Skyward throws a curve

This is a lesson in ignoring the tech coordinator.

Our district decided to go with Skyward for our financial management.  I was not in on any early discussions, not was I invited to meet with anyone from Skyward.  I asked and was sent a requirements and recommendations manual.  However I was not told WHAT product we purchased.  All I knew was financials.  They listed the specs for the database and app server so I figured that was what we needed.  I emailed the specs to the server we had ordered, a VWware certified server from Aberdeen.  I also told them we would run Linux.  I was told they only supported Suse Linux 10, so I bought a subscription for it.

Now we get to the lack of communications.  I was told by my bookkeeper that Skyward would be out on so and so date to install the software.  The server was not yet delivered so we had to change dates.  Now Skyward is getting impatient because we are not ready for the install.  I get the server, install ESXi and configure it (my first time with VMware) which took most of a day.  Then I installed Suse which took the rest of the day.  I let them know I was ready for the install.  That is when they sprung the first gotcha on me, I was going to do the install with phone support.  So instead of showing them where the server was and the password I had make time to do the install.  I called Skyward to ask what I needed to have on Suse as I had the LAMP package and the Gnome GUI.  I was told that should be good and they could walk me through any thing else.

Tuesday comes and I get the call.  After discussing the server I had set up I was asked about the web server.  What web server I wondered?  Well of course the web server I needed.  I said I had Apache on the Suse box and was told that there web product needed IIS.  But I was not told about any web product.  Well the tech would check.  He got back to me we needed Windows 2003 server with IIS for the products we purchased.

Luckily I had just ordered one copy of Win2008 and it was available to download.  So after about a six hour download I spent today installing and configuring Win2008.  Now I am wondering they did say 2003, so I have a conference call with Skyward scheduled for tomorrow so we can get it right this time.

Isn’t life as a Tech Coordinator fun?

Mark