[SURVEY] Summer Solstice: IT Pros’ Recommendations for When the Days Get Longer

[OliviaP]

We can all agree that this year has been a bit... different so far—some months have felt like years, and others have gone by in the blink of an eye. But among all the uncertainty, we can always count on planet Earth to deliver on one constant: longer daylight hours in the summer days. 

Leading up to the solstice on Saturday, June 20, the days will be getting longer and warmer, so we want to know your recommendations on how to best leverage the extra hour to optimize IT environments to get out and enjoy some fun in the sun. Share your tips, tricks, and lessons learned on how to help automate manual IT tasks to help save time and get you out the door faster to kick back and enjoy the longer daylight hours.

Share your thoughts by June 11 and we’ll put 250 THWACK^® points in your account!

[poekbradley]

We love leveraging scripting and jobs when it makes sense. Two things.

One item I love is a good python script. We have one that runs against our WWAN OOB devices and checks for route entries and RSSI status. If it is not favorable, we can restart the cell services automatically to re-establish a route if it become unavailable.

Another tool we lean on is NCM jobs. We use it to run daily show commands on items that we want to get a quick summary on and report any error outputs via email. Currently, we are using a job to show us failed authentications on our switches for NAC so we can proactively take care of users as they make their way back into the office.

We are trying our best to start with low hanging fruit to make our lives a bit easier and try to filter out noise.

[josh3031]

Perhaps add an easy method for pushing out configurations to multiple devices at once by changing the running/start-up configuration of a device. Allowing for changes on large portions of the network can be done. This would save everyone a ton of time. Thank you.

[ststeven77]

Use my vacation time in the summer and let the others deal with it! 😎

[sturdyerde]

Self care is a GREAT way to make yourself more effective at work!

After that, learn a scripting language and start automating! It's hard to imagine an IT job these days that could not benefit from PowerShell in one way or another!

[tmumaugh]

I've got a test ansible server setup that I've been trying to learn. I feel like there is a steep learning curve here but I can already see some benefits so once it's all up and running I think it will save a ton of time in the future!

[petergwilson]

Thanks to the current situation I’ve been furloughed so every day is a summer day, relaxing, drinking beer and letting the non furloughed peeps take the strain for a while.  It is quite pleasing to see them struggle.  Now they know what my life has been like.  

[ew_ofd]

Great time to fill the project timeline for later in the year so we can all enjoy as much of the warmer days as possible. 

[smttysmth02gt]

As far as automation and optimizing time goes, we do use scripts when we are able, and on my side of the fence (Network), I try to use NCM to manage configurations as much as possible.  Compliance reports and jobs can help you stay on top of things for sure.  

[jmodjeski]

If you need to do something, Do It, if you need to do it again write a script, I have found the thought process of creating scripting for even simple tasks leaves your brain a little more limber. Also it creates paper trail of scripts, add a little bit of discipline, before you know it everything will happen with the press of button. So simple even I can do this type of work.

[aardav_1]

For me, just setting up the VMware alerting has saved me a lot of time. Network Admin prior to me never set anything up and was checking only when there was an issue. 

[wilder]

We have a program that tracks inventory and patches of workstations, and can schedule automatic patches through it.

[doberhol]

Automate it. Script it. Schedule it. Do it in such a way that you don't have to be there to do it.

[birendrakc]

Automate reporting after each testing of the applications under a load. 

[ericrochow]

Create an automated self-service catalog for other silos! There's no reason the help desk should have to ask the network team to change the vlan on a switchport. Just make sure there's an audit trail.

[RaviK]

Using NCM functions - backups, restoring configs, creating custom templates (Autoneg settings, Netflow config, SNMP configs - community, traps etc) has simplified our network MANAGEMENT piece and thereby allows me to use the extended daylight hours to pursue my personal non-IT goals.

[ihg]

Know when to finish extra work and enjoy the weather with others...

[ecklerwr1]

This year here in the "Valley of the Sun" in Scottsdale Arizona I'm hoping the much increased solar radiation is going to kick the @#$% out of the Wuhan Virus that's been plaguing us!  I'm doubting the virus can live very well in the 100+ degree Fahrenheit Arizona Sun!

Bill 

[ecklerwr1]

That's my trick... Sun kill the virus and people can go back to work!

[ferrashoo]

How about prepping your day by setting time aside to get one new skill/certification? Work will always be there, improving yourself makes you more valuable to your employer.

Don't forget to make peer connections. You can lean on people that have a different perspective and can give you insight so you can solve problems, not only at work but in all types of situations. A cool attitude in the hot summer or the middle of a system meltdown will give you clarity to solve the problem or get the right folks to tackle the issue.

[bbsalami]

Automate backup process, extra time to carry out labs

[ben.marquis]

Cross train and leverage existing self-care portals.

[pkuan]

click the shutdown button by end of working day and enjoy outdoor with family. Automation is the key for IT, looking more to help patching side this year

[zennifer]

I love my ORION deployment!   I continue to tweak and create maps .. this has been a life safer for the 911 District.  I do plan on complementing SolarWinds ... maybe ... with VRealize Operations Manager from VM Ware.  I have tasked VM Ware to prove to me how this tool will compliment not complicate my environment.   You only get out of tools what you put into them ... I spend a moderate amount of time making sure my deployment is up to date and contains every endpoint in my environment.  Since I take advantage of these great tools, I can use the additional time with my family!!  To you I say THANK YOU for making my job what it is today!!!