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Stefano Marinelli

Me: "You need a new server. The current one is 14 years old, critical, and starting to show signs of fatigue and inadequacy."
Them: "No, make it work. At most, we'll add more RAM."
Me: "We should still upgrade it, and no, you can't keep running virtualized Windows Server 2008 indefinitely, even if it's only on the LAN. You need to plan an upgrade for the entire infrastructure."
Them: "No, we have no budget for this (after spending thousands of euros on purely aesthetic office redecorations for staff offices, which were already in excellent condition)."
Me: "It's about 3,000, maximum 4,000 euros - do you realize that if that server were to go down, the loss for you would be in those figures every hour of downtime? Maybe you don't worry about it, but I do, because I understand what you're risking."
Them: "Find a way to make the current hardware work stably so you can stop worrying."
Me: "Okay, I've found the solution. From now on, you can find yourselves a new consultant, because from now on, I've already stopped worrying about you."

Sometimes it's necessary, unfortunately.

#IT #SysAdmin #SysAdminLife #Security #BusinessContinuity

36 comments
Stefano Marinelli

@AlexanderVI sometimes they just say "do something magic". Sure, where's my wand? 😆

AlexanderVI

@stefano computers, magic, it's all the same jazz, right?

(🤦‍♂️)

linus

@stefano my blood pressure reading this 📈📈📈📈📈📈📉

Alessio :linux:

@stefano I'm actually amazed by the fact that they didn't decide to go for a new one and maybe split the load between critical services (on the new machine) and non critical ones (on the old one)

Simon Dassow

@stefano That's how it should be done. Wouldn't be surprised if they learn it the hard way and come back in the end.

❄️ freezr ❄️

@stefano

I had been in offices with the system calendar stuck an year back to avoid expiring the trial version. Or in offices where software was never upgraded you have to use a 10yo version. I saw in a medical center (recently) the frontdesk assistant using a virtualized Win98 to run their management software. :flan_facepalm:

I wonder why you didn't suggest the cloud alternative... :flan_XD:

Stefano Marinelli

@freezr We're not too far apart: they use XP and the line of work is similar...They have a terrible connection, so all remote solutions are currently out of the question.

❄️ freezr ❄️

@stefano

Ah... tutto il mondo è paese... sorry I couldn't translate this in English... :flan_XD:

gyptazy
@stefano@bsd.cafe difficult situation. But actions are needed if the client won't cooperate and bad decisions are made where you would have to take the responsibilities for. So, I can clearly understand this.
Armin Hanisch

@stefano some people just can’t anticipate things.

Stefano Marinelli

@Linkshaender then, when everything goes in flames, they complain about everything (but them)

Armin Hanisch

@stefano if you hold your ear next to the server‘s case, you can hear it whisper… “I've deleted things you people wouldn't believe. Balance sheets getting corrupt on sda0. I tried to recover partitions destroying presentations about the Thannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain“
😎😉

oxy

@stefano I’ve had a few of these encounters over the years and have found that the (often temporary*) loss of income was worth the cut in stress/haggling over invoices**/6am emergency calls.

* Mantaining a high standard of work and professionalism both in yourself and in the customers you work with tends to attract more of the same. Word of mouth and recommendations was always the most effective way of gaining new business.

** I’ve found that 100% of clients who refuse to do things for their own good are also the ones to haggle over every single invoice item and demand discounts for no reason.

@stefano I’ve had a few of these encounters over the years and have found that the (often temporary*) loss of income was worth the cut in stress/haggling over invoices**/6am emergency calls.

* Mantaining a high standard of work and professionalism both in yourself and in the customers you work with tends to attract more of the same. Word of mouth and recommendations was always the most effective way of gaining new business.

Stefano Marinelli

@oxyhyxo exactly, I agree with every single word you've written. When the standard of work drops, so does the quality of the relationship. I believe this also stems from the fact that those in extreme need of earning something may resort to unprofessional situations like this and consequently accept compromises on payments.

Over the past 20 years, I've learned that insisting on delivering quality work is necessary for peace of mind. Sometimes I've lowered my compensation to allow clients to achieve better results if there were (real) budget constraints, and this has generally been a good long-term investment.

I often work with developers. Some of them I've known since they were very young and have changed jobs several times. A great satisfaction is when, years later, they call me to propose working together in their new company.

"You're going to reap just what you sow."

@oxyhyxo exactly, I agree with every single word you've written. When the standard of work drops, so does the quality of the relationship. I believe this also stems from the fact that those in extreme need of earning something may resort to unprofessional situations like this and consequently accept compromises on payments.

oxy

@stefano additionally, so much of my work has come from clients who had been burned by other consultants who liked to cut corners/oversell/underdeliver. A lot of IT providers feel pressured to cut their own throats to attract/retain customers and this is exactly the wrong path (in fact, it was often part of my pitch - this is what it costs for me to provide this solution/service sustainably. If I go broke or constantly have to constantly churn and retrain staff to keep the lights on its a negative for both of us)

Jennifer Kayla | Theogrin 🦊

@stefano

I'm reading this as,
Them: Make this work for the next six years.
You: Sure, 4,000 euros on server parts and upgrades.
Them: But we need new desk chairs and a minibar refill.
You: Hope you're lightweights, because that minibar's the last you get.

Jennifer Kayla | Theogrin 🦊

@stefano

4,000 euros. 4K! I've advised on consumer desktops worth more. That's a weekend junket for five is what that is. That's the price of refurbishing a big apartment to allow for a cat or a small dog, rehoming price included.

For a refurbishment of a decade-and-a-half old server install, that's not just peanuts, that's peanut shells. Glad you ran.

Cyber Yuki

@stefano As usual, it's greedy assholes who are the ultimate cause of a problem.

Demiurg

@stefano I had a meeting this week where the customer said they are not convinced about APIs for connecting systems. They said it is way more reliable to copy the whole data in every application. I gave several reasons why this is a bad idea. As they started provoking me with 'and what are you doing if our backend is down..what will then happen with this API data exchange' I also said 'nothing' because we will not exhange anything and they can search for another solution without me.

F Schumacher

@stefano I supported a law office with a DEC Alpha Micro, terminal server, 4 input terminals, (10Mb coax to the TS) & 2 printers, just to run WordPerfect. For 15 years I tried to move him. Bought used parts on eBay, PS, HDD, SCSI controller, RAM. Finally shutdown 5 yrs ago, they closed, server still running!

Alan Langford

@stefano Yeah. Fire bad clients before they threaten to sue you for not doing the things you told them to do. Therein lies the path to sanity.

Ryan 🐧

@stefano
“Make it work.”

“Well, as long as we’re talking about magical conjuration…”
[points wand at my own head]
“Forgeticus!!”
[walks away]
😂

Stefano Marinelli

@dch The more I try to understand their point of view, the more I find out two stories are more similar than I was expecting...

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