New IT Job

[xerodok]

I just started my first IT job no more than two weeks ago. I've been trying to assemble some kind of tool kit to make my job easier and more efficient, so I don't have to keep doing things the long way.

My job includes networking, network cabling, PC repair/cleaning/maintenance, performance testing, and all the other basic duties of an IT technician/network administrator.

I was just wondering from you guys here on tech if there's anything you recommend for me to add to my tools. Anything that makes life easier so to speak.

So far my collection of tools:

- Netbook
- Basic screwdriver set
- Compressed air / cleaners
- RJ45/CAT5 Punch Down Tool
- Ethernet Tester
- Cable crimper/stripper
- Label maker

Any suggestion and feedback is welcome, feel free to critique me if I have stupid shit so far.

Thanks!

[Evanos]

If you will be dealing with clients you'll probably want to add this one to your office:
- punching bag

[Slott]

ez-rj45 is a godsend in cabling. Makes it soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much easier.

[Isiolia]

Get a USB key or two, load them up with common software tools/installs you might need.

A USB/whatever HDD dock. Preferably a good one (I have some of these http://www.wiebetech.com/products/UltraDock.php but they're pricey). If you do forensics/recovery you may want one that can prevent writes to the disk. Either way, comes in handy.

If you're recovering/reformatting machines, having an external HDD you can dump people's data to during the process is helpful.

Also, bootable CDs/utilities. Ultimate Boot CD can be handy, along with diagnostic CDs for models you work on if available.

[Icari]

if you do work at your desk a KVM switch might come in handy. some common drivers on cd/dvd that you use often can be a life saver as well as os restore cd's

[Senji]

Sucks using crimpers for stripping, get these and a good set of pliers

http://www.amazon.com/IDEAL-T-6-T-St...2055955&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Channellock-di...2055793&sr=8-9

[Slott]

A USB/whatever HDD dock. Preferably a good one (I have some of these http://www.wiebetech.com/products/UltraDock.php but they're pricey). If you do forensics/recovery you may want one that can prevent writes to the disk. Either way, comes in handy.

That allows you to take a HDD out of a comp, put it on the dock, and view/take files off it on another comp?

[xerodok]

Thanks so much for the suggestions.

I totally forgot to bring my external HDD to my desk so that's on my to do list for tomorrow. Also the flash drive with setup files for diagnostic programs, etc is something I've been working on for a while now.

On that topic, any recommendations for diagnostic programs? I primarily use CCleaner, Malwarebytes, & Piriform's Defragger. I haven't really found anything else useful on older company PCs that don't get much more use other than browsing the internet occasionally, Excel/Word, email, & accessing the company's POS terminal to view inventory.

As for other programs, I haven't made it routine to install anything other than Malwarebytes and Firefox. I'm slowly making the conversion to install Firefox with Adblock on all the company's machines because I feel using IE is such a security issue these days.

[Isiolia]

That allows you to take a HDD out of a comp, put it on the dock, and view/take files off it on another comp?

Yeah. There are a lot of potential uses, particularly if he's working from a laptop, or on laptops - if you've got a full tower with hot-swappable SATA bays, then perhaps less so =P

On that topic, any recommendations for diagnostic programs? I primarily use CCleaner, Malwarebytes, & Piriform's Defragger. I haven't really found anything else useful on older company PCs that don't get much more use other than browsing the internet occasionally, Excel/Word, email, & accessing the company's POS terminal to view inventory.

I like doing Combofix prior to Malwarebytes if a machine is actually infected.

HiJackThis is also useful if trying to remove a bad startup item.

There are a number of programs in the sticky that might prove useful. http://windirstat.info/ is nice if you're not sure where disk space is going (I've used it to find things like log files that weren't getting erased). Nice stuff here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...s/default.aspx as well. Just depends on what you do.

[rezn0r]

was going to add exactly what Isiolia added, good luck with the new job! i'm pretty jealous as my "IT job" has slowly turned into 2/5 accounting/ISO auditing

[Slott]

Thanks so much for the suggestions.

I totally forgot to bring my external HDD to my desk so that's on my to do list for tomorrow. Also the flash drive with setup files for diagnostic programs, etc is something I've been working on for a while now.

On that topic, any recommendations for diagnostic programs? I primarily use CCleaner, Malwarebytes, & Piriform's Defragger. I haven't really found anything else useful on older company PCs that don't get much more use other than browsing the internet occasionally, Excel/Word, email, & accessing the company's POS terminal to view inventory.

As for other programs, I haven't made it routine to install anything other than Malwarebytes and Firefox. I'm slowly making the conversion to install Firefox with Adblock on all the company's machines because I feel using IE is such a security issue these days.

If your company is willing to shell it out, buy an company wide antivirus program. I bought trend micro worry free business - standard for my company, and our virii issues for the past 5 months have been 0. Also allows me to restrict internet usage, and other stuff all from one location (rather than having individual settings on each comp)

[Furtwangler]

buy these for cable stuff, they have one blade to cut the individual rj45 wires, and the other side is just the right width to strip the wires, i'd marry these if I could. http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2102896

[Ratatapa]

Make yourself a CD case with these cd's (you can burn CD legally till you use a Legal CD key )

1) Hiren boot CD (awsome for maintenance PC)
2) Windows XP SP3 Pro and home (in case )
3) Windows Vista Sp2 32 bits + 64 bits
4) Windows 7 AIO (all in one contains all versions)
5) Special CD I call service packs (inside I have Multiple folder ( 2000, Xp vista Office) Inside each i got the service pack downloaded from technet (2000 Sp4), XP (sp2 + sp3) Vista (sp1 + sp2 both 32 and 64 bits), Office 2003 and 2007 for the service packs
6) Office 2003 and Office 2007

Never leave home without it

[Melena]

Damn it Ratatapa, I was just about to post about getting Hiren's.

I'd also pick up a power supply tester and keep a text file with all bios beep codes handy as well. Maybe also common drivers as well. ATI, Nvidia, Intel Graphics etc...

[xerodok]

power supply tester

What's the advantage of this? Does it test and check if the power supply is functional? Does it test how much voltage is actually coming out of it?

[Cephius]

What's the advantage of this? Does it test and check if the power supply is functional? Does it test how much voltage is actually coming out of it?

Mainly used to test if it's functional. They're useful because power supplies are dumb components and rarely have any kind of self test or diagnostics features.

[Slott]

buy these for cable stuff, they have one blade to cut the individual rj45 wires, and the other side is just the right width to strip the wires, i'd marry these if I could. http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2102896

ez rj45 is far superior, look it up. Buy the kit, comes with a wire stripper (clamp it to the wire, spin it around a few times, comes right off. The rj45 connector allows for the wires to go through completely, so you dont have to cut wires to length. The crimper then crimps the rj45 connector and cuts the wires exactly at the same time, allowing for quite possibly the easiest wire creation ever.

The kit (dont remmeber where i bought it, if really necessary i'll find the PO for it) contains this stuff:

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_7h2uque2hc_b

also for cat5e/cat6 cables, if you're running them in walls or the ceiling, you have to use plennum wires (cost more, but the other type is illegal to run through ceilings etc due to fire safety codes)

crimper, same as the one he pointed out, but cuts the wires that go through the connector.
50-100 connectors (as shown in the 2nd item, which as you can see the wires go through)
the wire stripper (next item down, super easy to use),

a wirecutter as well

[Bardicrune]

Definitely recommend a pair of hemostats for when you drop a screw down into a pc case. Also helps you get into tight spaces a lot easier.

[Norellicus]

If you're just starting out on IT I highly recommend staying AWAY from "automatic" tools; the self guided strippers and crimpers, etc. Learn how to do it manually, then use the automatic stuff to speed up your day to day minutiae once you're familiar with what this magic little automatic device is actually doing. This also accommodates self-repair of those automatic tools.

I have never used anything but a pair of electrician's scissors (something else you should have in your bag btw) and a regular RJ45 crimper and punchdown and can do it faster than a lot of people I know who have the ezcrimp or other such things.

Auto tools make you lazy and complacent and you can miss details when you don't always look at each step in the process.

Edit: Regarding the fire codes and cabling types, there's more factors there that have to be considered that may allow you to get by going PVC; but when in doubt, use plenum. It's usually better quality jacketing anyway and is easier to work with.