> - Get started performing some kind of documentation of the > taken-over infrastructure and the current infrastructure > using something like Racktables. Non-config technical > descriptions will go into Sharepoint (I would like to use a > wiki, but sadly cannot given big bucks have already been paid)
<rant>I use Sharepoint extensively, it's so primitive, takes ~30 minutes to block out a basic table of contents with a few sections of 1-2 paragraphs each. Would take 3 minutes in Wikimedia. Stay away if you can.</rant> Haven't yet got much interest from other sysadmins in contributing to the wiki, but I have started one-on-one sessions with team members to plan out what needs documenting, level of detail, standard information to include, stuff like that. Haven't encountered any overt resistance. I'm aiming to automate insertion of data into our Sharepoint wiki (eg, DNS, location, Cacti/Nagios displays, stuff like that). > - See if I can get underlying config files checked into > Subversion every time the underlying config files for a service Oh, yeah. This is another tough sell, but sell you must. There's a cautionary tale about someone who knew the Right Thing To Do, but couldn't sell it to colleagues[1]. Don't let that happen. "Baby steps" is the watchword in my workplace. I accept the prospect of 1- and 2-year timeframes for some Important Things that need doing. There's a gauntlet each idea has to run: identifying a problem -> floating the idea that something can be done to fix it -> gauging group awareness of the problem and possible solutions -> gauging the group appetite/attitude towards a solution -> identifying push-back -> advocating change -> seeking buy-in -> getting on an agenda -> getting commitment to implement -> choosinging an implementation -> scheduling an implementation -> getting resources assigned. Did I miss anything? Finally, doing: designing, planning, implementing, documenting, training, and deploying the Important Thing. TL;DR: Some of my time is spent persuading[2] or planning how to persuade. Sometimes it's easy. Sometimes it's more of a battle. I wish I was better at it. Sometimes it feels like moving through the five stages[3]. [1] https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Semmelweis [2] https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Persuasion [3] https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model -- Charles Polisher _______________________________________________ Tech mailing list [email protected] https://lists.lopsa.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tech This list provided by the League of Professional System Administrators http://lopsa.org/
