I have spent the last 20 years in IT Support, as an employee, as a contractor and then being self-employed.  Started out building databases as a user and then switched full-time to a support role back in 1989.

Background experience is with Novell Netware (Achieved CNE in Intranetware) and then Microsoft Servers including SBS 2000, SBS 2003 and SBS 2008 (including Exchange 5.5, 2000, 2003 and 2007).  I've seen and/or supported every version of Windows from 3.0 to Windows 7, not to mention NT4 Server, 2000 Server, 2003 Server and 2008 Server.

Now, I predominantly focus on the SMB market, providing contractual-based support (on-site and remotely) and have recently merged my own company with another IT Support company and our business is going from strength to strength, despite the global recession.

Achieved Master status on EE after 13 working days (joined on the 15th May 09 and ranked Master on 9th June (having had a weeks holiday in between), then Master in Exchange on the 10th June, Master in SBS Small Business Server on 22nd June and Guru in Exchange on 29th June.  Achieved 9th highest rank points-wise for June 09 across all zones and ranked 2nd in the Exchange Email Server zone for June behind Mestha - not bad for my first full month!  July saw me in 4th place for points overall for the month, 2nd again in Exchange and 1st in SBS Small Business Server.

I'm just happy to be helping others, learning a little in the process and hopefully offering some good advice.

Solving problems can often be expedited by direct contact or remote support (at no cost via an EE question that I am personally working on).  If you would like to contact me, you can reach me directly by email at alan at it-eye .co.uk.

And YES - I am available for hire outside of EE.  If you want to hire me, then please drop me an email and we can discuss your needs further.