On Jan 14, 2007, at 8:41 AM, Mark Rages wrote:

> Here the answer would be "install a replacement board."
> Seriously, they are asking a network admin to do
>   component-level board repair?
>
That's my immediate reaction as well.

Of course, it's one of those trick questions where they haven't
given you all the data.  When an engineer asks a sort-of open-ended
question like that, they may not have a "right" answer in mind, but
just be trying to get some insight into how you treat problems.
It's relatively common for an engineer to have some sort of "see how
they think" question in their interview question list (in which case
"replace the board" is not a very good answer without additional
commentary.)

IS a replacement board available?  (soon enough?  Cheap enough?)
(note that in many circumstances, the $3000 board cost someone else
mentioned is small change compared to the money you're losing by
having the network down.  Though it is a different class of money.
Perhaps the first part of the answer is to bring the network back
up using "other resources" before you start poking at board-level
details.)

Check the board for obvious wrongness.  Big burnt spots.  Little
burnt spots.  Bent pins on connectors or socketed ICs.  Re-seating
connectors and ICs might not hurt.  Do you HAVE replacement components?
Do you HAVE electronic test tools?  Do you have access to people who
know how to use them?  Do you have access to the people who build and/or
assembler and/or test the board?  Being effective at a job means making
good use of the resources available to you, which includes the rest of
the people working there, not just your own skills...

BillW

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