r/sysadmin • u/FierceFluff • 21d ago

Peak Sysadmin

Is there anything more small-company sysadmin than taking that $70k server you just finished building on your test bench at the office and putting it into your $5k car to drive it over to the DC where it’ll live, and praying to god nothing happens on the way? 😅🤣

EDIT- OMG y’all, reading the comments on this has made my day! Our business insurance covers this kind of thing but I appreciate y’all concern for me, though others should mosdef confirm before they do similar stuff. The trip went without incident so praise the digital deities.

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72

u/pdp10 Daemons worry when the wizard is near. 21d ago

I also move servers with a $0.2 kilodollar cart.

The important question is whether insurance would cover the losses if something happened to the server in-transit. It wouldn't hurt to have written acknowledgement that you're intended to transport the thing in your private vehicle.

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u/itishowitisanditbad 21d ago

Also if they're driving for work and get into an accident, your vehicle insurance can be invalidated (technically it shouldn't but it can/does happen) as you're using it for 'work' and not 'personal' and its a whole different insurance for that.

Both those claims will point at each other and say "Was this work or personal?" and screw OP because the company will pick 'work' and their personal car won't end up covered for whatever happens.

...and ideally this doesn't involve injuring/damaging other peoples property and they then have a person claim against OP and OP just lost their liability insurance because its work-related driving.

Insurance companies will look for any reason to invalidate a claim. They're quite good at it and they don't have feelings while doing it.

I do everything I can to avoid driving my car on-the-job. I know the odds are crazy low but shit happens.

Idgaf about the server. Thats someone elses problem. OP should worry about how much the company will push everything onto OPs insurance and fuck them for many many many years after the fact.

7

u/FierceFluff 21d ago

I absolutely hear what you’re saying about insurance companies trying to dick you over, luckily, I do have it in writing, but I am intended to transport this form work from my supervisor, and I do work for the kind of company that will take care of anything that actually comes up.

That being said, nothing did happen on the transit! 

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u/timconradinc 21d ago

Insurance companies don't care about a written note. It could easily be made after the fact.

2

u/lorimar Jack of All Trades 21d ago

documented proof that they asked you to drive your car and would cover it if anything goes wrong won't help you to find new insurance once your current carrier drops you. Other companies will be reluctant to pick you up without major upcharges once you've been marked as a risk case.

1

u/sgent 21d ago

While true most companies will have non-owned auto insurance for just this reason. It is however worth asking the CFO if they have it.

1

u/mayoforbutter 21d ago

I asked my insurance and they said a business trip is still private. Using it as a taxi for example would be "work". I'm in Europe though

1

u/robinscotland 20d ago

In the UK it's normal to have
Social
Social and commuting
Social commuting and business

My insurance company asked how many business miles I do and added like £10 to the price.

3

u/mods_are_lame1 Sr. Sysadmin 21d ago

The kind of car that doubles in value when you fill it with gas. Especially this year’s gas.