The Man who knew to much Tuesday, September 21, 2004 2:21 AM
I had the need to pull myself away from this project and tend to the waiting list of priorities that are building in my life. Yesterday I was offered a diversion. Not week in the Caribbean but an opportunity. The call came in to resolve a conflict between a father and his daughter. He needed a home network. I have been running a home network for years and I have been operating a windows domain with SQL server , domain servers, DLT tape back and print server all right around the corner from where I prepare my linguine and clam sauce.
The system has been running without issue. Last year I hosted an internet site from behind the firewall. Keeping the system running has required the dedication of a systems administrator. Could I install the basic functionality for the user without the complication? Well I seemed to have achieved just that. A Wi/Fi network running 802.11 g and all connected to the internet through PPP. Part of what was required to accomplish this was to forget everything I knew.
The factors involved in having it all work were enormous, the ISP, the router, encryption, the DSL modem any set to the wrong setting would make the system fail. As it turned out we had been lockout from connecting because the router kept requesting a login and the password for the PPP had not been set. No matter what was attempted there was no way the system was going to work without contacting the ISP. Now that get me to the point I am trying to make.
Most of what I had attempted could have been accomplished by someone ignorant of how complex the process is. The disk supplied has installation software that investigates most every configuration. My attempts of understanding might actually lead to a situation that could not be resolved by the automatic setup, causing even more troubles. I left successful with the daughter browsing on Itunes and the markets rates being updated on the machine, great! But, well aware that the automation that I helped usher in with the programs I developed were now challenging my usefulness in supplying a service. What goes around comes around.