I second the up-to-date network diagram suggestion.
My comment is more directed to your "take
charge" attitude (which is good).
I understand the need to impress "higher ups" when
one is starting out in a
new position. However, I would also set the expectation
that it would take
you about 3 to 6 months to learn the network and the company
processes before
you can make appropriate reccomendations to improve it.
There is a reason
why
things are they way they are in a network: business or
process need, best
practice, or simple ignorance! It will simply take you time
to learn the
reason why things are they way that they are. Only after
understanding the
network and the business processes can you make
reccomendations that will
really "impress" the higher-ups.
Best of luck in your new position!
Ricardo
EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOODJoin me> Date: Wed, 13 Aug
2008 10:37:52 -0400>
From: Burger.Prinsloo sourcing.co.za> To: ciscogroupstudy.com> Subject: RE:
New Sr. Engineer Role [7:132273]> > I'd recommend
building an up-to-date
network diagram. Include everything> - circuit numbers
and speed for WAN
links. Types of WAN links that they> possibly have,
internal and external
IP's. A nice thing to have on the> diagram is names and
contact numbers of
the
people managing 3rd party> devices (so if it breaks you
only have to mouse
over the device on the> diagram). Include everything. It
makes the whole
process of optimizing> (and troubleshooting) the
infrastructure much easier.>
> -----Original Message-----> From: nobodygroupstudy.com
[mailto:nobodygroupstudy.com] > Sent: Wednesday,
August 13, 2008 4:24 PM>
To:
ciscogroupstudy.com> Subject: New Sr. Engineer Role
[7:132273]> > So, I
start
a new job soon. I will be the sole Sr. Network Engineer
for> a> company. I
have worked with networking and telecom for over a dozen>
years> and 1/2 of
that in a Cisco environment. I am a current CCNA and
have> completed the CCNP
Academy, but have not passed all the tests yet, but>
have> been working at a
CCNP level for a couple years.> > This new role will
put me in charge of a
complete enterprise network for> the> first time ever.
In the past, I have
merely worked under the structure> of> someone other
people's designs and
restrictions. The US operations that> I> will be
responsible for consists of
15 locations, 2 data centers and 800> employees.> >
I will be in charge
administering and optimizing the Cisco LAN/WAN>
environment as well as the
two
existing data centers and some Security> aspects, such as
VPN and ASA
firewalls, video conferencing, and Cisco> Call>
Managers for voice. Also, we
are moving to a new building in April and> we> will be
building out a new
data
center there as well as the LAN> infrastructure for about
400 people, before
moving in and migrating data> center devices.> > My
questions are this...
What
kind of things would you do first when> coming> into a
new environment you
are
now in sole charge of? How would you> start to>
evaluate it and start to
improve it. What kind of questions would you> have>
for your supervisor?> > I
want to be able to come in with a "take charge"
attitude and be able> to>
start evaluating things and making recommendations. My
manager is aware>
that>
this position is a step up in my career and that I have not
previously>
worked
in a senior role. But I want to start things out on the
right> foot> and
impress my boss right from the beginning.> > Also,
What are "must have" books
to have in your collection for topics> like> best
practices, network
optimization, security, data center design and>
management, QOS, BGP, MPLS,
ASAs, Cisco Call Manager. I am sure I have> some>
titles that people will
recommend, but I think this is a good> opportunity to>
see what all of you
Message Posted at:
http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7
&i=132277&t=132273
--------------------------------------------------
FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.
groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html
|