As I have mentioned already, my name is Tavis Curry. I was homeschooled from 7th grade up until graduation. I am 23 years old and I'm in the BSIT online degree program at ECU. I plan to graduate with my bachelor's degree in industrial technology by 2010. I have a strong passion for working with computers, servers, and workstations, and the networking equipment that interconnects them all. I enjoy building PCs, installing and repairing workstations and servers, configuring server services (IIS, DHCP, DNS, FTP, etc.), and installing and configuring network devices (routers and switches). I also have a growing desire to delve more into astronomy. As you can see, this is a general description of me. However, I will get more in depth in other pages. =)
I would like to mention a few things first, however. I love computers and networking. But some things I find most difficult about them is that they can be so broad. You can NEVER know everything about computers and networking because there are so many different levels and fields to get into. Also, with as much tinkering as I have done, I find it difficult to remember the steps of everything I've accomplished. One of my biggest fears is being certified in an area, or saying on my resume that I'm specialized in "this" or "that" area, but yet over time, a person loses those skills if they don't use them frequently. Some skills I haven't used frequently because I am still a college student without a job specialized in that area.
So do you take it off your resume just because you may be "rusty" in specific areas? This is especially frustrating in my career choice because some employers want you to know such a broad area of computers and be very talented in those areas. Another thing I find difficult when interviewing is when an employer asks you how to do something without the device in question in front of you. I'm more of a "go and do it without talking" type of person than telling someone the EXACT steps of how to do something. Not to mention there are sometimes multiple ways to do things.
Because of this, I would hope that any prospective employers would understand this of me, and be willing to give me more of a chance to show them what I'm capable of instead of basing everything on a verbal interview. Also, I would like any prospective employers to know that I love what I do and it would pay off for them in the long-run.
A recent picture of myself, from February, 2007.
My History With Computers and Networking:
I have been working with computers since the age of twelve, so I have had quite a bit of time to learn things and experiment over the years. At that age, my parents decided to purchase our first original computer for Christmas, a Hewlett Packard Pavilion 7125. For around two thousand dollars, one could purchase a computer with an Intel Pentium 133MHz CPU, 16MB of memory, a 1.2GB hard drive, 6x CD-ROM drive, 1MB onboard video, standard PS/2 keyboard and mouse, a 14” monitor, and a Hewlett Packard DeskJet 682C inkjet printer. In 1996, that was considered a very fast, high-tech computer.
After all the other presents had been opened, I decided to boot up the computer to see what it would do. When Windows 95 finally booted, I immediately checked to see what games and applications had been installed. The first game I played was Ski Free. Most people who have used computers in the days of Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 have played that game. The first game that I bought for my computer was the original Diablo.
By now my interest in computers began to intensify. After a few months, I began upgrading our original computer. My parents agreed that getting the Internet would be a good idea. Not only could they get information, but they realized it would help advance my growing interest in computer technology. Even though the Internet we had was only 56kbps dial-up, it was fast enough for simple emailing, downloading small files, such as anti-virus definition updates, and looking up information on software and hardware. While looking up all of that information I continued to purchase parts to upgrade our computer. All of the upgrades and additions to my original computer took a period of two years. I learned a lot about the physical, working parts of computers, as well as the software required to operate the hardware. By this time, I had acquired enough knowledge to start a new PC project.
Explaining how I went from just one computer to at least thirty PCs is a complicated, yet unique story. When I could no longer upgrade our original computer, I started a “new” computer. Since I had data on both computers and wanted to share the resources of them, I needed an easy way to transfer files to and from each computer. To solve my problem, I bought two ISA network cards and installed them in both computers. I then had my aunt make a straight through Category 5 Ethernet cable to run to them. Even though this was a simple home network, it was cheap and simple to set up. This would work until I had another computer to connect.
The following May, I went to the Davidson County School auction and acquired three truckloads of old used, discarded computers. They were stored in the basement until I could examine each one. I took the good parts out of the bad computers and built up the best ones. Out of that entire load, I had lots of spare parts and around fifteen working computers.
Taking apart all of those computers and building up others helped me learn even more about hardware and software. I set up nine of the computers in my basement for my own personal use. In order to use the resources on each one, though, I needed to network them to my two upstairs computers. Therefore, I purchased a networking kit with two PCI 10/100mbps network cards and a 5 port 10/100mbps Ethernet switch. Since all my computers were networked, I wanted to connect them to the Internet. The solution was to subscribe to Lexcom’s Turbo Connect plus cable modem.
Buying new parts and building new computers was done quickly after getting a part time job at a restaurant. I also used the money I earned to purchase bigger network switches so I could connect more computers. Because I lacked the money required to purchase all the parts at one time, I frequently had to build a computer a little at a time. When I bought a part to upgrade one of my main computers, I took the “older” part and installed it in another computer.
Because I had so many computers, I quickly found a cable modem that runs at only 512kbps was a bottleneck when using a few of them on the Internet at the same time. To solve this problem, I contacted Earthlink broadband and subscribed to their cable modem service. Earthlink broadband provided me with around 5mbps download speed and 384kbps upload speed.
What I do with all of my computers varies with their capabilities, such as hardware specs and case size. For example, currently I have two domain controllers on my network that are also DNS servers. The domain controllers also replicate any Active Directory or DNS changes to one another if the need arises. Each PC that I have setup is attached to my "domain". I have another system setup as my file server. It currently has four Seagate 500GB SATA hard drives in a RAID 5 array with 1.36TB of usable hard drive space. I have another system setup on my DMZ that is used as my private FTP and web server. I use my second fastest computer for Outlook, IMing, burning CDs, typing, doing schoolwork and other office tasks. The slower PCs are just there to experiment with certain hardware, software, or a PC for a friend to use when they visit. Most of the time when I get a computer that is faster than one I have already, I will fix it up, update the software, BIOS, drivers, etc., and replace the slowest computer on my network with the faster one. These are just a few examples of what I do with my systems.
Building a computer, workstation, or server is fun for me because I get the satisfaction of putting it together from nothing but the empty case and mere parts. When I work with a malfunctioning computer I investigate what is causing the problem. When I figure out what is causing the malfunction I enjoy repairing it and watching the computer operate properly. I love hearing the soothing “hum” of the fans. For me, that sound is a highly recognizable one. In some cases it calms me if I am in a nervous situation because I feel that I am in an environment that I am used to. It is amazing to me how far we have come in a decade and a few years in respects to computing power and raw network bandwidth!
Reasons Why I Enjoy Computers, Networking, and Astronomy:
My love of working with computers, workstations, and servers derives from knowing the pure power and versatility of each. One of the main factors for my strong interest in computers is that the standard desktop can be an all-in-one appliance if certain hardware is installed. A computer can become an entire new world for some people. It can be a method of communication, a gaming system, a home entertainment system, a portal to a huge database of information, or all of those. Another reason I love computers so much is I know that I am capable of building these “worlds” for myself and other people. I am also capable of fixing someone else’s malfunctioning “world”.
My passion for networking comes from knowing that a single computer can only do so many things. But when you connect it to others or to the Internet, it (and you) can do so much more! I enjoy the thought of setting up services on a server that will be available to the public, like web and FTP services. Configuring a server for company LAN use is very important as well. Knowing that you setup the server that allows domain login and access privileges is both satisfying and challenging at the same time. You must also configure routers and switches properly to allow access to those devices. But before all this, there is the physical side of networking that I consider fun as well; Crimping cables, running cables, and cable management. Just the thought of data running through those cables, switches, and routers, and into your servers is impressive indeed!
My wonder for what surrounds our planet Earth in the universe is what compels me to study astronomy. This interest has recently grown exponentially! I feel urged to figure out how and why things work and why they work that way. I have always loved watching Star Trek - The Next Generation and Star Trek - Voyager. I also to keep up with NASA's shuttle launches and missions, and other space news. In the spring semester of 2007, I took my first college astronomy class and I was hooked (Thanks Dr. Titus!)! I hope to take more classes in the future to work on a degree in astronomy!
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