figuring out where to start

[Pants]

As I read the various posts in the networking forum, it seems to me that I clearly won't be ready to take on just any type of business clients. It doesn't look like a good idea to start in businesses with WAN links and corporate/branch office setups, which I'm sure make up a great deal of the IT support market. So, what about businesses with single offices.... Do those types of business accept service agreements with IT support companies? Do they make enough money to be able to justify that expense? I won't be offering service agreement right away, but I would like to not too long after starting the business after getting a feel for working with business clients.

I'm learning the following technologies/services and hope somebody could give me some suggestions to add to the list or take away from it:

-Already know Apple/PC desktop/laptop repair (more or less). I know networking basics also (A+/Network+ certified). Got a CCNA book that I've read, although I don't plan on taking the test.

Learning: General Windows Server usage, Active Directory/group policy (I've spent a lot of time already learning this on a home setup), Terminal Server, Exchange, Backup support, general routine maintenance, network attached storage/file servers, networked printers/scanners, Print servers, VPNs, Centralizing software administration, VoIP phones....

For functions common to most single-office small businesses, did I miss anything ? Would small business support justify learning Cisco IOS and Cisco routers in general ?

 

[DocGreen]

Sooner or later you're going to run into a small business that actually has their s*** together and has decent infrastructure, or wants to get their s*** together and upgrade to a full-on enterprise-grade network. Might as well learn it now rather than putting it off until it's too late and you're either cramming to learn as much as possible for a job or turning it down.

Also, it doesn't hurt to have some support behind you... maybe some friends or professional contacts who know what you don't and don't mind working for you as a subcontractor.

 

[Pants]

That has crossed my mind. I guess I'll have to try to emulate a corporate office/branch office type network in my home to try to learn on. Maybe I could get another Internet connection and hook up another network to it. Then I'll (essentially) have a WAN, and I can hook servers and services up to each end and do experiments and so forth.

Maybe I can find a tech who I can trust that I can pay for hard jobs, until I can do them on my own. I did consider hiring out to help me when I couldn't fix something, but to have a guy help me regularly didn't cross my mind.

 

[DocGreen]

Your best bet would be to try and get your hands on some used equipment. I had found a resale shop locally that had stacks and stacks of enterprise-grade switches, routers, and hubs... unfortunately that was before I had started my business. When I remembered them later on and went to buy up some equip, they had gone out of business.

I took some college classes covering MS Server, Linux server, networking standards & protocols, and Cisco... those helped quite a bit and gave me some hands-on training. OH HEY, I just remembered that in our Cisco class we used a Cisco emulator... can't remember what it was called, but it was pretty decent for training purposes. If I can think of what it was called I'll let ya know.

 

[tomahawkeer]

The emulator was probably Cisco Packet Tracer and is only available through cisco as a current student / instructor for cisco classes, or alumni. Pretty sure its not purchasable, only free to those people. The other possibility is GNS3. Its free and available for download http://www.gns3.net/. You will need to supply an image for the IOS / hardware that you want.

I've not used either a lot, but from what ive seen they should help you get a basic knowledge and understanding of a cisco IOS, at least in regards to routers and some switches. Not too sure how good they will be for ASA, WLan Controlers or VoIP devices, the command line for those tend to be a good bit different than routers / switches. Hope that helps.

 

[Pants]

GNS3 looks like an economical way to at least get me started. Where can I get an image of the IOS ?

Will look into getting some used equipment when I get the money. Thx for the suggestions

 

[tomahawkeer]

I have no idea if its legit, however...

http://www.careercert.info/2009/05/new-cisco-ios-version-124-collection.html

...this site appears to have some images

 

[Pants]

That's awesome. Any recommendation for which router to practice with in GNS3, and which IOS image to use ?

Something as close to what I need to learn, as possible

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Grab a technet subscription then you get licenses for server software just about everything I think. Even if you play with old desktops just to be able to toss windows server on them and be able to set up active directory etc would be a plus methinks.

 

[Pants]

I had a technet subscription. It expired this month because Microsoft changed the EULA to a subscription based software usage. You now have to have an active subscription in order to use the software, as opposed to a limit on number of times product keys can be activated.

I plan to sign up again, eventually.

 

[Markverhyden]

I think you should look at trying to focus a bit on what you want to learn for SOHO clients. My experience is that most of them have very simple setups. Some may have a machine running a M$ server OS because they have a LoB app that requires it. May have AD and maybe not. Of course they will have laptops and desktops and might be using a desktop as a server. Many of those apps are designed to run on XP Pro or W7 Pro.

As far as networking appliances many just have retail routers or maybe an old IT resource set them up with a Sonic Wall or a ProSafe. Unless they have PCI compliance to worry about or are trying to serve up resources to the outside world, such as VPN, their requirements are simple.

I looked at getting trained up on IOS but decided against it. The reality is that most of what goes on in CLI is beyond the scope of what you will see in SOHO. All of the SOHO routers I've seen have excellent GUI's which handle any changes needed with one exception. That is VoIP. That can be an issue. One customer of mine I initially setup a pair of FortiGate routers for point to point between two offices. They wanted to use their VoIP server in one office for the other. I found that there were all kinds of undocumented packet mangling which FortiGate could not clear up. Ended up setting up a couple of Cisco RV's.

That all being said you should have a basic understanding of how to connect to a router over serial/ssh and use the CLI. There are some services out there that let you have console access. You could also setup a Linux based router on any desktop/laptop. While the exact CLI commands may vary a little the basic principles in many, such as Vyatta, are similar to IOS. After all IOS is just a custom roll of BSD.

You should also look at using VM's to setup environments to learning and testing. Personally I use these in a lab environment to test every setup I planned prior to implementation. You could also setup a multi boot machine using GRUB

Also look at getting trained up on OS X server, many small businesses are dumping their M$ servers for these. If you have a Mac you buy the server app for just $20 in the App Store. If you don't have a Mac think about buying a MacMini to get you that hardware platform.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Grab a technet subscription then you get licenses for server software just about everything I think. Even if you play with old desktops just to be able to toss windows server on them and be able to set up active directory etc would be a plus methinks.

 

[Pants]

Grab a technet subscription then you get licenses for server software just about everything I think. Even if you play with old desktops just to be able to toss windows server on them and be able to set up active directory etc would be a plus methinks.

I had a technet subscription. It expired this month because Microsoft changed the EULA to a subscription based software usage. You now have to have an active subscription in order to use the software, as opposed to a limit on number of times product keys can be activated.

I plan to sign up again, eventually.

I heard you the first time. Thx

There are some services out there that let you have console access.

Come again ?? Not sure what you're saying

Also look at getting trained up on OS X server, many small businesses are dumping their M$ servers for these. If you have a Mac you buy the server app for just $20 in the App Store. If you don't have a Mac think about buying a MacMini to get you that hardware platform.

I've got 2008 Mac Book Pro with Snow Leopard installed. I'll take a look at the server app.

You could also setup a Linux based router on any desktop/laptop. While the exact CLI commands may vary a little the basic principles in many, such as Vyatta, are similar to IOS. After all IOS is just a custom roll of BSD.

That's interesting. Is it common for Techs to install a Linux router in a business, in place of a Cisco router, if higher range of features is needed in a router ?


Ultimately, the mix of view points of what initial skills are needed for Small Business is interesting. What ever I decide, I like the idea of subcontracting a tech to help me regularly, for a while. I could consider it an overhead cost. It won't be forever anyway.

 

[DocGreen]

The emulator was probably Cisco Packet Trace

YUP! That's the one... thanks

I had a technet subscription. It expired this month because Microsoft changed the EULA to a subscription based software usage. You now have to have an active subscription in order to use the software, as opposed to a limit on number of times product keys can be activated.

I plan to sign up again, eventually.

OK here's the deal... with any version of windows (vista+, server OSes included, any edition) you get a 120-day evaluation period before you HAVE to activate it. So basically what you can do, for evaluation purposes, is install the server OS without a license key... use it for 120 days as much as possible, and then trash the install. Technically you could the re-install and play around for another 90 days, but that may fall into a grey area of the EULA. Whatever you do, just don't use the server OS in a production environment... ie, for your own business purposes. Use it for evaluation to learn the OS.
FYI... in order to get the full 120 days out of the un-activated OS, you'll need to re-arm the trial... here's a link that explains that process. The article calls this a "hack", but it isn't a hack... it's a built-in administrative function and is completely legal.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-7/extend-the-windows-7-trial-from-30-to-120-days/


Also... you don't have to waste money on equipment for learning purposes. You can install a fully-functional server OS inside a virtual machine on your regular desktop or laptop computer. I use VMware player for this (free), but I know there are several other options.

http://www.vmware.com/products/player/

 

[DocGreen]

That's interesting. Is it common for Techs to install a Linux router in a business, in place of a Cisco router, if higher range of features is needed in a router ?

Absolutely... have a look at DD-WRT. It's a linux-based firmware that can be deployed on a pretty much any router to give it a ridiculous amount of functionality that you never knew you could have.

 

[Pants]

What an incredible amount of insight into practical small business support and learning! So glad I joined the forum.

I've got a Linky's soho router that supports upgrade to DDWRT. I thought about upgrading it a while back but I didn't really have a need to so I passed. Time for another look I guess. How exciting.

OK here's the deal... with any version of windows (vista+, server OSes included, any edition) you get a 120-day evaluation period before you HAVE to activate it. So basically what you can do, for evaluation purposes, is install the server OS without a license key... use it for 120 days as much as possible, and then trash the install. Technically you could the re-install and play around for another 90 days, but that may fall into a grey area of the EULA. Whatever you do, just don't use the server OS in a production environment... ie, for your own business purposes. Use it for evaluation to learn the OS.
FYI... in order to get the full 120 days out of the un-activated OS, you'll need to re-arm the trial... here's a link that explains that process. The article calls this a "hack", but it isn't a hack... it's a built-in administrative function and is completely legal.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windo...0-to-120-days/

Alright.. I'm downloading Server 2008, SBS 2008, SBS 2011, Exchange Server 2007, 2010, 2013, and Server 2012. I'm doing it quickly before I cannot connect to my Subscription anymore. Looks like I'm still in grace period. Any other recommendations while I've got a connection? I've already downloaded most of the common Microsoft apps and burned them to disc... I just like to hold onto the install media for when a client needs a reinstall but doesn't have install media. Wonderful pet to have. It saved me once already.

 

[DocGreen]

I've got a Linky's soho router that supports upgrade to DDWRT. I thought about upgrading it a while back but I didn't really have a need to so I passed. Time for another look I guess. How exciting.

I was having problems with my crappy Linksys router a while back to the point that I had to powercycle it ever day or two... flashed DD-WRT onto it and haven't had a problem since. Not only is it more stable, it actually increased my WIFI signal!

The GUI is definitely much more complex, so I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, but for those of us who know what we're doing, it's amazing.

Alright.. I'm downloading Server 2008, SBS 2008, SBS 2011, Exchange Server 2007, 2010, 2013, and Server 2012. I'm doing it quickly before I cannot connect to my Subscription anymore. Looks like I'm still in grace period. Any other recommendations while I've got a connection?

Everything

Seriously, download as much as you can, while you can. Even if you don't have product keys, you can still trial the OSes if you need to get more familiar with them (Windows 8, for example).

 

[Geek007]

A lot of useful advice here, my thoughts:

it seems to me that I clearly won't be ready to take on just any type of business clients

yes and no, but don't try to run before you can walk, i guess.

It doesn't look like a good idea to start in businesses with WAN links and corporate/branch office setups, which I'm sure make up a great deal of the IT support market

Why not? If you know your stuff, that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

I won't be offering service agreement right away, but I would like to not too long after starting the business after getting a feel for working with business clients.

Again, why not? Depends on the type of potential/clients you come across. I'm NOT trying to treat you like your thick, but think about what a service level agreement is, and why you'd have one?

DocGreen's initial response(I think) is spot on.

When I did my A+ many years ago, my course tutor gave me a bit of advice that has stuck with me to this day, that went something along the lines of "When you work in IT, you never know what your going to come across, so it's a very good idea to know as much as you can".

What are you going to do if you get a call from a new client that has a piece of technology that you haven't dealt with before. Two ways I'd deal with this one, 1) Get to know it, learn it, play around with it etc 2) Partner with other technicians

Point 2 is a very good one as well, because you're going to need to do this anyway, when you can't deal with certain problems for various reasons.

DocGreens comment about used equipment is also a good one. All the stuff I've got was bought used, and I'm always keeping my eye out on eBay for anything of interest.
In fact, some of the stuff I've got, is donkeys years old.
Of course, I realise that this does depend on what you can afford.

Basically, take advantage of any opportunities you can get to get hold of stuff, play around with it, etc.

 

[Markverhyden]

That's interesting. Is it common for Techs to install a Linux router in a business, in place of a Cisco router, if higher range of features is needed in a router ?


Ultimately, the mix of view points of what initial skills are needed for Small Business is interesting. What ever I decide, I like the idea of subcontracting a tech to help me regularly, for a while. I could consider it an overhead cost. It won't be forever anyway.

Yes. Beyond dd-wrt there is Tomato which runs on Broadcom based chips. But where I see a lot is with people using an old desktop as the hardware and then installing one of the distributions. You can put in multiple cards to add physical LAN separation. IPCop is very popular with those that are *nix limited. But there are many other distributions to choose from. Personally I like Vayatta. They have a community edition on top of their commercial offering. I tend to like *nix distributions like those - having a free version on top of paid options. Redhat/Fedora and SUSE/OpenSUSE are other examples.

 

[Pants]

Thanks again.

Started playing around with GNS3 a little tonight. I'm impressed, to say the least. Not 100% sure what I'm doing yet. Not sure what router I want to use yet, although I set up the 7200 with one of the compatible IOS images. Not even sure which one to use. I can't even tell which version is the latest version.

A Cisco router seems to a diverse piece of technology. There so much to them. Even the CCNA book I got doesn't talk much about the different router platforms and capabilities...