Darren Pain Email & Phone Number

Basingstoke, Gb

Basingstoke

The Hotel Technology Specialist. Visit our blog at www.hotality.co.uk/blog to see what we do & how we manage your IT and Technology so it doesn’t get in the way of you providing a great guest experience.

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Hotality - The Hotel Technology Specialist

Basingstoke

- Resolved group policy and AD issues for the NHS and a large hotel chain.- Designed and installed a hosted Delphi solution for a 22 property hotel group.- Built a rip-and-replace IT and hosted Opera solution for a 7 property hotel chain to a data centre and successfully migrated each properties own IT systems to the central location.- Designed a hosted application and terminal server environment for a 3 property hotel group and consolidated their systems onto that, liaising with… Show more - Resolved group policy and AD issues for the NHS and a large hotel chain.- Designed and installed a hosted Delphi solution for a 22 property hotel group.- Built a rip-and-replace IT and hosted Opera solution for a 7 property hotel chain to a data centre and successfully migrated each properties own IT systems to the central location.- Designed a hosted application and terminal server environment for a 3 property hotel group and consolidated their systems onto that, liaising with 3rd-party vendors of the POS and PDQ and booking systems.All the above projects involved vSphere, Veeam, HP SAN’s, WatchGuard firewalls, new VPLS circuits, site-to-site VPN’s, segregated VLANs, Windows servers and terminal services.- Developed and implemented the procedures, flowcharts and system config changes necessary for the IT systems at a number of hotels to become PCI-DSS compliant. The hotels were assessed by a QSA PCI Forensic Investigator and validated as PCI-DSS compliant.- On-site expert and trouble-shooter when 12 hotels were taken over by a new management company.- Conducted a number of IT audits, from health checks to “Tell me everything I need to fix”.- Resolved printing issues by migrating to Uniprint thin-print solution.- Installed numerous firewalls, SANs, Windows systems, terminal servers, Exchange, WSUS, WDS, network switches, vSphere solutions and upgrades.- Relocated customers to new premises.- Migration of a number of customers to Office 365 solutions.- Investigated and resolved numerous networking issues such as broadcast storms and loops.- Written ISO9001 procedures for customers.- Upgraded Microsoft SBS. - Installed and configured HP wireless solutions. Show less

Hook

Manage the support given to customers and internal staff by the Service Desk. Implemented and customised Dynamics CRM 2011, used to log calls and emails. Automated and computerised the system of receiving, building, tracking, and shipping equipment to customers. Re-organised the warehouse area into marked bays, providing easier storage management. Ensure customer support documentation is correct and adequate.Extended the CRM system to store and create Scope of Works documents for… Show more Manage the support given to customers and internal staff by the Service Desk. Implemented and customised Dynamics CRM 2011, used to log calls and emails. Automated and computerised the system of receiving, building, tracking, and shipping equipment to customers. Re-organised the warehouse area into marked bays, providing easier storage management. Ensure customer support documentation is correct and adequate.Extended the CRM system to store and create Scope of Works documents for engineering and paid consultancy work. Created a service catalogue of work the Technical team can undertake, used by the sales teams to spec duration, skill-level required, and charging. Recorded and tracked the support and managed services contracts within CRM. Issued monthly progress reports to customers, and created at-a-glance dashboards of the priority and status of outstanding customer tickets, issues, and delivery and build work. Customised CRM to store and automate RFC/change control forms for activity that affected internal services and customer platforms. Documented internal and external processes. Integrated CRM with our existing SharePoint deployment.Performed six-monthly staff appraisal reviews, agreed training plans, and potential career progression. Wrote job specifications for the technical team and identified salary bandings. Designed and implemented the server and storage infrastructure at our hosting and managed services data centre. Installed and configured N-able’s class-leading managed service provider RMMS software, N-central. This is used to monitor, manage, and remote control customer hardware and software, and automate a process or task to resolve issues.Provide pre and post-sales technical consultancy. Architected the DR site for a bank, based on vSphere and HP SAN storage. Designed the vSphere environment for a major financial insurance company, which included the vCloud Network & Security (vShield) suite of products.This role became redundant. Show less

Hook

Performed pre-sales meetings, given training seminars on VMware vSphere, and a number of other software products. Written customer proposals based around various Windows and virtualisation technologies. Successfully planned and relocated server and telecoms equipment across London to customer timescales. Implemented vSphere infrastructure at multiple customers, with storage based around Dell EqualLogic or HP P2000 & P4000 SAN’s. Upgraded Microsoft Windows SBS and associated… Show more Performed pre-sales meetings, given training seminars on VMware vSphere, and a number of other software products. Written customer proposals based around various Windows and virtualisation technologies. Successfully planned and relocated server and telecoms equipment across London to customer timescales. Implemented vSphere infrastructure at multiple customers, with storage based around Dell EqualLogic or HP P2000 & P4000 SAN’s. Upgraded Microsoft Windows SBS and associated infrastructure. Designed and implemented VDI solution based on VMware View. Designed and installed Windows Remote Desktop Services and Citrix XenApp. Expanded and developed the company SharePoint web site to store proposals, project documentation, and customer specific information. Show less

Promoted to newly created management position after 11 months with the company, supervising 7 engineers working on support and consultancy projects. Responsible for the management & escalation for over 60 customers, in addition to the design, build, and implementation of projects. I have enjoyed exclusive account management, with one account recently signing a 3 year IT support contract, replacing their I.T. staff.Projects ranged in technologies, covering all aspect of Pre-Sales… Show more Promoted to newly created management position after 11 months with the company, supervising 7 engineers working on support and consultancy projects. Responsible for the management & escalation for over 60 customers, in addition to the design, build, and implementation of projects. I have enjoyed exclusive account management, with one account recently signing a 3 year IT support contract, replacing their I.T. staff.Projects ranged in technologies, covering all aspect of Pre-Sales, Virtualisation, Consolidation and capacity planning. Manager of the Keylogic data centre for customer hosting, ensuring the continued availability of customer environments. Show less

Planned a successful move of a customers' computer suite to new building on-time and budget. Written 7 virtualisation assessments/capacity analysis reports using products such as VMware Capacity Planner, Platespin and Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit. Designed and implemented server infrastructure refreshes for 6 customers, one a major builder's merchant and tool hire company across the south. Another is an air humidification specialist selling throughout the world. The builder's… Show more Planned a successful move of a customers' computer suite to new building on-time and budget. Written 7 virtualisation assessments/capacity analysis reports using products such as VMware Capacity Planner, Platespin and Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit. Designed and implemented server infrastructure refreshes for 6 customers, one a major builder's merchant and tool hire company across the south. Another is an air humidification specialist selling throughout the world. The builder's merchant went live with a new ERP system at the same time, and were able to trade with no issues from go-live. Performed vSphere upgrades for three customers and a XenServer upgrade for one customer. Written scripts to perform backups of ESX snapshots & copy these using SSH to off-site storage. Conducted a successful DR test to recover a customers' 24 servers within ½ day using a combination of Veeam Backup & Replication, VMware vSphere and Symantec Backup Exec. Written and performed 10 infrastructure review/assessments. Performed performance reviews for five customers who suffered from slow applications, networking or servers. Written proposal documents for four customers on hosting their IT infrastructure. Planned a 25-user business being hosted from the data centre using XenServer, XenApp and XenDesktop. Show less

Remained with the company to manage the run-down and outsourcing of the I.T. infrastructure to off-shore location, working with the outsourcing company to transfer ERP servers, systems and procedures to their hosting location. Migrated remaining servers to VMware ESX. Supported the servers, user desktops and laptops during the transition. Ensured all remaining procedures and processes were handed over to I.T. staff at other locations.

Promoted to manage a team of 5 people, supporting 1100 Windows users, 150 Windows servers and LAN infrastructure, located throughout the UK and European sites. Created policies for wireless access, anti-virus and firewalls, email and Active Directory. Conducted 6-monthly staff appraisals & set staff objectives. Managed cover hours and provided training and guidance to staff. Managed the budget of the Service Desk. Reported on SLA's & incidents. Implemented change management… Show more Promoted to manage a team of 5 people, supporting 1100 Windows users, 150 Windows servers and LAN infrastructure, located throughout the UK and European sites. Created policies for wireless access, anti-virus and firewalls, email and Active Directory. Conducted 6-monthly staff appraisals & set staff objectives. Managed cover hours and provided training and guidance to staff. Managed the budget of the Service Desk. Reported on SLA's & incidents. Implemented change management procedures. Managed supplier relationships and procurement. Provided expertise and assistance to other sites. Managed annual disaster recovery tests for 6 years, documented procedures and processes for others to follow. This was demonstrated by the test having been carried out successfully every time. Conducted pilot to replace users PC’s with Citrix Presentation Server in order to provide a common platform and enable easier support. Successfully migrated part of the server infrastructure to VMware ESX. This provided measurable benefits with a reduction of the computer room power consumption of 10% and negated the need to upgrade the air-conditioning saving over £50,000. Executed project to enable I.T. staff to support the business outside normal hours through the use of Windows Mobile PC’s using RDP and Bluetooth 3G mobile phones, giving greater flexibility in providing on-call support. Show less

Part of the team to design, pilot and implement a global JD Edwards ERP system throughout the UK and Europe. Administered the LAN's and 80 Windows systems using Active Directory, MOM, SMS and SUS. Worked as part of a multi-site team to design the email system used throughout the Arjo Wiggins group. This included 3800 users and a further 30 servers. Headed the team that designed and implemented a single Active Directory domain used by the entire company to replace the multiple NT and Active… Show more Part of the team to design, pilot and implement a global JD Edwards ERP system throughout the UK and Europe. Administered the LAN's and 80 Windows systems using Active Directory, MOM, SMS and SUS. Worked as part of a multi-site team to design the email system used throughout the Arjo Wiggins group. This included 3800 users and a further 30 servers. Headed the team that designed and implemented a single Active Directory domain used by the entire company to replace the multiple NT and Active Directory domains that had accumulated historically. Responsible for backup and data protection of 2.4TB using Arcserve/Backup Exec. Led key project to identify and to diagnose the cause of slow performance experienced by ERP users globally. My findings were circulated within the management and I.T. community as well as the software supplier that formed the basis of an action plan to address the problems. The supplier agreed to implement my recommendations in the next release of JD Edwards OneWorld. Provided help and advice to I.T. staff at other sites. Recognised throughout the company as the email and Windows expert. Show less

Supported and administered the Windows systems, servers and PC’s at Head Office. Migrated the Windows NT domain of 400+ users to Active Directory with no disruption to service. Deputised for the Technical Services Team Leader when he was unavailable. Identified requirements and installed desktops, servers and LAN’s at European sites. Implement Citrix Metaframe to provide a bespoke CRM system. Four month secondment to a site in France to resolve their I.T. problems and to implement… Show more Supported and administered the Windows systems, servers and PC’s at Head Office. Migrated the Windows NT domain of 400+ users to Active Directory with no disruption to service. Deputised for the Technical Services Team Leader when he was unavailable. Identified requirements and installed desktops, servers and LAN’s at European sites. Implement Citrix Metaframe to provide a bespoke CRM system. Four month secondment to a site in France to resolve their I.T. problems and to implement my proposed solutions. This reduced I.T. staff shift-work and the travel time required to support their 3 different locations. Wrote an I.T. policy that was issued to all users explaining allowed uses of their PC. Show less

Presented with an ‘Innovation Award’ for designing and implementing the first intranet within the company using SQL Server, ASP and JavaScript. Played key role in the I.T. department being awarded ISO9001 status with the documentation of PC, LAN and server support functions. Assisted in a project to replace the text-based email system with Lotus Notes. Created a User Guide that was given to all staff, and formed the basis of many-to-one training. This was translated into French and used at… Show more Presented with an ‘Innovation Award’ for designing and implementing the first intranet within the company using SQL Server, ASP and JavaScript. Played key role in the I.T. department being awarded ISO9001 status with the documentation of PC, LAN and server support functions. Assisted in a project to replace the text-based email system with Lotus Notes. Created a User Guide that was given to all staff, and formed the basis of many-to-one training. This was translated into French and used at European sites. Assisted in the plan for testing millennium compliancy of I.T. systems. Mentored the work placement students alongside the team leader. Provided administration for the Finance ERP system running SAP R/3. Assisted in the design and implementation of the architecture for the WAN and LAN subnets. Supported Windows PC’s and servers. Show less