Seringkali terjadi diskusi menarik di milis parakontel (para kontraktor telekomunikasi indonesia), umumnya yang sering menjadi polemik adalah hal-hal non-teknis seperti masalah berapa rate salary yang tepat saat overseas. Dan diskusi tersebut baru-baru ini muncul di milis. Sebagai pendatang baru (newbie) hal tersebut biasanya menjadi masalah, terutama sekarang-sekarang ini. Saat saya mulai overseas dulu (tahun 2007) memang kabar yang terdengar rate untuk “ngagen” (istilah engineer-engineer telekomunikasi yang mengerjakan project overseas via agency) berkisar 7k (usd / eur). Namun pada kenyataannya tiap project tidak selalu sama.

Akhir-akhir ini beberapa project mengalami penurunan drastis, sehingga rate yang ditawarkan jauh dibawah 7k tersebut. Dan diskusi menarik tersebut muncul ketika salah satu peserta milis mempertanyakan hal tersebut dimana dia heran melihat project-project yang ditawarkan nilainya jauh dibawah rumor yang selama ini dia dengar. Berhubung saat itu project di georgia sudah selesai dan saya dalam masa tenggang menunggu project di armenia, maka saya coba buat sedikit summary mengenai masalah rate salary ke milis parakontel.

Milis parakontel saat ini sifatnya eksklusif, dalam arti pendatang baru yang ingin join harus menggunakan referensi dari anggota yang sudah join untuk bisa di approve. Jadi summary yang saya buat akan ditulis kembali disini dengan harapan bisa menjadi sedikit bekal informasi bagi para newbie yang kebetulan belum bisa mengakses milis / group parakontel.

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HLRd system use SUN machines for its HLR-FE, and recent SUN’s machine has ALOM (Advanced Lights Out Manager) to manage the server. Recently, 3 HLR-FE had problem with ALOM NET MGMT interface, thus I can’t connect to ALOM using network connection. The only way is using default connection, it require serial cable to connect.

I am using MacBook, and like recent common laptop there’s no serial port. So the only way to use usb-to-serial cable for connecting to serial port on SUN’s machine. The cable already packaged with driver for Linux, OSX, and Windows. It’s very easy to install, but if you don’t have the driver or it’s lost, you can try to use prolific driver.

The driver wouldn’t create permanent link to device via /dev filesystem, but it will automatically create when we connect the serial connection to peer port. In my macbook, it create /dev/tty.usbserial file. We can connect through ZTerm, but since default OSX terminal application support ASCII communication, I can just use terminal.app to connect to ALOM serial management interface using:

$ screen /dev/tty.usbserial 9600

And it just simply connected to ALOM.

Ah ya, regarding problem of NET MGMT interface is not enabled even though configuration already applied on ALOM, it will be solved by resetting the ALOM (resetting the ALOM won’t reboot the host server, thus safe to be done in live system). A friend of mine from Fujitsu told me sometime ALOM is like hanging (??!@?!) and reset is necessary to make it work properly again.

I used to operate Solaris server at work, and sometimes I need to use Desktop application from that server. I learned for the first time at Siemens Indonesia using export display from solaris machine into local machine (laptop) which run M$ Windows, at that time we have exceeds application inside laptop which can be used to retrieve X session from solaris. Exceeds act just like Xserver for Microsoft Windows.

This method is used until few months ago. I admit it was easy using exceeds especially for XDMCP Query or XDMCP broadcast protocol, using that protocol we can retrieve login session and log into that solaris machine. Unfortunately, I am using Mac OSX. And to do that, I had to fire-up my Windows under Virtual Machine or reboot and log into Microsoft Windows as my second boot OS. Usually it’s not a big problem, because what usually important is playing with “nwadmin”, it’s a window based administration tools for networker application. Networker application itself is a software for backup&restore within @vantage platform which I am handling at work.

While working in Georgia, the network is quite restricted. Somehow I can’t use my Windows virtual machine to run “nwadmin” remotely using “export display”. I have to reboot OSX and log into windows just to manage B&R window. It’s annoying. Later I tried to look another way retrieving solaris window application from my OSX.

I tried to follow using old method, that is using export display. But it was failed due to authentication. I already start X11 on my OSX, and perform “remote DISPLAY=<OSX_IP_ADDR:0.0>”, but it show error:

Xlib: Invalid MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1 key os x

That error appear on console of solaris, while from OSX it said client connection was rejected. I was trying to dig deeper about this “MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE” thing but unfortunately my attention was go to some statement on one forum which said it’s better to use SSH X Forwarding, it’s more secure. Well, system within HLRD these days also give more restriction for security, like hardening the operating system, using SSH instead of telnet or rlogin, etc. So I think it’s better to use SSH-X-Forwarding to get “nwadmin” windows.

Configuration is pretty easy. From solaris server just modify sshd configuration (/etc/ssh/sshd_config) to enable X11 Forwarding:

X11Forwarding yes
X11DisplayOffset 10
X11UseLocalhost yes

Restart sshd on solaris.

From X11 application on OSX, start terminal (xterm), and ssh using -X option to that server:

bash$ ssh -X root@[B&R_IP_ADDR]
root@B&R# nwadmin

Just run some X application, it will immediately show the window on our OSX Desktop.

Pardon me for being one liner, but I just found this link useful especially for novice on LDAP-thing. This link is really nice for beginner who has “what is LDAP exactly?!” inside their head.

Tulisan dibawah ini saya ambil dari news-letter management company yang digunakan pada project georgia saat ini. Saya cukup salut dengan kinerja management company ini dan orang-orangnya juga profesional. Management company yang dimaksud adalah Access Financial. Tulisan berikut ini sangat bagus bagi mereka-mereka yang bekerja sebagai kontraktor ataupun konsultan:

Successful Contracting

Contracting has many advantages in comparison to the more traditional full-time employment. Being in charge of one’s own time allows for more flexibility when picking and choosing from different assignments.

A contractor can build up a portfolio of skills quite quickly by experiencing different positions in various companies. Contractors are expected to jump from job to job so there is no negative connotation if this is the case. Terms of employment are usually shorter (typically 3-18 months) and one of the more obvious benefits is that contract rates are much more lucrative than those of equivalent full-time employees. Unfortunately, there are also some disadvantages to being a contractor. Contractors do not benefit from sick pay and paid holidays and have no job security since contracts come and go and there is never a guarantee that another contract will be available. The current economic climate has made contracting much more competitive with fewer opportunities available for a growing amount of willing contractors. Employers are in most cases selecting the contractors who have most experience and skills in a particular domain. It is thus increasingly important to build up one’s skills and experience and to complete projects undertaken successfully to make sure that as many opportunities as possible are created from a current work experience.

A guide to successful contracting:
1. Have a suitable contract in place and charge the right amount.
Do not charge too much and do not charge too little. Carry out some market research to find out approximately how much others are charging according to their skills and experience. Try to place yourself in the same region and if need be, especially in these more competitive times, try to make your offer more attractive as to obtain the contract.

2. Delivering expected results.
Projects need accurate specifications and processes. Often the client will want you to start work as soon as possible and expect results rapidly and it is therefore important to agree on realistic deadlines. Who is writing the project specifications and setting the deadlines, the contractor or the client? Carry out research and planning as much as possible to provide accurate timeframes. Always get a brief and/or clear specification up-front, before you promise, design or build anything. Have it agreed upon and signed by all parties, including the client. Ascertain the client’s needs and match those needs with the design and development skills in an assembled project team. Ensure that the project team, however small or large it may be, has everything it needs to complete the job to a high standard on-time and on-budget.

It is all too easy for the contractor to carry the blame if something goes wrong and it is therefore in your best interest to take complete responsibility for everything you do. For that reason scoping and nailing down the finer details is of vital importance. If you do not feel informed, you need to make sure you get that information. If you are missing something that you need, ask the client. Communication is key. Stay organised and keep a record of all your communications with your team and direct supervisor. If you are going to be held responsible, you will want to make sure you can stick to deadlines for deliverables and have all information and
resources which you need made available.

3. Communicate your achievements.
Perhaps informally on a regular basis. Make it tangible, so your client can easily measure and evaluate your performance. It is a good idea to do this a few weeks before the end of the contract, so it can then be renewed or perhaps you can obtain a contract for a later date.

4.  Build your relationship with the client.
Build a relationship based on trust and respect. This could help lead to contract renewals or great performance reviews and references. Long-term success requires a sustainable commercial relationship on a financial level but also on a human level. If you do a good job and act professionally, your contract may be extended and/or you may be offered a full time job with the company.

5. Network with permanent staff
Some of them could become managers or one day start contracting themselves. In the long-run this could be beneficial to your career.

6. Network with other contractors
Build and maintain contractor relationships. This can be one way of securing future contracts through referrals and networking. Maintaining close relationships can also keep you up to date with market developments and opportunities. Being a successful contractor requires a slightly different skill base and mind set than most people realise. Understanding how contracting companies operate, how they value your worth, and how to negotiate the best possible terms will make all the difference between being just another resource and being a highly paid, in demand professional.

7. Continuous training
Keep up to date with new developments and processes within your industry. Increasing your knowledge and skills is a good way of remaining competitive.  A survey published by the Chartered Management Institute found that contractors, despite the downturn, are still motivated to succeed. 50% are committed to developing business contracts or networks and 24% of the survey participants in the consultancy sector claimed they intended to take up a qualification and build ‘transferable skills’. It is estimated that if contractors use their down time wisely and  continue to build their skill set, they can improve their salary by 10-20% a year.