Peter Tirivanhu Warure

Merchant Bank of Central Africa (MBCA)

14th Floor Old Mutual Centre

Cnr 3rd St/Jason Moyo Ave

P. O. Box 3200

HARARE

ZIMBABWE

+263 4 701637-52 (Tel)

+263 4 708005 (Fax)

+263 11 802794 (Mobile)

(preferred) or

DESIRED JOB

A challenging Internetworking position with a progressive IP Tier 1 or Tier 2 Carrier, Internet Service Provider or e-Commerce company that will effectively utilize acquired expertise and experience.

EDUCATION

Total number of years of schooling

7 years of Primary Education leading to a Grade 7 certificate.

6 years of Secondary Education leading to a University of Cambridge (UK) GCE “A” Level.

4 years of University Education leading to an Electrical Engineering degree.

University last attended

University Of Zimbabwe – Harare, Zimbabwe

BSc Eng (Hon) Electrical (1988 – 1991)

This degree is recognised by The Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE – UK) and The Institution Of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Qualification results in automatic transition from Student membership to Associate Membership.

Qualification Highlights

Ten years in the Telecoms Industry specialising in Digital Switching and six years in the IP Internetworking environment.

Experienced in network planning/provisioning, digital exchange software support and maintenance, staff training and supervision.

Quick learner with an ability to rapidly assimilate job requirements and employ new methods and technologies. Energetic and self-motivated team player/builder. Evidence of this is seen by having self tutored (and self sponsored) myself to become a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (NT 4.0 Track). I am also a Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP). Below is an excerpt of what Cisco Systems have to say about what a CCNP can do:

The CCNP certification (Cisco Certified Network Professional) indicates advanced or journeyman knowledge of networks. With a CCNP, a network professional can install, configure, and operate LAN, WAN, and dial access services for organizations with networks from 100 to more than 500 nodes, including but not limited to these protocols: IP, IGRP, IPX, Async Routing, AppleTalk, Extended Access Lists, IP RIP, Route Redistribution, RIP, Route Summarization, OSPF, VLSM, BGP, Serial, Frame Relay, ISDN, ISL, X.25, DDR, PSTN, PPP, VLANs, Ethernet, Access Lists, 802.10, FDDI, Transparent and Translational Bridging.

Strong communication, intuitive and IT/IS skills. Proven ability to work efficiently in both independent and team environments. Adaptable and efficient in work situations with changing responsibilities.

Strong work ethic based on Christian moral values.

Work Experience

As a Student Engineer and later as a Graduate Engineer (1989-1992) I was attached to Tel*One (Formerly PTC) Telecommunications departments including:

  • Carriers and Microwave Transmission
  • Satellite Communications
  • Data and Telegraphy
  • External Plant
  • Development Lab
  • Electronics and Telephone repairs

In the first half of 1993 I worked in the Cable Planning National department where I planned the optical fibre links linking the old CABS HQ in the city centre to the new HQ in Northridge and another linking Harare main Exchange & Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) equipment room at the National Sports Stadium. It was from the sketches I made on the later project, that the drawing office produced the actual layout of the cabling. Before this we had to rely on a proposed plan for the National Sports Stadium, not what was actually on the ground.

Between mid 1993 to 1997 I worked in various capacities including Acting Head Software Support Centre and Acting Head Principles and IT Training at the PTC Telecom College. The duties involved the Operation and Maintenance of the TRN/SSC Fujitsu F150 exchange and the running of Digital Switching Courses. The software Support Centre (SSC) was used for generating Exchange Office and Subscriber Data and as a test bed for software patches before launching them on the “live” exchanges.

From mid 1998 to the end of 1999 I worked as Senior Lecturer Principles Training and was also a Windows NT 4.0 LAN administrator responsible for PC repairs and Software upgrading.

PRESENT JOB (MBCA – 1 October 2002 to Present)

Technical Infrastructure Manager

RESPONSIBILITIES:

INTERNET

Administration of the DNS servers, Mail servers, Authentication servers, and Web servers (Server platforms include Solaris 8.0, FreeBSD 4.70, Redhat Linux 8.0 and Windows NT/2000.)

Attending to any networking connectivity issues (e.g. email, Internet, printing, SWIFT etc.).

Configuring routers, PIX firewall, Cisco IDS & snort, switches, and other network elements.

Network design and troubleshooting. Designing, building and commissioning LAN and WAN networks.

NETWORK ADMINISTRATION

Management of users and groups on the various Servers.

Developing and modifying scripts on Servers

System backup, full, partial and incremental as and when necessary.

Supporting users. Offering specialist training to different classes of users and colleagues

Ensuring System Security through regular auditing of various network elements.

Liaising with other network administrators on interconnection issues.

NETWORK SECURITY

Responsible for all aspects of IT Security from the drafting of Security Policies to their implementation and involvement in the enforcement of such policies.

OTHER

Responsible for the delivery of all Infrastructure, network and disaster recovery capability to the business.

Procurement of all hardware and management of all system upgrades

Maintenance of vendor relationships

PREVIOUS JOB (TEL*ONE - Jan 2000 to Sept 2002)

Projects Manager Internet & Data

RESPONSIBILITIES:

INTERNET

Registration of Domains under the .zw ccTLD domain

Administration of the DNS servers, Mail servers, Authentication servers, and web servers

Attending to Internet Service Provider Faults.

Configuring routers, Access Servers, switches, other network elements and port management. ( Routers range from the 1600 to the 7500 series).

Liasing with international bodies such as ARIN, InterNic, IANA, ISOC, etc on issues concerning Top Level Domains, IP number assignments and general governance of the Internet.

Network design and troubleshooting. Designing, building and commissioning LAN and WAN networks.

Responsible for upgrade of Internet Dialup Connectivity.

Currently the Project Manager for VoIP which has seen the setting up of an iBasis PoP and an ITXC PoP.

DATA SERVICES

Planning and maintenance of Data Networks, which includes the Alcatel (formerly Newbridge) Frame-relay network.

Managing of planned outages and fault resolutions.

Laying out of maintenance schedules for Data Networks

Management of the physical network through Network Management Services (NMS) and interpretation of data for any necessary network reconfiguration.

NETWORK ADMINISTRATION

Management of users and groups on Sun Solaris Servers.

Developing and modifying Sun Solaris scripts for Servers

System backup, full, partial and incremental as and when necessary.

Supporting users. Offering specialist training to different classes of users and colleagues

Ensuring System Security.

Liasing with other network administrators on interconnection issues.

PLANNING SERVICES

Tender floatation.

Coming up with the evaluation criteria for tenders.

Contract negotiations and sitting on adjudication committees for the purchase of equipment.

Network planning in view of customer requirements and available resources.

Setting up internet/intranet solutions for both outside and Tel*One in-house customers on a consulting basis.

OTHER

Providing on job training for Technicians and Junior Engineers

Assisting Internet Services Manager in the preparation of the budget for the cost centre.

Meeting customers, interpretation of their requirements and ensuring quality of service.

Liasing with other departments; Power & Air Conditioning, Sales and Marketing, Switching, Transmission, Earth Station, External Plant, and Projects and Installations.

Major achievements

MBCA LAN/WAN Redesign

In the few months that I have been with MBCA, I have managed to come up with a redesigned topology of the network with a strong emphasis on Security and Availability through provision of backup network elements. The design has been approved and implementation is in the process of completion. Below are some highlights:

CEPECS (CD1) System

My knowledge of the Internet infrastructure in Zimbabwe has enabled us to connect to the CD1 system at speeds that surprise even the implementers of the system at RBZ. I have received several calls from other banks who want to know how we have done it.

SWIFTNET FIN Migration

We are in the process of upgrading to the new SWIFTNET FIN network. The process of applying is mostly online, and again because of previous experience it has been easy liaising with SWIFT and the network provider, Equant/SITA and I am sure the upgrade will be smooth and on time.

Bulawayo Office

When I came on board, there were intermittent connectivity problems with the Bulawayo office. Almost every week there was this or the other problem. Bulawayo users could not access the Internet and even the MBCA Internet Banking Site hosted here on our servers. With the coming of the fibre link at the beginning of the year there has only been two incidents when the link went down, one of which was as a result of a scheduled maintenance by Powertel. Bulawayo users can now browse just like the Harare users, and a CD1 inputter’s machine has been “wired up” to speed up access to the RBZ site.

Security Policy

Apart from the HR Computer usage form there really has not be a formal Network Security Policy in place. I managed to come up with some policies that should become enforceable at the beginning of 2004.

Internetwork Troubleshooting

I have been in the “Internetworking trenches” long enough to know what works and what doesn’t. When I came on board I was actually surprised as why things were working at all because of the many mis-configurations that were on the network elements. I have worked hard to resolve these and we have had no need to outsource any Internetworking issues as used to happen before. On the contrary, I actually assist in resolving problems at our ISPs. As far as I am concerned I could easily be the most qualified Network and Security professional in the country.

Previous Achievements at Tel*ONE

Project Manager for VoIP and ISDN

I was Project Manager for two projects introducing Voice over IP (VoIP) in Zimbabwe. The two projects were with the market leaders in IP Telephony, iBasis and ITXC. Both companies were quite impressed with the level of expertise we have in Zimbabwe as compared to other African countries outside South Africa. iBasis was so impressed they felt it not necessary to send their own field engineer to set up and install the VoIP gateway. The projects involved working with other departments like Electrical Power and Air Conditioning (for provision of power), Projects Installations (for installations of E1 coaxial cables), Switching (for switch configurations), Technical Support Unit (for Channel allocations), Transmission and Earth Station (for the provision of IP E1s), and Services and Sales (for the provision of telephone lines for dial up backup connectivity).

I managed to test ISDN connectivity in Harare and Bulawayo (ZITF 2002). I could easily be the only person in Zimbabwe with practical experience of ISDN Dial on Demand Routing (DDR). ISDN is alive and well in a few exchanges in Harare and Bulawayo, however Tel*ONE has not marketed the service well.

Participation at International and national exhibitions

I pioneered participation of Tel*One Internet Services at exhibitions like the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), Harare Agricultural Show and Zimtel. This involves everything from the application of data leased lines and telephone lines, setting up and configuration of LAN and WAN components to the actual presentations/demonstrations of dial up and leased line Internet connectivity and other services.

DNS Tender

I led a team in putting up a Tender bid for the provision of DNS services involving the .zw cc Top Level Domain(TLD) and its subdomains. The General Manager was impressed and Tel*One was set to win the contract for provision of DNS services in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately POTRAZ abandoned the Tender procedure in unclear circumstances.

In addition to the above, Tel*One embarked on an Internet Expansion Project (with the help of Global One – now France Telecom Long Distance) that was to increase the number of PoPs (Points of Presence), expand the Internet backbone and saw Tel*One become a fully fledged Internet Service Provider (ISP). My area of speciality was the Installations and configurations of the LAN and WAN components (routers, switches, hubs, CSU/DSUs etc) as well as Web Sites Hosting. I led a team to upgrade the Gweru, Masvingo Kwekwe, and Chinhoyi PoPs.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

ICS Diploma in Radio, Audio and TV Servicing (1992 – 1993)

Thirteen weeks training on the Fujitsu FETEX 150 digital switching exchange at the TRN/SSC exchange situated at Tel*One (formerly PTC) Training Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe – August to October 1993

Two months training on Digital Switching Engineering at NTT Central Training Institute, Tokyo, Japan - June & July 1994. The course covered the following major subjects:

  • The Digital Switching System (DSS), covering D70 hardware and software
  • Peripheral Technology, covering ISDN, Traffic Management and Forecasting, Equipment estimation and Plant design, Maintenance Control System, NEC’s Electronic Automatic eXchange (NEAX61), Common Channel Signalling (CCS7) and Impact of New Technology.
  • Practical exercises on the D70 Digital Switching System and observation of factory and NTT’s Institutes

One year part time course at Harare Polytechnic for the Zimbabwe Further Education Teachers Certificate – January to November 1995 (recognised Certificate in Southern Africa for teaching adults)

Six weeks training on FETEX-150 Advanced Software at the Fujitsu Overseas Customer Centre, Tokyo, Japan – September & October 1995

Six months Advancedtraining in Germany December 1997 to June 1998.

The course content includes the following:

  • Telecommunications Project Management
  • Modern Technologies in Information Technology
  • IT Networks Management
  • TCP / IP Networks
  • Internet and intranets
  • ISDN Networks
  • ATM Networks
  • Novell Networks
  • Human Resources Management
  • Marketing
  • Financial and Cost Accounting
  • MS Project 98
  • Microsoft Access Database
  • Web Page design and publishing
  • Industrial attachment with Siemens, Alkatel, Deutsche Telecom and Detecon
  • Electronic Commerce
  • Frame Relay Networks
  • Wireless Networks
  • VSAT Communications
  • GSM 900
  • HDSL and ADSL Access Networks
  • HDSL data modems
  • Tele-banking
  • Video Conference Systems
  • Fibre Optic Transmission Systems
  • Microwave Transmission Systems
  • Analogue and Digital Multiplexers
  • Add/Drop Multiplexers
  • SDH equipment

Self-tutoring of the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Certification Track (1998-1999)

One week Zimbabwe Institute of Management Course (Train the Trainer – Instructional Techniques) – recognised by Microsoft Zimbabwe for the Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) certification – September 1999

Self-tutoring of the Cisco Certified Network Associate Certification Track.

One week course on Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices (ICND) - March 2000

CTO/ITU Internet for Africa Summit (Banjul, The Gambia) - June 2000

UNIXV4F FOUNDATION – New Horizons, Harare, July 2000

UNIXV4F ADMINISTRATION – New Horizons, Harare, July 2000

UNIXV4F GRADUATION - New Horizons, Harare, August 2000

Building Scalable Cisco Networks (BSCN) – Ambassador Training, Johannesburg, SA, May 2001

HTML 4.0, XHTML & XML – Ambassador Training, Johannesburg, SA, June 2001

CIW Design Methodology and Technology – Macromagic, Johannesburg, July 2001

Solaris 8 Fundamentals and Administration – Digix Computers, Johannesburg, July/Aug 2001

Building Cisco Remote Access Networks – Ambassador Training, Johannesburg, Oct 2001

Internetworking Security - Digix Computers, Johannesburg, SA, Nov 2001

Unix Performance Tuning & Troubleshooting - Digix Computers, SA, Johannesburg, Dec 2001

SWIFTNET FIN Migration – Harare, October 2003

Current Studies

Managing Cisco Network Security

UNIX Network Programming

C++ Programming

Sales and Marketing

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