About Me - CybaIT

Hi, I'm Dirk and I was born and bred on a dairy farm in Matamata.

When I was eleven my parents decided to move to the lovely and sunny Tauranga and have a much more relaxed lifestyle as Kiwifruit Orchardists.

I have been interested in computers since I was six years old. My first computer was an Atarti 130XE which plugged into the Television. It used the old style floppy disks and kept my friends and I entertained for hours playing games like Frogger and Donkey Kong.

As I grew older I slowly upgraded until I had four desktop towers, five large monitors, two laptops and a smartphone. All running different operating systems ranging from Linux to Windows and Mac. My main desktop could multi-boot into every version of windows available and then run about five other versions of Linux in a virtual enviroment! I had them all connected via a wired switch and wireless router. While most people were playing games I enjoyed optimising the operating systems to make them run as quickly as possible.

I graduated in 2009 with my Diploma in IT. We learnt how to set-up, configure and optimise Enterprise level networks and computer systems. From configuring managed switches and security hardened domains, server implementation and infrastructure to cloud utilisation, project management and end user useability. We learn't the ins and outs of how to pull a computer and server apart (and how to put it back together again!), how to connect it all together via managed switches and hubs, how to connect it all to the internet via the router and how to configure the firewalls and domains to create an efficient and productive system.

As our main project we had to design an enterprise level network from the ground up and I was awarded the most marks in class for designing a server system using server virtualisation. So instead of having seperate, and expensive, standalone servers, one as a mail server, another as a file server and another as a print server and so on, I decided to use the VMWare ESX software to create a much more efficient, manageable and efficient system. Instead of having multiple physical servers I used just one to run the underlying VMWare operating system or "host" and installed the other server operating systems on top in virtual "guest" environments. Saving the client money and time by consolidating all the servers into one.

Then I went on to work at Rebel Sport in Brisbane, Australia. Handling the back end of their online sales website and payment system. I managed the site while updating the available products and while working closely with the head office in Sydney to provide a seamless experience for customers.

After working there for four years I decided to come back to New Zealand. At the beginning of 2013 I started my in-home computer repair business. I have been busy servicing the local customers and have expanded to encompass the wider Western Bay of Plenty area.

Working and fiddling with computers and anything "techy" is my hobby and I get great enjoyment out of fixing computers and helping others learn about and optimise their own systems.

If you would like my assistance, please see my contact me page to get in touch!

Thank you,

Dirk McTavish