Fellow IT Pros - What are you Carrying?

[marlowe221]

It can be hard to search the internet for things like “multitool for IT” because, well, search engines frequently don’t pick up on the fact that you’re using an acronym and not the word “it”…

So, for my fellow IT folks out there, what’s in your pockets or on your belts?

Personally, I carry a Rambler (the #0 Phillips on the 58mm combo tool is amazing and magnetic), a 91mm SAK (a Cybertool M or Explorer most of the time). I also have a medium size iFixit kit in my work backpack.  Not to mention a typical “rescue” thumb drive for PCs.

But I’m interested in reading about what other folks in this line of work find useful.

Please let me know!

[AzteCypher]

When I was out in the field I carried a small tool bag because of the varied hardware I had to touch on a day to day basis.  In my pockets I carried a Minichamp on my keychain, an Olight Baton 2, a Kershaw leek and a fountain pen.  Anything else I would need would be in the small tool bag which included my Gerber MP600.

[marlowe221]

The Minichamp makes a lot of sense. The Rambler is great but there are definitely some things with small electronics where I can see the Minichamp’s additional tools coming in handy.

And yeah, great point about the flashlight. I always have a small one on me. A little single AAA Olight.

I’ve never owned a MP600 but I do have a couple of Leathermans. I don’t see me strapping one to my belt, but could carry one in my work backpack.

Thanks for sharing!

[ReamerPunch]

My brother does IT, and he carries a Gerber Dime and the Hoto precision screwdriver I gifted him. He also has a Gerber Shard on his keys, but I don't think opening bottles is an IT thing.

[styx]

In my pocket a wallet/organizer with a USB stick with a few of the more common tools, Vic Farmer and Olight Mini Warrior 2. in my jacket a backup light, more recently being a Lumintop AA (at least I think that is the name), in the back pack is a Supertool 300, Crankbrothers F15 or 16, Wera hex key set, Wera ESD PZ0 and PZ1 and usually between 6 and 8 guitar picks or other case opening tools. I've slimmed it down due to some cable tools being unnecessary.

While a small Vic would be handy, the reality is that when I need such precision, I'm usually at my desk. When I'm about then it is usually mounting things and cable management if I'm getting my hands dirty. if not, then tools don't come into play.

1 change I'm thinking of doing is swapping out the Crankbrothers tool, which was more in use while I was commuting on foot, just to help out with any bike repair I could, for a Wera toolcheck plus

If we had a bigger operation planned, I'd probably include some VDE pliers, a digital multitool, a voltage tester and specific cable tools for testing, opening drives and similar. And why so VDE when I shouldn't be anywhere near electrical work? Well because some people don't understand turning the power off. I had a close call a few years ago while going to cut a wire that turned out to be live, and since then I'm not trusting any handyman, building supervisor or any similar function.

[marlowe221]

My brother does IT, and he carries a Gerber Dime and the Hoto precision screwdriver I gifted him. He also has a Gerber Shard on his keys, but I don't think opening bottles is an IT thing.

I don't think I'm familiar with the Hoto brand - I'll have to look that one up! The Gerber Dime makes sense. Small precision pliers can be really handy. I like the Vic pliers on the Cybertool, but it's a bulky package in the hand when you actually need to USE them. The Deluxe Tinker feels better... but you give up the bit driver. Then again, I have had times when I needed both tools at the same time, one in each hand so...

In my pocket a wallet/organizer with a USB stick with a few of the more common tools, Vic Farmer and Olight Mini Warrior 2. in my jacket a backup light, more recently being a Lumintop AA (at least I think that is the name), in the back pack is a Supertool 300, Crankbrothers F15 or 16, Wera hex key set, Wera ESD PZ0 and PZ1 and usually between 6 and 8 guitar picks or other case opening tools. I've slimmed it down due to some cable tools being unnecessary.

While a small Vic would be handy, the reality is that when I need such precision, I'm usually at my desk. When I'm about then it is usually mounting things and cable management if I'm getting my hands dirty. if not, then tools don't come into play.

1 change I'm thinking of doing is swapping out the Crankbrothers tool, which was more in use while I was commuting on foot, just to help out with any bike repair I could, for a Wera toolcheck plus

If we had a bigger operation planned, I'd probably include some VDE pliers, a digital multitool, a voltage tester and specific cable tools for testing, opening drives and similar. And why so VDE when I shouldn't be anywhere near electrical work? Well because some people don't understand turning the power off. I had a close call a few years ago while going to cut a wire that turned out to be live, and since then I'm not trusting any handyman, building supervisor or any similar function.

The hex key set is important! I do have a full metric and standard Klein Tools hex key set that rides in my work backpack. And it get used a LOT. It also comes in handy in my other, informal position as "office handyman". I work for a pretty small organization, and it sounds like you're involved in some much more extensive projects than I am at my job (which is as much software based as it is hardware...). But man, hex keys are super common these days - just as common as Phillips screws at this point.

My challenge is that, despite our relatively small scale, I'm it. I have to be prepared for almost anything, as often happens in smaller companies. The other day I was writing code... and then later that same day I was fixing a toilet that wouldn't flush!

Toilets are IT, right? 

[AzteCypher]

Toilets are IT, right? 

There are some electronic ones out there so... 

[styx]

well yes, everything is IT. and it isn't the size of the organization, it is that day's understanding of what IT is by someone with a massive superiority complex and just enough power to make that particular thing your problem.
we have been mechanics, electricians, moving men. security, and just about everything else that doesn't require talking to current or potential clients. the last part is justified on a daily basis.

actually what I don't understand is that some people in our field are doing everything but making coffees (although I know of those examples as well, but that is more of a suck up thing), while others will not budge if you don't bring about 10 tomes of paperwork showing that it is their responsibility. it isn't even the not budging part that gets me, its the how the hell do they not get in trouble for it. only logical explanation is that no one cares about their work because it is irrelevant or no one cares because that person doesn't contribute anyway.

[AzteCypher]

Oh agreed.  I ended up having to bribe a network guy one time with a fine bottle of bourbon.  He delighted in giving me grief and since I was still the new guy at the time, I guess he had no regard for me.  I finally decide to walk up to his desk to introduce myself and hand him the bottle at the same time.  He seemed to relax after that.  From what I gathered he was used to dealing with project managers that had no business being in IT.  I was the IT guy that disliked doing project management stuff but sometimes I had to.   

[fullbreakfast]

actually what I don't understand is that some people in our field are doing everything but making coffees (although I know of those examples as well, but that is more of a suck up thing), while others will not budge if you don't bring about 10 tomes of paperwork showing that it is their responsibility. it isn't even the not budging part that gets me, its the how the hell do they not get in trouble for it. only logical explanation is that no one cares about their work because it is irrelevant or no one cares because that person doesn't contribute anyway.

In organisations I have worked for, the explanation would have been they were buddies with the IT Director or some other Grand Panjandrum.

[styx]

In organisations I have worked for, the explanation would have been they were buddies with the IT Director or some other Grand Panjandrum.

well it is more a popularity contest. unfortunately

Oh agreed.  I ended up having to bribe a network guy one time with a fine bottle of bourbon.  He delighted in giving me grief and since I was still the new guy at the time, I guess he had no regard for me.  I finally decide to walk up to his desk to introduce myself and hand him the bottle at the same time.  He seemed to relax after that.  From what I gathered he was used to dealing with project managers that had no business being in IT.  I was the IT guy that disliked doing project management stuff but sometimes I had to.   

well at least he wasn't a smurfhead. i had a colleague that delighted in calling one other colleague and myself consumables, disposables, etc. somehow stopped being funny when our manager, his best man, left and the new manager promoted me to a team lead position

[Vidar]

somehow stopped being funny when our manager, his best man, left and the new manager promoted me to a team lead position

I actually thought that sounded quite funny! 

Back in the 90s of limited resources we had this network admin overlord who was a total smurf at reducing everyone's available resources. Storage space, email space, print allowance, bandwidth - you name it he did it. Top of creepy was when he sent an email to a female college who had sent a, lets say Santa's helper, picture to her fiance via email. He actually sent her an angry email for using resources on that. Yes, resources was totally the issue with that interaction...

Anyway, by pure unlucky incompetence I discovered that the Unix machines in the computer labs needed a bit of available space to be able to startup. Which the one I had used no longer had, and someone with the proper knowledge, authority and access level was needed to come and unbrick it. I might then have been unlucky and incompetent on a few more machines on a Friday afternoon once. After all, it does take some statistical number of cases to make certain it wasn't just happenstance the first time..

About a year or two later I discovered the reason for this smurf focus on resource minimizing for everyone else. He was running a big sharing ftp server with software, movies, music and what not on the servers. That was likely several times larger than what was used for the actual intent of it, and eating available bandwidth like the mother of Napster.

[fullbreakfast]

About a year or two later I discovered the reason for this smurf focus on resource minimizing for everyone else. He was running a big sharing ftp server with software, movies, music and what not on the servers. That was likely several times larger than what was used for the actual intent of it, and eating available bandwidth like the mother of Napster.

Did he get fired...?

[Brock O Lee]

Software Developer here, so technically I do not need any tools other than a Macbook...

In Aus these days we're not permitted to carry any blades in public or in the office, not even a Vic Classic. However, there is a snowball's chance in h#ll that I'll leave home naked.

So, I have a Swisscard in my wallet, and a LM Micra (no blade) in my 5th pocket. In my bag I carry a LM Rebar (also bladeless), bit extender with Wiha double-ended bits, and a 125 mm Knipex Cobra.

For lighting I have a Olight Baton 4 flashlight with charging case.

I also carry a 20000 mAH Anker powerbank for charging devices on the go and on public transport (a 3h return train trip once or twice a week to the office).

I recently got an Vic Alox Companion Slim, one of those bladeless SAK's, that I may give a go on an office run.

[styx]

Vidar, that really was a smurfhead

Brock, shame about the bladeless rules but you got a nice set up going

[AzteCypher]

I hope that network admin got put through the grinder.

[Vidar]

Did he get fired...?

No, he didn't. I don't think any of general leadership ever noticed or cared. And his direct supervisors above the departments was likely in the know already I suppose. It was the 90s - they even ran huge ftp distros at major US universities and corporations. If I remember correct the FBI took over a major one and logged all traffic for 6 months before springing the trap.

It did get less smurf about resources with time though, and he got a colleague which was more approachable.