OBJECTIVES

Seeking a challenging position in an organization capable of recognizing and utilizing my skill-set for mutual benefit, primarily involving medium to large networks. And to reach new horizons of technology.

SKILLS

Note: Skills ranking legend: Ranking 1=Beginner level, Ranking 10=Expert level

EXPERIENCE

Arabic Computer Systems, Dammam/Al-Khubar, Saudi Arabia (Aug 2008 to Date)

Linux Support Engineer for HPC clusters

• Provide Linux Technical Support for High Performance Computing Clusters, from DELL, deployed at Saudi ARAMCO, in Dammam/Dhahran.

PakCyber, Rawalpindi (Aug 2003 to Date)

Remote Linux System Administration (Informal, External Consultant)

• Provide consultancy and remote administration services to design and implement Linux based server solutions for PakCyber, and their clients in Pakistan and USA.

Ora-Tech Systems , Islamabad (Jan 2005 to Nov 2007)

Consultant Databases, Networks and Open-Source Technologies (Last position) June 2006 to date

• Provide consultancy for various on going projects at various clients' sites, on Oracle Database design and implementations, human resource management, and implementation and customization of any Open-Source technology, including, but not limited to: RedHat Enterprise Linux.

• Report to Executive Vice-President for all issues and suggestions.

• Collaborate with branch managers and vice presidents from various departments and suggest and involve in new business opportunities.

• Discuss, and propose methods to administration to improve quality of service and revenue generation.

[Promotion] Assistant Technical Support Manager July 2005 to February 2006

Previous responsibilities added up with the following:

• Guiding and helping the technical support people in deployment of various Oracle and Linux based technologies

• Deployment of technical support resources to various in-house and client side problems

• Conflict resolution at peer and lower / sub-ordinate level

• Collaboration between higher level management and technical support department

• Help design and discuss mile-stones for the organization’s revenue generating strategies.

• Discuss ideas and solutions with clients

• Manage various human and technical resources at clients' side

• Provide consulting and counseling services to junior employees, internees and management trainees.

• Assist in conducting technical interviews for new inductions in the company.

• Report to Technical Support Manager for all issues

Oracle DBA January 2005 to June 2005

Responsible :

• To install configure and tune, various Oracle products for both client side deployments and in-house testing, including, but not limited to: Oracle Databases, Oracle Collaboration Suite, etc.

• To manage various RedHat Enterprise Linux servers running Oracle Databases and provide technical support and training for the same.

• To provide suggestions and solutions in terms of Network, Security and Operating systems, involved in solving clients' problems.

• Provide / conduct Oracle and Linux trainings when-ever and where-ever required, either in-house or clients' side.

• To implement SonicWall firewalls and deliver training for the same.

• Report to Assistant Technical Support Manager.

NCR Education Center, Islamabad Jul 2004 to Jul 2005

Trainer: Linux System Administration (Evening)

• Responsible for conducting Linux system administration training to government officials as per announced by Pakistan Computer Bureau (PCB)

K.B. Computers, Islamabad (Morning) June 1995 to Jan 2005

Technical Manager (Last position) January 2003 to January 2005

Responsible for :

• Maintaining Linux based computer network setup in the office. Various services provided by this network are: web services using Apache, Email collaboration through Qmail, Web caching and content control through SQUID, Traffic / bandwidth control using "iptables" firewall, PostgreSQL and MySQL database servers, FTP server, File sharing and printing using Samba.

• Consultancy services for open-source software, particularly RedHat Linux, PERL, Apache, PostgreSQL, SQUID and Network Security and Firewalls.

• Development of open-source software mainly in PERL , PERL (CGI).

• Deployment and management of open-source databases: PostgreSQL and MySQL on Linux platforms.

• Place various technical resources to clients' sites, as needed.

• Attend meetings with clients and resolve any technical queries and issues.

• Look after the company's Linux based computer network.

• Promote Linux and related Open-Source Technologies to clients and assist them in adopting the Linux / Open-source office automation model for their respective offices and IT departments.

• Help programmers and DBAs in software development.

[Promotion] Assistant Technical Manager January 2001 to December 2002

Responsible for :

• Design and implement networks as per customers' requirements.

• Supervise network technicians for correctly and properly implement the solutions to customers' networking requirements.

• Help determine networking equipment for customers' networking needs.

• Assist customers in their database design and software connectivity with their Oracle databases over the network.

[Promotion] Technical Supervisor January 1998 to Dec 2000

Responsible for :

• Supervise the technical staff to perform day to day operations.

• Lead the computer technicians in assembling the computer systems, install required Operating System and supporting software.

• Lead the up-gradation activities of customers' computers.

• Assist network technicians in network cables layout, connector attachments, etc.

• Assist network technicians in installation and configuration of Microsoft Windows NT Server and Workstation operating systems and their various TCP/IP settings.

Hardware and Software Technician June 1995 to December 1997

Responsible for :

• Assemble various components of a PC together.

• Install and configure MS-DOS operating system and Windows environment on PCs.

• Install drivers for various hardware components and peripherals in the PC, e.g. Sound Cards, Modems, Scanners and Printers, etc.

• Trouble-shoot hardware and software issues of customer's PCs, including data recovery operations.

• Train junior resources to be able to perform the same activities outlined above.

Petroman Training Institute, Islamabad Jan 2004 to Apr 2004

Instructor: Software Engineering, Data Communications, RDBMS as visiting faculty member (evening)

Responsible for :

• Delivering lectures and presentations to B.Sc. Computer Science students on Software Engineering, Data Communications, and RDBMS.

• Project assignments and supervision of B.Sc. Computer Science students.

COMWAVE Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad Jul 2002 to May 2004

Trainer: Linux system Administration as part time (evening)

• Responsible for giving training of various Linux System Administration courses to computer professionals.

• Responsible for delivering lectures / conducting labs on “Linux System Administration” to MCS students, for Sarhad University.

COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad Aug 2002 to Aug 2003

Trainer as part time / on call (evening)

• Responsible for giving training of “ISP setup with RedHat Linux” to computer professionals.

Preston University, Islamabad, Pakistan Campus Sep 2000 to May 2001

Oracle8 Trainer as visiting faculty member (evening)

• Responsible for giving accelerated Oracle8 Curriculum Training to Executive MS and Executive MBA students using Oracle Developer 2000.

• Responsible for delivering lectures to B.Sc. Computer Science students in Data Structures using C++ implementation.

Petroman Training Institute, Islamabad Aug 2000 to Jan 2001

Oracle8, Visual Basic, C++ Trainer as visiting faculty member (evening)

• Responsible for setting up and maintaining Oracle8 labs following Oracle8 instructor-led lessons.

• Responsible for delivering lectures and presentations to B.Sc. Computer Science students on Oracle8, Data structures with C++ implementation and Visual Basic.

• Also responsible for project assignments and supervision of B.Sc. Computer Science students.

PROJECTS (Latest to oldest)

Project (HPC Cluster setup and technical support at Saudi ARAMCO, in Dammam/Dhahran ):

Setup and provide technical support for the High Performance Computing Clusters , ranging from 128 Nodes to 512 nodes in Saudi ARAMCO, EXPEC department.

Hardware: DELL PowerEdge 1950 Servers, Infiniband, Gbit Ethernet.

Software: RHEL 4.x . Scally cluster manager.

Project (WebMail and DB server setup for PakCyber, in USA):

Setup the Webmail and DB servers for PakCyber. The setup consists of two servers.

Hardware: AMD 64 bit servers.

Software: RHEL5 and CENTOS 5 as base OS on the servers. Various services running on top of this setup: DNS (BIND), FTP (VSFTPd), Web (Apache), Mail server/SMTP (Qmail), Anti-Spam (SPAM Assassin), Anti-Virus (ClamAV), POP and IMAP (Courier), Database (MySQL), Firewall (IPTables), etc.

Project (WebMail and DB server setup for UK based company in USA):

Setup the Webmail and DB servers for Smart Communications, now running under the name (and) ownership of Autogateway.co.uk . The setup consists of two servers.

Hardware: AMD 64 bit Dual core servers.

Software: CENTOS 5 as base OS on the servers. Various services running on top of this setup: DNS (BIND), FTP (VSFTPd), Web (Apache), Mail server/SMTP (Qmail), Anti-Spam (SPAM Assassin), Anti-Virus (ClamAV), POP and IMAP (Courier), Database (MySQL), Firewall (IPTables), etc.

Project (High Availability setup in USA):

Setup a High Availability setup for www.yellowzip.com, in USA, through PakCyber, Rawalpindi. The setup consists of four (4) servers connected to each other over the network in High Availability configuration, and various telecommunications and networking equipment.

Hardware: Dual and Quad-processor Xeon servers

Software: CENTOS 4 as base OS on these servers. Various Linux High Availability technologies : Linux Load Balancers using ldirectord, IPVSadm, Heartbeat, DRBD, etc. The various services running on top of this HA setup: DNS (BIND) running in master/slave mode, FTP (ProFTPd) running in cluster formation, Web (Apache) running in cluster formation, Mail server/SMTP (Qmail) running in cluster formation, Anti-Spam (SPAM Assassin), Anti-Virus (ClamAV), POP and IMAP (Courier) running in cluster formation, Database (MySQL) running in failover mode over DRBD, NFS, Firewall (IP Tables), etc.

Project (High Availability Data Center setup in UK):

Reconfigured the entire High Availability Data Center setup, when it moved from Pakistan to UK, previously running under the name of Smart Communications, now running under the name (and) ownership of Autogateway.co.uk . The setup consists of fourteen (14) servers connected to each other over the network in High Availability configuration, and various telecommunications and networking equipment.

Hardware: Various Dell and Acer servers

Software: CENTOS 4 as base OS on the servers. Various Linux High Availability technologies : Linux Load Balancers using ldirectord, IPVSadm, Heartbeat, DRBD, etc. The various services running on top of this HA setup: DNS (BIND) running in master/slave mode, FTP (ProFTPd), Web (Apache) running in cluster formation, Mail server/SMTP (Qmail) running in cluster formation, Anti-Spam (SPAM Assassin), Anti-Virus (ClamAV), POP and IMAP (Courier) running in cluster formation, Database (MySQL) running in master/slave mode, NFS, Firewall (IP Tables), etc.

Project (Oracle Database 10g and Apache Web Server with PHP):

Led the team of DBAs, software developers and system administrators to implement the Hospital Management Information System in CDA Hospital, Islamabad. Configured, and implemented Oracle Database 10g and Apache Web Server with PHP for this HMIS. Also created an implementation manual / HowTo for the same. The system was commissioned in December 2007.

Hardware: HP dual and quad processor servers

Software: RedHat Enterprise Linux 4 AS, Apache 2.2 Web Server, PHP 4.4.5, Oracle Database 10g R2.

Project (Upgrade of Oracle DB to Oracle RAC):

Upgraded the single node production database setup to 2-Node Oracle RAC production system, using Oracle RAC 10g, in Mobilink GSM's MSC. The new Oracle RAC system was commissioned in September 2006.

Hardware: HP DL-380, DL-580, dual and quad processor servers. HP MSA-1000

Software: Oracle 10g R2 Enterprise Edition, RedHat Enterprise Linux 4 AS

Project (High Availability Data Center setup):

Setup a Data Center, consisting of fourteen (14) servers and various telecommunications and networking equipment for a Wireless Bandwidth Provider, Smart Communications, Pvt. Ltd. , in Islamabad.

Hardware: Various Dell and Acer servers

Software: CENTOS 4 as base OS on the servers. Various Linux High Availability technologies : Linux Load Balancers using ldirectord, IPVSadm, Heartbeat, DRBD, etc. The various services running on top of this HA setup: DNS (BIND) running in master/slave mode, FTP (ProFTPd), Web (Apache) running in cluster formation, Mail server/SMTP (Qmail) running in cluster formation, Anti-Spam (SPAM Assassin), Anti-Virus (ClamAV), POP and IMAP (Courier) running in cluster formation, Database (MySQL) running in master/slave mode, NFS, Firewall (IP Tables), etc.

Project (High Availability setup):

Converted the single node Internet gateway server at PakCyber's local office in Rawalpindi, to a 2 node, highly available Internet gateway, protected by Linux Heartbeat / HA technologies. Also setup Asterisks VOIP setup on the same HA server configuration.

Hardware: Two ordinary high-end PCs

Software: CENTOS 4 as base OS. Various Linux High Availability technologies : Linux Load Balancers using ldirectord, IPVSadm, Heartbeat, DRBD, etc. The various services running on top of this HA setup: VOIP (Asterisk), DNS (BIND), Web (Apache), Mail relay server/SMTP-relay (Postfix), Anti-Spam (SPAM Assassin), Database (MySQL), Windows File Sharing (Samba), NFS, Firewall (IP Tables), etc.

Project (Linux based routers setup):

Helped MIT, Micro Innovations and Technologies, setup the country wide Wireless installation and configuration for the Pakistan's largest university, National University of Science and Technology (NUST). The university consists of thirteen campuses spread across the Pakistan. The project was to connect all the universities over Wire-less broadband VPN and also distribute the government funded Internet bandwidth, PERN (Pakistan Education Resource Network), over the same medium. The implemented solution was completely designed by myself. The setup consisted of Cisco 3600 series routers, Cisco PIX Firewalls, 515 and 525 series, Long Range Wireless Access Points / Radio Modems, both Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multi-point, and Linux / PC based routers at each college / campus. The system was commissioned in November 2005.

Also conducted the training for the same.

Project (Oracle Collaboration Suite):

Installed, configured, implemented and delivered training for, Oracle Collaboration Suite Release 2, in Pakistan Computer Bureau, Islamabad.

Also wrote a complete system administration manual for the same.

Project (Re-configuration of Wireless ISP/broadband provider) :

Designed, configured, and implemented Web, DNS, and Mail Server for an Islamabad based ISP, Data4Networks (www.data4net.com), using Apache, BIND, Qmail and related open source technologies.

Hardware: Various server class computers including HP and Compaq

Software: Fedora Core 3, Apache Web Server, Qmail mail server, Bind DNS server, Iptables firewall, Squirrelmail Web-based Email, Courier IMAP server, CLAMAV Anti-Virus, Spam Assasin Anti-spam, and other related open-source technologies.

Project (Web, Mail, DB servers setup in USA):

Configured, and implemented Web, DNS, and Mail Servers for a USA based organization, "We Hold These Truths" (www.whtt.org), using Apache, BIND, Qmail, Snort IDS and related open source technologies, and I manage them remotely over a secure connection, for PakCyber. Also setup MySQL master/slave replication between three servers (one master, two slaves) for the same setup.

Hardware: AMD Athlon 2800+ and Intel P3 machines, one placed in Arizona and the other in Houston

Software: Fedora Core 3, Apache Web Server, Qmail mail server, Bind DNS server, Iptables firewall, Squirrelmail Web-based Email, Courier IMAP server, CLAMAV Anti-Virus, SpamAssasin Antispam, Snort IDS and other related open-source technologies.

Project (Linux based Internet gateway / Firewall) :

Configured, and implemented DNS, Web-Cache, Firewall and internal mail-relay server for a Islamabad based Chartered Accountants firm , "Anjum Asim Shahid Rahman Chartered Accountants, using BIND, Fetchmail, web-cache server with bandwidth and content control with time based policies, Sendmail, Iptables firewall and related open source technologies, and I manage them remotely over a secure connection.

Hardware: Intel P-3 machine

Software: Fedora Core 3, Fetchmail and Sendmail mail server, Bind DNS server, Iptables firewall, Squirrelmail Web-based Email, Dovecot IMAP server and other related open-source technologies.

Project (Oracle 10g in a mobile operator's MSC):

Helped configure, and implement Oracle Database 10g on HP DL-520 DL-380 multi-processor servers using MSA 1000 SAN solutions from HP. Implemented this in Mobilink GSM’s MSC, Islamabad, on behalf of Ora-Tech systems

Hardware: HP DL-520 and DL-380 servers, HP MSA-1000 (Fiber-optics) and MSA-500 (SCSI) SANs

Software: RedHat Enterprise Linux 3 AS, Oracle Database 10g.

Project (Oracle 10g, Apache and PHP setup at a government project):

Configured, and implemented Oracle Database 10g and Apache Web Server with PHP for Ora-Tech’s project in FPSC. Also performed as Lead DBA and Quality Assurance officer in this project. The system was commissioned in March 2006.

Hardware: Acer and HP dual processor Servers.

Software: RedHat Enterprise Linux 3 AS, Apache 2.0 Web Server, PHP 4.3.11, Oracle Database 10g.

Project (Sonic wall implementation):

Configured, and implemented SonicWall firewall solution in Ora-Tech Systems Islamabad office .

Hardware: SonicWall Pro-2040

Software: SonicWall IDS, DPI, Gateway and network anti-virus.

Project (Linux based Internet gateway / Firewall setup):

Designed, configured and converted, Ora-Tech System’s office network to Linux server based network. A complete bandwidth and content controlled network. Provided facility for content sharing and viewing using Samba, and Apache web servers. File and print server with Anti-virus

Hardware: Various Pentium 2 class machines

Software: (Hardened) RedHat Enterprise Linux 3 AS (now converted to Fedora Core 4) , Squid, Apache web server, Samba, NFS, Vexira anti-virus for Samba servers.

Project (Oracle for system administrators, training):

Conducted a 30 day training on “Essential System Administration for Managing Oracle Databases on Linux” in Ora-tech Islamabad

Hardware: Various P-3, P-4 class machines

Software: RedHat Enterprise Linux 3 AS, Oracle Database 10g.

Project (Linux based PERL, PostgreSQL, Visual Basic: Down Time Information System for a mobile operator):

Designed, developed and implemented “Down Time Information System” for Mobilink GSM. I designed the system on Linux using PostgreSQL and PERL. The system gets loads of data from three OMC-Rs from all over the Pakistan and processes the information for reporting. The database is replicated over WAN in 1 Master and N slaves mode. This system was officially commissioned in June 2004. I also contributed in the front-end designing and programming with other team members in Visual Basic and Crystal Reports. Performed as Lead Analyst, Lead Architect, Lead DBA , Lead Programmer and Quality Assurance officer in this project.

Hardware: Intel P4s working as servers at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Various P-2/3/4 computers working as clients on a both LAN and WAN.

Software: RedHat Linux 9, PERL 5, PostgreSQL 7.3 distributed database in master/slave configuration. Visual BASIC 6 and Crystal Reports 8.5

Project (Linux based Internet gateway / Firewall):

Configured Linux based “bandwidth and content controlled” network in KB Computers , Islamabad, providing Proxy ,Web, Database and Email services.

Hardware: Intel P-2 working as server. Various P-2/3/4 computers working on a 100 Mbps switched network.

Software: RedHat Linux 9, Apache Web Server, PostgreSQL database server, Sendmail mail server and SQUID proxy / cache server.

Project (Linux based Diskless Network using LTSP):

Configured the “Disk-less Linux Network” in Digital Research Labs, Islamabad.

Hardware: AMD Athlon 2800+ computer, working as server, P-1 and P-2 disk-less computers working on a 100 Mbps switched network.

Software: RedHat Linux 8, LTSP 4.0

Project (Linux based PERL, PostgreSQL, Apache based billing software, Reconfiguration of entire ISP setup on Linux):

Configured the ISP of Pakistan Telecommunications Authority Headquarters , Islamabad. Also developed software for RADIUS administration using Perl (CGI) and PostgreSQL.

Hardware: Dell PowerEdge 1400 Computers working as servers, Lucent MAX, Cisco 2500 Series Router, Tel Labs Martis and D-Link LAN switches.

Software: FreeRADIUS 0.9.1server, PostgreSQL 7.3 server and Apache 1.3 server running on RedHat Linux 9.

Project (Training: ISP setup on Linux):

Conducted a rigorous 13 Hour training, in IBMACE Rawalpindi on: “Setting up an ISP with RedHat Linux”

Hardware: Pentium II and III machines, with Cisco Router 2501 and Cisco RAS 2511

Software: RedHat Linux 7.2

Project (Training: ISP setup on Linux):

On behalf of COMSATS Islamabad, conducted a rigorous 4 day, 8 hours per day training, in COMSATS Peshawar on: “Setting up an ISP with RedHat Linux”

Hardware: Pentium II and III machines, with Cisco Router 2501 , Cisco RAS 2511

Software: RedHat Linux 7.2

Project (Oracle 8 based network setup):

Installed and configured Oracle8 based network at Petroman Training Institute, Islamabad campus.

Hardware: Pentium II based terminals.

Software: Windows NT 4.0, Oracle8 Server with Oracle8 Clients.

Project (Oracle 8 based network setup):

Complete reconfiguration of the computer-network in Preston University, Islamabad campus.

Hardware: Pentium based terminals.

Software: Windows NT 4.0, Oracle8 Server and Oracle8 Clients.

Project (Networking):

In Headstart School, installed and configured a 100 Mbps switch based network on Windows NT and LINUX for maximum availability to management and students, using both LAN and Remote Access Service (RAS).

Hardware: Pentium III and AMD Duron based machines.

Software: Windows NT 4.0 and LINUX as network operating system.

Project (Foxpro based software):

Developed and maintained computer system in FoxPro for the sales and purchases of PCs and log of PCs and computer hardware coming in for repairs.

Hardware: 80386.

Software: DOS 6.22 , FoxPro version 2.6 for DOS.

Project (Foxpro based software):

Developed the computer system for the video shop Vision 2000 in Islamabad.

Hardware: 80386.

Software: DOS 6.22 , FoxPro version 2.6 for Windows.

PUBLICATIONS AND CBTs

Publication 1:

Authored the book: “Linux Pocket Reference for System Administrators”, which is download-able free of charge, from my website: www.wbitt.com . First edition went on-line in Oct/Nov 2002. Currently 5th edition is available. Also translated in Spanish by Gerardo Diaz (gerardobdiaz _at_ arnet.com.ar) from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

A widely used and appreciated Linux reference book all over the world.

Publication 2:

Developed Pakistan's first and World's first Linux System Administration CBTs in Urdu language. (The mode of communication is in Urdu and the computer interface is in English). An internationally known set of CBTs, popular in the world where-ever Urdu and its dialects are spoken and understood. eg. India, Indian and Pakistani communities in USA, UK, KSA, Canada, Africa, etc.

Best ranking hits on Google, when searched with “linux urdu cbts”.

The CBTs cover: Qmail with AntiSpam and AntiVirus, DNS, Apache, FTP with virtual hosting, Samba, Squid, SquidGuard, MRTG, DHCPD, System troubleshooting, etc.

Other publications, available on-line on my website (www.wbitt.com):

• Installing and configuring Oracle 10g R1 and R2 on RedHat Enterprise Linux 3 and 4

• OCS R2 installation and configuration on RedHat Enterprise Linux

• Apache, PHP and Oracle together

• Two node Oracle RAC implementation with Oracle 10g R2 on RedHat Enterprise Linux and IPSAN / ISCSI.

• FreeRadius, PostgreSQL, Windows RAS. A complete proof of concept for an ISP.

• Qmail

• .... and many others

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION