Welcome to JoeLourenco.com, home of Sys Engineer, Joe Lourenco!
Work Status: Currently Available Since February 2, 2009
Last Contract: Exceed Education
Duration: 11 months, 2/25/08 - 1/21/09
Title: Systems Engineer for educational purposes
Skills: Symantec Ghost SS 2.5, VMware ESXi and Workstation,
Win 2003 Srv Admin, Red Hat Linux Ent. Srv 5.1, and Solaris 10.
PXELinux, BDD 2007 and WDK, SCCM and Ghost Console.
Mass deployments and client management; automation.
Contact Info: Cell - 732-673-5787
In summary, this portal, is a creation of technical creativity and research; my studies. It is a source for employers to get to know who I am and a source for me to know where I am in my studies. My broad IT background, ranging from work as a Web Developer, Programmer, Levels 1 to 3 Helpdesk and Tech Support, to my goal as a Systems Engineer, presents itself as a difficult task to keep up to date with new technology and the task of learning it. Such tasks are the learning of Scripting for automation, Coding for logical processing, Systems' Analytics for OS administration, and System's Engineering for the build and support of infrastructure and desktops. It all takes time, patience, and dedication. And overall, a committment to excellence. Brought up from a family, specially my father, in engineering and IT, my sources of influence and motivation are abundant. As this site grows, it is a goal of mine to present this site as a source of technical resources and as a model of the IT services I provide.
I recall writing the above paragraph...I was, at the time, attending New Horizons, in NYC, studying for my MCSE. Now, I am attending classes online because I just don't have the time to get to NYC by 6 pm. I am currently employed at Exceed Education, in Edison, NJ. Located at the Raritan Center, Exceed's Campus at Edison, has transformed my IT skills, management skills, and leadership skills. I am now, a Systems Engineer! Windows is my area of expertise because my work calls for it, but it also has given no other choice but to face up to a huge learning curve towards Solaris and Linux, plus VMware. These 3 are major clients of Exceed and our contract states that a Technical Advisor must be available during the class' duration, for technical support. Nothing short of a miracle, my hard work and perseverance paid off.
I have so many plans and ideas for this website. Mainly at first to guide and educate people towards the art of Desktop Deployment and Imaging, and Systems Administration for not only Windows, but Red Hat Linux and Solaris 10; I am very fortunate to be able to handle all 3 OS. Tools such as Ghost, Altiris, WDS, BDD, Zero Touch, Clonezilla, and not to forget Kickstart and Jumpstart Servers, are abundant on tutorials, reading books, and standardization. However, the difference I intend to provide, is where each technology is applies in a work scenario. Simply in the tutorial, stating the objective of the tutorial, and why the project needs it done. Each has a specific niche and the key is to use each and everyone to your own advantage, that is, getting the job done efficiently, and professionally. Let's add to it Winbatch, WMI, VB, and Perl, for automation. Can't go far without Microsoft tools, like Sysprep, Sysinternals, Steadystate, and last but not least, Win XP and Win Server 2003.
One thing I have learned in this field, IT, and I wish to present itself here, as I go forward, is that none of us are ahead, for simply, falling into a job. It took perseverance, hard work, determination, and lots of trial and error in studying and long nights at home built labs. The failed job offers and disappointing interviews, can not discourage you. Your time will come in the place you belong...of which you will wake up in the morning, happy to go to work because you love what you do, not that the paycheck owns you, and neither does your boss.
Now, before we go ahead, build yourself a LAB. My home lab consists of 3 Windows Machines, 1 Red Hat Linux Machine, and 1 Solaris 10 Machine. These 3 Windows Machines are: 1. Windows 2003 Server Domain Controller, 2. Windows 2003 Server Std, and 3. Windows XP Pro. Have a router available and a switch as well for networking purposes (Firewalls, ACLs, VLans, etc...). A good printer will be useful for those needed manuals (print on both sides when you can, it will save you paper and allow you to be able to staple it all together properly). If you can add 2 more machines, 1 each for the Red Hat and Solaris client machines, it would be great but not necessary. And very important, 1 machine for the VMware ESXi server, of which we will work on virtualization of server farms. Good Luck!
February 4, 2009 (Updated)
Joe A. Lourenco