So I just started working for this young/small but fastly growing software development firm. Three of us which make up the IT team: 1. Tommy the network admin who runs like a chicken with his head cut off attempting to appease all the executives/employees/clients we come in contact with (extremely smart, well mannered, and posses great personal skills. 2. Jimmy who is the Technical Support for their latest and greatest developments (sorta sadly the pee-on) basic Windows knowledge. 3. Me - ADD, multiple personality, attention deficit disorder and all - but some what smart. So I get paid to sit and watch how these two very nice guys lead very miserable lives. Tommy sits on the phone half the freaking day chasing down vendors purchasing licenses, upgrading licenses, purchasing additional exchange accounts because all of the sudden the project manager's e-mail account is too small to hold all their information. It's a mad house. So, funny enough (I guess) he got the weekly reports for one of our only main application - our virus scanner. He went on to talk about how he can't afford this, how we can't afford that.... All this bureaucratic non sense. I made the disclaimer before I opened my big mouth why don't we simply introduce open source! "brilliant idea award of the year should go to - me".... Yes, the response that we got was and who is going to have time to manage/set-up/ and maintain such thing? Fool, one of them is talking and the other one is in front of you moron!!! Us - I says!!! You know they want to pay this insane amount of money for some doped up firewall we don't need just yet. They are talking about owning our own exchange server and part of the reason we have not jumped to it is the cost of the IT professional we will have to hire to maintain this beast.... I can't believe this crap, I mean I by no means are the sendmail or open-xchange god but for crying out loud why can't we be more open source minded, save money and give us IT folks a raise (or a pad on the back). I'd figured I am young enough to start a small iptables server and grow with it. I guess all said and done I says to Tommy - listen I am not trying to step on your toes but I do this for fun and am open to help or answer any questions (of course with the help of tclug)... Anyway, I feel this would be great to earn brownie points on my resume by expanding my skills and experience. So does anyone have any suggestions how to break the ice? How to bring this up with out hurting any one's feelings? We are small enough ($$$$) and definitely have the money to afford an outside consultant with his MCSE and all but hmmm.. I feel that is such an 80's thing and plus if need be we can hire an experience consultant from TCLUG to come and tune up our systems!?!?! Here are some facts: 1. I have been here 1 month. 2. Tommy is a Navy veteran (thinking will never be able to change his mind of thought about open source solutions) 3. We need changes soon "system critical!" Suggestions please!!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.