I'll never be an IT pro but I have to hire someone to come in everytime I have network problems. What's the best way for someone to learn how to set up a network and do basic maintenance? I would like to be able to take care of network #1 (see below). I'll continue to leave #2 and #3 to the Pros but it was $$ just to get my TiVo hooked up. I understand the principles, just can't do the steps.

Expertise level: bought my first computer in 2001. At the time my brother said I had the computer expertise of a 3yo. Now have 3 networks running out of a home office. They cannot interface.
1) Wireless for internet access: 2 desktops and TiVo. Thanks to FW effect, this past year I acquired a Zune and TiVo. IT person helps me with them too.
2) Hard-wired LAN for home office w/ 4 yo PowerEdge 2600 Xeon server, PERC4/DI 128MB (2 internal channels), 3x36GB 10K RPM Ultra 320 SCSI Hard Drive (whatever this all means) with 2 workstations & printers
3) Dial up to another facility's LAN

My IT person says that when I call he knows there's a problem, that I'll have done the trouble-shooting basics (including re-boot). So I can tell him where the problem is but I can't fix it! I'm in a rural area- no community college classes.

There's no substitute for hands-on experience in my opinion. Just hold off a little longer on calling your IT person next time you feel the need and see if you can fix the problem yourself with a little more troubleshooting on your part.

I've been working with computers since the mid- to late-eighties and still learn things on a regular basis so it's not as if you can take a class or read a book and consider yourself done.

Maybe someone else will have an idea of a class you can take or a book you can read but trial & error will be a big part of your education.

ChinaRider said:There's no substitute for hands-on experience in my opinion. Just hold off a little longer on calling your IT person next time you feel the need and see if you can fix the problem yourself with a little more troubleshooting on your part.
And google. And read. Alot. Ask questions (on message boards) And don't be afraid to make mistakes - and learn from them.

That's all I've ever done. (Not sure how many people here are "Pro's", but I am not a "pro")

Thanks. I do keep trying to fix things by myself before calling so I've definitely learned a lot in the past 8 years but it seems the more I learn the less I seem to know-- although that could be because I'm solving the simpler problems w/o even thinking about it now. Appreciate the suggestions for websites and learning.

The server is backed up daily to tape drive and we rotate tapes daily. Tapes are kept off site. Fortunately in 7 yrs have never had to do a restore. I think we've done one as a test. I also do a regular back up to an external hard drive off my desktop.

So I'm going to try to put another desktop on my wireless network and see what happens (knot in stomach...)

my4mainecoons said:I'll never be an IT pro but I have to hire someone to come in everytime I have network problems. What's the best way for someone to learn how to set up a network and do basic maintenance? I would like to be able to take care of network #1 (see below). I'll continue to leave #2 and #3 to the Pros but it was $$ just to get my TiVo hooked up. I understand the principles, just can't do the steps.

Expertise level: bought my first computer in 2001. At the time my brother said I had the computer expertise of a 3yo. Now have 3 networks running out of a home office. They cannot interface.
1) Wireless for internet access: 2 desktops and TiVo. Thanks to FW effect, this past year I acquired a Zune and TiVo. IT person helps me with them too.
2) Hard-wired LAN for home office w/ 4 yo PowerEdge 2600 Xeon server, PERC4/DI 128MB (2 internal channels), 3x36GB 10K RPM Ultra 320 SCSI Hard Drive (whatever this all means) with 2 workstations & printers
3) Dial up to another facility's LAN

My IT person says that when I call he knows there's a problem, that I'll have done the trouble-shooting basics (including re-boot). So I can tell him where the problem is but I can't fix it! I'm in a rural area- no community college classes.Based on the highlighted comments, you need to gain basic PC knowledge before you even begin to think about networking. Seriously. Your question is sorta like saying "I know how to pump my own gas, but how do I learn how to rebuild me entire engine when I need to?"

You start with the beginning - duh. Learn basic hardware. If you don't even understand the computer terms in #2, how in the hell do you think you'll be able to do any networking?

Also, there's no reason for you to have "three networks that cannot interface".

Correct. The networks cannot interface for a variety of reasons and pros have tried to connect #2 & #3 unsuccessfully. The hardwired LAN contains restricted information so to maximize privacy it does not have internet access. #3 is similarly restricted. OK, so where do I go to learn about the basics? As I said, I plan to leave networks #2 and #3 to the pros.

I agree. Just try to do it. I'm a hands on guy and that's how I learned... all by being hands on. Depending on how you learn you might get more from reading

I'll second what minidrag said.
Make sure you back up regularly.
Even more import, MAKE SURE YOUR RESTORE WORKS!!

Once you have confidence in your backup/restore procedures you have much less to worry about should you screw up.

In addition to some of the references given above, also check out Practically Networked for some good tutorials and trouble shooting advice.