back seat driver

'Who is the SQL Server DBA ?'

'I am'

'Who is the Siebel Administrator ?'

'Err, me'

'Who is the keeper of DNS ?'

'I am'

'Do you want a screenshot of that ?'

'No. I am only noting down areas where we diverge from the default OOTB configuration.'

'Who do we ask about adding entries to the Active Directory ?'

'Him'

'Who is the Web meister ?'

'Me'

And so, when working with such intelligent people (Jack of All Trades), it is entirely possible to install, patch and demonstrate the features of a highly available, resilient Siebel 7.8 Enterprise, within one day, featuring:-

Two Web Servers (IIS 6.0) load balanced by Cisco CSS

Active-Active MSCS cluster (Gateway, EIM, Workflow, Assignment Manager, Data Quality)

Two Siebel Servers (Object Manager) using native load balancing

Clustered SQL Server database

A thoroughly satisfying and productive day with plenty of intelligent, probing questions from technical people eager to learn and willing to read books.

A day that should have ended in handshakes all round, a premature end to the engagement, a glowing testimonial from the customer about yours truly to their account manager that he, in turn, forwarded to my manager.

But no. This customer now wants to deploy SSL, authenticate using Active Directory and would like to see how Single Sign On (SSO) could help the business.