Nicholas A. McLaren
820 Sycamore Ave #24
Vista, CA 92081
Phone: (760) 842-3481
E-mail:
resume@mclarentech.com

 

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE:

CONNECTIVITY SUPPORT:

LAN/WAN: Dialup, Ethernet, DSL (Cisco CPEs and DSLAMs primarily), ISDN, SONET, ATM, DSx dedicated-circuits, Frame Relay, DWDM, and DOCSIS Cable Modems

HARDWARE:

Cisco brand, routers (2621, 7000, 12000 GSR), hubs, switches (2960, 3750, 6000-series), CSU/DSU's, CMTS/UBRs.

Dell PowerEdge 1950, 2950 and R900 servers and Dell MD1000 external SAS storage arrays. HP Proliant DL380 and DL385 servers. HP MSA 30 external storage arrays. SunFire X4100, SunFire X4500 servers, and SunBlade 6000 blade servers. EMC Clariion AX4 SAN.

OPERATING SYSTEMS:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Solaris (Sun Certified for v7), Ubuntu, and various BSD flavors. Also, most versions of MS Windows and MacOSX .

SOFTWARE:

Apache web server, OpenVPN, Sendmail, BIND, Xfree86, MRTG, HP Open View Network Node Manager, Intermapper, What's Up Gold, Veritas NetBackup DataCenter, SSH clients and daemons, etc.

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES:

Expert in PHP

Familiar or Fluent in SQL, Perl, Python, Visual Basic, Bourne Shell and CSH scripting, XML, and beginner with C/C++

DATABASES:

MySQL administration and development. Also development for SQLite, SQL Server, MS Access, Oracle, or Postgres with PHP, VB, or C++.

PROTOCOLS:

TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF in single and multiple area topologies, EIGRP, SNMP, MGCP and SS7 for VoIP, and various other common internet protocols

 

 

 

 

EMPLOYMENT REFERENCES:

PARACCEL, INC, San Diego, CA (January 2007 – current)

Information Technology Manager

Example Duties:

-          Managed activities of self and two direct reports

-          Designed and built out the server hosting infrastructure for two facilities, including racks, power, HVAC, and cable management

-          Handled all aspects of installation, maintenance, and support of the server farm as well as user workstations and laptops running various flavors of Windows and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4

-          Incorporated VMware Server into the internal server infrastructure where appropriate

-          Handled all IT vendor interaction, quotes, and purchasing. Everything from infrastructure-related items (electrician/HVAC/Racks) to servers, storage arrays, and network gear.

-          Designed and implemented monitoring infrastructure of servers and networking equipment using Hobbit, Cacti, then eventually settling on Nagios

-          Implemented combination inter-office and road-warrior VPN connections using a combination of Cisco PIX 501, Cisco ASA 5505,  and OpenVPN

-          VoIP Telephony Administration and Support

-          Implemented and maintained GLPI for Asset Management, tracking, and reporting

-          Network Diagnostics, Segmentation and Maintenance including Firewall, Routing and VLAN administration and support.

-          Defined and Implemented Corporate IT-related policies

-          Migrated users to an externally hosted MS Exchange E-mail server

-          Implemented Vignette Collaboration 7.1 cluster for "mind-sharing"

-          Provided hardware and administration support to critical POCs at customer sites or in-house.

 

MOTRICITY, INC, San Diego, CA (July 2006 – December 2006)

Linux System Administrator, 6-month contract

Worked with a small team of highly-skilled system administrators building out, maintaining, and supporting multiple mission-critical Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) server clusters handling Game Community API, License Management, and SMS services for many major cell phone carriers including Cingular, Sprint, Virgin Mobile, Nextel, and Amp'd. Supported services included Apache 2.x w/PHP and mod_perl, MySQL 5 cluster w/ replication, load balancing and reverse proxy. 

Responsibilities/Highlights:

·       Built, maintained, and supported the following services: Apache 2.x w/ PHP and mod_perl, MySQL 5 cluster w/ replication, load balancing via Cisco Local Director, mod_rewrite/mod_proxy-based reverse proxy

·       Developed new web-based tools w/PHP to benefit the company, including the streamlining of the administration of our reverse proxy implementation and a web-based drop-box for sharing and tracking pick-ups of large files

·       Created Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) packages of internally developed code and performed/documented subsequent

·       Maintained hardware/software asset inventory

·       Authored detailed documentation of complex procedures and educational technology guides on the internal Wiki website

 

TIME WARNER CABLE, Portland, ME (January 2004 – June 2006)

NOC Operator (February 2005 – June 2006)

Provided first-line Network and Systems surveillance and Event Management support for Time Warner Cable of Maine Broadband Network Services as a member of the Portland Network Operations Center Team. Faciliated and coordinated the flow of communications between the NOC and internal Time Warner Cable groups, as well as external vendors and third party Voice, Video, and High Speed Data (HSD) partners.

Responsibilities/Highlights included but not limited to:

·       Monitored several systems which affect service availability for TWC customer, including High Speed Data (HSD) Network, HSD Systems, Commercial HSD Services, Digital Phone (VoIP), Hybrid-Fiber Coax plant (HFC), and Information Systems (IS) Support

·       Performed initial troubleshooting, problem analysis, and isolation of network and system events in accordance with NOC Event Management guidelines.

·       Communicated event status to the TWC New-England Division Management Team as outlined in NOC Event Management Procedures

·       Provided event updates to TWC field personnel through their dispatch group, and also provided dispatch functions for Maintenance field personnel

·       Interfaced with TWC Call Center and Answering Service to provide event updates as outlined in the NOC Event Management Procedures

·       Monitored change tickets and provided service functionality testing within the guidelines of the NOC Change Management Procedures

·       Performed reporting and capacity planning duties for the DOCSIS/HSD network, ensuring performance meets acceptable TWC standards.

·       Provided valuable input and feedback for the development and improvement of the NOC processes and procedures. Personally helped draft the initial SOPP for the group.

·       Provided valuable input and feedback for the use and optimization of NOC Network Management Applications/Tools

Broadband Technical Support Representative Tier III (January 2004 – February 2005)

Provided support and troubleshooting of advanced Cable, High-Speed Data, and Voice-over-IP services for the Maine/NH area.

Highlights include but not limited to:

·       Performed daily trouble ticketing, network event tracking and management from receipt of initial report to final resolve, and root cause analysis whenever possible.

·       One of the first in the department to gain solid working knowledge of the VoIP SS7 protocol and call progress analysis using our NgN Agilent toolset, educating and distributing that knowledge to my peers.

·       Demonstrated ability to master a variety of advanced diagnostic data-analysis tools and set an example on using them as part of a proactive network management and support model, at a time where reactive troubleshooting was the norm.

·       Independently fielded incoming phone calls and tickets from end users and lower level support staff on a large variety of technical issues, either resolving myself or setting the appropriate path to resolution and monitoring the progress until completed.

·       Prided myself in a very high level of efficiency. Often working 30+ ongoing end-user trouble issues in addition to the incoming workload for the day, going above and beyond the standard expectation of an employee of my position.

 

DREAM MACHINE d.b.a. BATTLE LAN, Portland, ME (October 2001 - October 2003)

Technical Administrator

Worked to pioneer and develop a successful PC LAN Gaming Center business within the already successful chain of Dream Machine arcades.

Responsibilities included but not limited to:

·       Acted as the authoritative source of all technical matters relating to the business, which included LAN PC Gaming, Game Server Rental, and Gaming Events

·       Built out 3 additional stores across New England and the complete rebuild of the hub store�s network in Portland, ME.

·       Fully supporting the communities of each store, lending to the friendly environment we were trying to promote.

·       Managed and maintained all computers in company, including general software administration and security on both PC game clients, general workstations, and servers

·       Built and maintained the company�s central MySQL database server, Sendmail-based mail server, and internal/external Apache web server.

·       Responsible for the design, implementation, and management of the 5 store Wide Area Network as well as each individual LAN network (max 40 PCs per location), consisting of 100Mbit direct Fiber in the central Hub location and 4 Full T1�s.

·       All software engineering and web-site content and architecture development duties including the Public Community Website (http://www.battlelan.com/), internal Company Website, Community and internal Forums, a fully automated client->server Game Server Rental application with a web front end for customers and remote auto-provisioning for virtual servers, modifications to games that allow for it and countless tools for various business administration tasks.

 

HOSTING.COM / ALLEGIANCE TELECOM (formerly HarvardNet), Waltham, MA (June 2000 -October 2001)

UNIX Systems Administrator (Promoted August 2001 - October 2001)

Worked with a team of administrators to provide UNIX support/maintenance to over 200 datacenter-hosted shared, dedicated, and managed servers.

Install, Support, and maintain all UNIX-based Core and Dedicated/Managed servers and services in the production and test environment

·       Working to develop national Server Monitoring Standardization across several integrated ISPs

·       Analyzing

·       Continuing training of Tier 1 support staff

Senior Tier II NOC Technician (June 2000 - August 2001)

·       Started as a regular NOC technician, promoted in December 2000. Responsible for all day-to-day connectivity and engineering support within the company's Cisco-powered WAN and Data Center. I handle everything from the core routers to the CPEs as needed.

·       24-7 network monitoring with HP OpenView NNM, Intermapper, and What's Up Gold

·       Troubleshooting network connectivity and root-cause analysis in a routed and switched environment (T1-OC48, DSL, Frame-relay circuits)

·       Various Cisco IOS configuration and troubleshooting (interfaces, routing, BGP, access-lists, route-maps, etc.)

·       Analyzing traffic trends across our Backbone with SNMP, MRTG, and Intermapper

·       Capacity planning based on results of data collection

·       Provisioning replacement Customer Premises Equipment for DSL, Frame-relay, Ts

·       Assist other engineers in performing scheduled maintenance, turning up new circuits, moving traffic, etc.

·       Handled vendor contact for open tickets on circuits (Verizon/MCI)

·       Supported DNS (BIND) and hundreds of virtual websites (Apache, IIS)

·       Provided training for both Technical Support Reps and NOC technicians

·       Created documentation for various technical/non-technical tasks

·       Traveled to Dallas, Texas and provided training during NOC integration efforts

 

INDEPENDENT CONSULTING, Portland, ME (February 2000 - December 2003)

Information Systems Consultant

·       Designing and Implementing small networks

·       DS3/Frame-relay/T1 Turn-ups

·       Firewall installation and configuration

·       Provided on-site support for various system and network issues

·       Intranet/Internet website development using PHP and MySQL

 

GREAT WORKS INTERNET (GWI), Biddeford, ME (October 1999 - February 2000)

Technical Support Department

LAMERE.NET BUSINESS CENTER, Biddeford, ME (July 1999 - October 1999))

IT Consultant/Technician

MEMORY ETC./MEMTEC SYSTEMS, South Portland, ME (February 1998 - July 1999)
Store Manager / PC Technician
 

 

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATIONS:

·       Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) from 10/04/2000-2006. Have completed the Routing (BSCN) exam towards a next-level CCNP certification.

·       Sun Solaris Certified Systems Administrator for Solaris 7

·       NCTI Course – Understanding Broadband Technology – Honor Graduate

·       CompTIA A+ Computer Technician Certification

·       ExpertRating.com Certified PHP Expert