** alan c <aeclist@???> [2009-02-04 19:27]:
> Paul Tansom wrote:
> > OK, somewhat prompted by my current state of mind and recent events, but
> > a valid question none the less.
> >
> > For those that have non-technical other halves, relatives or etc. who
> > don't know other techies, what, if anything, have you in place for the
> > contingency of not being there to support your systems? I'm not thinking
> > so much a desktop system, but if you have a server handling mail,
> > printing, file sharing, etc. that would likely be over kill or not
> > wanted without yourself to support it, do you have details of what to do
> > with it and/or an envelope with passwords put to one side?
> >
> > Maybe I'm just thinking too much (and not too clearly) as I try to
> > reintegrate myself into the real world to some extent!
>
> I had also wondered about such things. Outside of my in-house family,
> who are non techie, the other wider family members continue to use
> stuff from the dark side. This means that although the day to day
> stuff here would continue to work, including email, my significant
> other would need professional or trusted help for any initial admin
> decisions at all, even, in principle, which machines contained just
> hobby stuff (what do you mean 'just!'?) and could be ignored, and
> what the various machines contained etc.
>
> I had wondered maybe that as time goes on, a local lug could be
> considered as a point of contact?
>
> In the event, *I* will be ok won't I? I am sure they do not use
> Windows where I am hoping to go.
> :-)
** end quote [alan c]
Can't quite believe how long it is since I posted the original in this
thread. There has been a lot going on keeping me away from work, mailing
lists, irc, computers in general, etc., etc.. I'm nearly ready to start
preparing to start 2009 now!!
Anyway, thanks for the replies. There was a certain amount of heading
down the route of how to destroy data, which wasn't what I had in mind
personally, but would be a consideration for some. My concern was
leaving access to existing facilities (documents, mail, web, etc.) and
allowing this to continue. In which case perhaps a specific set of
documentation is called for. Something along the lines of how to migrate
to a smaller scale, simpler system (I doubt the complexity of what I
have currently - or will have following imminent upgrades - will be
required), possibly along with a basic handbook on how to keep things
running in the short term and a sealed envelope with usernames and
passwords in (or similar, and kept up to date!!).
In any case, my wife seems to think she'd just scrap the lot and abandon
email and the internet - can't see that working to be honest!! Hopefully
this will all be far enough off that the kids will be able to take over
the system administration :)
--
Paul Tansom | Aptanet Ltd. |
http://www.aptanet.com/ | 023 9238 0001
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