IT Nuggets......

Tool kits. I've said we need a semi decent little tool kit for work. ITs a PC one so needs specific items. Can anyone suggest any decent little kits. A biut like this one (I've used these types before and always nasty cheap tools bunged in a cheap little leather immatation carry case ).

[TSM]

Blimy, i had one of those once ages ago, cant keep my tools organized and always need more tools in case i leave one somewhere.

You really only need a good set of screwdrivers, for PC stuff.

My full networking kit only has a set of screwdrivers, pliers/leatherman, stanly knife, crimper and punch down tool. Perhaps a cable tester or multimeter on a good day.

Dan

I'd say a crimper is a necessity for any IT department, making ones own cables is kinda like the equivilant of doing ones own oil changes, everyone should at least know how to do it They're only about 15 quid from Maplin. As Sudoxe said, a cable tester is very handy, doesn't have to be a posh TDR one, just a set of LEDs and a battery at one end, you can even make your own; very useful for just double checking layer 1 stuff from the patch panel to a floor port. A sharp knife/wire clippers for trimming cables, and some philips head screwdrivers. Oh and a big old flat blade screwdriver for prising out rackmount nuts. And one of those bloody annoying little star shaped drivers (torx?) that compaq tend to use.

I've just basically repeated eveything Sudoxe said Maplin have all you need Oh, you might also want a USB-serial converter, as laptops never seem to come with COM ports these days, and you're going to want to console into a switch at some time.

EDIT: Ooh, pick up a sticky label printer while you're burning through the petty cash, a labelled network (a) helps you and (b) keeps the directors happy.

Gert big hammer.

I went on an Apple II engineering course once upon a time. They taught you how to replace IC's on the motherboard. So, you might want a good soldering iron and a solder sucker. Then again...