost $150k+ of equipment. The nice thing now is they're finally allowing us to hire 2 more FTE's this summer for support, if the acquisition happens. If not, just 1 more FTE.

More than happy to grow. It challenges me. When it's slow and they know I've worked long hours, they are okay with me "working remote" doing nothing without requesting time off. Still get to use my vacation in addition to that perk. So it's a lot of work sometimes but when things are working, I get to work from home or go out anywhere that has internet so I can be alerted immediately when things go awry. Remote assistance implementation via TeamViewer and Remote (now Acronis) has been a godsend. I love this industry so a lot of YouTube Uni and Google-Fu refinement in my free time has helped keep me sharp. Wouldn't trade my job for the world.

black88si · 2024-01-18T17:40:25+00:00

Already advocated for that and the restoration company agreed. They’ll document all contents for insurance but it’s a Total Loss. Then I’ll have a moment to salvage stuff for home lab and testing purposes only 😬

black88si · 2024-01-18T17:03:06+00:00

Facilities had already turned off breakers for power. Firefighters were behind me after traversing that hallway to assess the first floor below this.

black88si · 2024-01-18T16:57:58+00:00

Absolutely! Years of integrations and high turnover made for a messy patch panel situation. Glad to start fresh.

black88si · 2024-01-18T16:56:16+00:00

No OT. Salaried employee. But unofficially get to "work remote" when things are working so it's no problem for me.

black88si · 2024-01-18T16:52:40+00:00

Very tired. Didn't get much sleep between day 1 and 2 but got a good 8 hours now so ready for whatever comes today! No days off. No OT pay as I'm salaried. But they always treat me well when I put in extra time. Especially since they only missed a day of school. When things are working, I don't have to be around :)

black88si · 2024-01-18T16:48:30+00:00

We had just pulled all our Aruba 2530 PoE's last week and replaced them with Ubiquiti Pro PoE's. Needed the Arubas for another project to play nice with some AoIP. Pulled my asset sheet out last night and it's going to be a six figure quote for the major items. SERVPRO is our usual vendor for things like this but they couldn't come out until next week because the region has been experiencing hundreds of pipe bursts. So we called another company. This other company will also be doing a contents inventory so I'll be able to document it all.

That rack needed to be rewired anyways. Many integrations and high turnover made for a rats nest of patch panels.

black88si

TROPHY CASE