In Theory:

• Systems Architect interacts with end users and designs the basic architecture of the system. Primarily this is generating requirements, not specifications.
• Systems Engineer designs and builds stuff. This would include the actual specifications.
• Systems Administrator keeps it all running later on.

In Reality:

• The three job titles are frequently used interchangeably in IT and there's usually some aspect of all 3 in the jobs.

In Practice:

• I do aspects of all three. I take care of the requirements, specifications, building and the administration of our systems. But most of my company time is spent on the administration part.

To successfully launch a tech/digital startup in Thailand.

DOCKX GROUP (http://www.dockx-group.be)

ICT Architect/Engineer/Administrator

June 1997 - Present

Responsible for the IT-infrastructure of the Dockx Group, I successfully manage to keep the company up to date with technology that enables them to focus on being competitive in the rental, removal (private and industrial) and logistics market.

I started working for the Dockx Group in 1997. At that moment they had 1 Windows NT and 1 IBM RS6000 server running AIX. 5 branches were connected using leased lines that provided serial connections to 15 PC’s/terminals using multiplexing modems. The NT server was used primarily as a file sharing box.

Twenty years later, the company now has around 25 virtual servers on premise or in the cloud providing all kinds of services to 250 users. The company now also has access to a high speed WAN infrastructure to 20 branch offices and 2 40000m² warehouses all equipped with the latest technologies. I was and still am the only admin in the company. The IT infrastructure of the Dockx Group is my baby and has been taken care of for almost 20 years without the need for expensive consultants or be dependent on support companies.

INNET nv (Former Belgian ISP)

Windows Server Administrator

January 1997 - June 1997

As a member of the engineering/administrator group of a major Belgian ISP I was responsible for the Windows NT server park.

• Updates and upgrades of both software and hardware.
• Migrating from Windows Server 3.51 to Windows Server 4.0.
• Providing internal Windows support and 3th line support for customers.
• Deployment of terminal services.
• Management of IIS customer websites.

GLOBE nv (Former Belgian ISP)

Web Developer

September 1995 - December 1996

Programming the logic behind customer websites. Mainly using Perl for creating interactive webpages with MySQL as backend. Closely working together with the graphical designers to provide professional websites.

EDUCATION

1992-1995: Bachelor degree in Information Technology with honors.

The following duties are expected of me:

• Manage 10 physical, 25 virtual servers, 10 NAS systems and around 250 clients consisting of PC’s, laptops and mobile devices running all kinds of operating systems.
• Virtualize old physical servers and install new virtual servers using Hyper-V and VMWare technologies.
• Manage our LAN/WAN/Wi-Fi infrastructure.
• Administer our e-mail and collaboration environment.
• Provide VoIP and Unified Communications with Skype for Business 2015 and Exchange Online.
• Taking care of our storage needs.
• Do all kinds of migrations and upgrades for hardware and software.
• Automate monitoring and reporting problems in our IT infrastructure.
• Plan, execute and be responsible for our backup and recovery strategies.
• Enable and provide all kinds of services to the end users.
• Secure our network, data and systems.
• Provide second/third line support to my colleagues and end users.
• Educate first line support.
• Negotiate with vendors.
• Process administrative work (follow up on orders, licenses, etc.)
• Finding budget friendly solutions for our IT needs.

MY PROJECTS

• In 2011 Dockx-Group started merging and consolidating its subsidiary companies to our new 40000m² business site in Wilrijk. This site consists of new storage, technical and administrative buildings. I was and still am responsible for providing network infrastructure and merging all the different companies’ systems into one new operations center connected to our existing network using a fiber uplink.
• Implemented a coherent Wi-Fi environment for our main and 18 remote sites with Extreme Networks’ IdentiFi (formerly known as Enterasys/HiPath) equipment.
• Rolled out VoIP and unified communications with Microsoft Lync to replace our classic PABX systems.
• Upgraded our Lync 2013 infrastructure to Skype for Business Server 2015.
• Upgraded SQL Server 2014 to SQL Server 2016.
• Upgraded Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 to 2015.
• Migrated our on premise Exchange infrastructure to Exchange Online using a hybrid configuration.
• Implemented SharePoint Online instead of SharePoint Foundation.
• Current and planned projects for 2017:
  • Migrate on premise servers and deploy new ones on Microsoft Azure.
  • Migration of on premise Skype for Business to Skype for Business Online.
  • Gradual migration of our users to Offie 365
  • Supervise the expansion of our IT infrastructure with regards to our new branches. Our latest Dockx Service Shop opened in November.
  • Equip our branches with a new coherent video surveillance system.
  • Design and perform test migrations of our SQL databases to Azure SQL.
  • Enable video conferencing between our meeting rooms in different sites.
  • Research of a new digital signage solution.

This server is running in Microsoft Azure's cloud. It's a virtual Ubuntu server running Nginx, PHP, MySQL, DNS and some more. Installation, configuration are all done by myself.

I'm running my own DNS servers for this domain so my registrar only has the glue records to my nameservers, so here is a DNS check from Pingdom: DNS check.

A+ rating from SSLabs.com: Qualy’s SSL Labs"

Domain health report from MX Toolbox: Domain Health Report

I prefer the single lifestyle with no kids. This lifestyle gives me the freedom to do the things I want to do.

If you think about it, this is a positive trait for a future employer:

• I don't need to leave work early to get the kids from school or be home for the family meal.
• No need asking for emergency leave because someone is sick.
• No family stress.
• I don't need to take my holidays when everybody else needs to take them.
• My hobby is my work and my work is my hobby. When I come home first thing I do is boot up one of my computers. For learning, gaming, experimenting, ...

It's a continuously evolving environment and that keeps me interested. I find static jobs, where you always do the same thing, very boring.

Most of my knowledge comes straight from the internet. The internet is full of information and knowledge, you only have to find it. Some resources I use:

• Microsoft's Virtual Academy
• Google
• YouTube
• E-books
• Learning sites
• Experimenting
• Webinars

I was 8 years old when I received my first computer. From then on I was hooked.

• Atari 8-bit: 800XL, 130XE
• Atari 16/32-bit: 1040STFM
• This era also gave me my first experiences with telecom. Received a 2400 baud modem and connected to BBS's during the good old days of FidoNet.
• Sun UltraSPARC with Solaris
• IBM RS6000 with AIX
• PC: 486DX2 all the way to i7, Xeon with all kinds of operating systems.
• At home I now have the following equipment to play with:
  • 1x i7, 2x i5 PC's
  • Synology NAS
  • 2x Cisco 1800, 1x Cisco 2600, 1x Cisco 2800 series ISR
  • WatchGuard Firebox
  • OpenWRT routers
  • Android and iOS devices
  • And a lot of peripherals

• I'm a (computer) gamer from childhood. My favorite games are Blizzard games. Been a guild officer and raid leader in World of Warcraft. Tabletop role play is also a fun pastime.
• I love the white fluffy powder on mountains. Learning youngsters to ski as a ski monitor for Josk. I also like swimming, snorkeling and diving.
• I'm the administrator of www.thailandforum.be, a Dutch language forum with information about Thailand for tourists and expats.
• Learning new technologies and systems.
• Trying to decipher Thai script.
• If I watch TV it's mainly Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel or a movie.
• Hacking hardware, installing new OSses on them. Like installing OpenWRT on routers, playing around with second hand Cisco hardware and I also have a WatchGuard Firebox laying around. Playing around with GNS3 or Cisco packet tracer is also fun.
• A little bit of programming, mainly in C# with Visual Studio.
• When I still have time, I read books. Mainly fantasy or science fiction literature. I always read books in English. 'The black knight enters the dark castle' sounds much more powerful than the Dutch translation.
• Tinkering and tuning this website.
• And of course, spend as much time as I'm able to in Thailand.

After I returned from my first visit in 2012 something clicked. Since then I have visited Thailand 10 times for longer and longer periods. The buzz of Bangkok, the exciting nightlife of Pattaya, the beautiful beaches and islands to the South, the rice fields of Isaan in the North, every place has its special vibe.

But they also had things in common:

• Internet connectivity is good and available everywhere. (Very important to me!)
• The amazing food. Healthy, plentiful and cheap. I eat and live much healthier when I’m residing in Thailand.
• Jungles, beaches and beautiful nature: Thailand has a bit of everything.
• Cheap way of living. Bangkok is more expensive because it’s a metropole but even there housing is affordable.
• Bangkok has good and not expensive public transportation. Skytrain, metro, buses, motorbike taxi’s. Bangkok also has very good air connections to almost any destination in the world.
• The weather, in general, is nice although hot.
• Their culture, Buddhism and general kindness of the inhabitants.
• Everything is available. Movie theatres, shopping malls, night life, 24h 7-11’s, Western food in case you miss something from home, etc.
• Thailand is a safe country, except for the traffic.

Is Thailand perfect? It is not, but no country is. Thailand ticks all my boxes and that's why I want to make a life changing decision and leave Belgium.

I consider myself as a down to earth person, loyal and stress resistant*.

My work is my hobby and my hobby is my work except for the gaming part.

*My stress resistance is a lot less for job interviews. ;-)

I always use the English language for my systems. English is the main language in the technical and scientific world. It makes troubleshooting much easier. Translating a localized language error is not so efficient when you need to find a solution fast.

That's correct: officially my last name is written like this: "De bie".

Yes, of course! Although nowadays it are only small changes.

Last update happened on 28/12/2016.

That's correct. Due to following reasons I find it's better to contact me by email or by using the contact page so we can set up a phone/Skype call.

• Time zone difference.
• When I'm in Thailand I use a Thai sim card. When I'm in Europe I use a local Belgian number.
• I'm still working full time. This way I can avoid people calling me when I'm busy at work.
• It gives me a bit more privacy.