THE monitor flickers relentlessly, the mouse gets whimsical and the CPU makes a strange sound! It’s time to call Mr Fixit, the computer hardware engineer.  Unlike the software field, computer hardware is all about the architecture of the device.

This includes configuration, troubleshooting and maintenance, assembly and dismantling of the components besides networking architecture and overall security system.

Entry level; The minimum educational qualification required for a programme in IT/ Hardware engineering depends from course to course. An institution which confers short-term certificate course (of six months) or a diploma (of 12 months) sets the eligibility as 10+2. Opportunities do exist for higher studies in this sector, but are not essential for the first job.

Course content: This includes understanding computer components, diagnosing problems and troubleshooting them. Fixing, repairing, replacement, upgradation and installation of the device are the major thrusts in learning.

The students are also trained in leading operating systems like Unix, Windows 2000 and others.  At higher levels, students gain expertise in Local Area Networking and  Wide Area Networking  respectively. With increased instances of security breaches in corporate functioning, now the concepts of security configuration and firewall data also find elaborate mention in the curriculum.

Job responsibilities: “LAN performance, adding/deleting users, adding servers, creating backup of critical data are some of the task that a fresh engineer is assigned with, “ says Prakash, an engineer working with HCL. In the next stage of job growth, a responsible candidate would be assigned with tackling of advanced TCP/IP, security fundamentals, security implementation and router security to safeguard corporate information.

The stages of growth, broadly moves from being an engineer to senior engineer and then on to server administrator. “Next stage is off-site or on-site manager/project manager and then a consultant,” says Prakash.

• A diploma holder starts with an average income of Rs 7,000-10, 000.
• The average fee at established institutes is between Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000.
• Aptech’s Diploma in Hardware & Networking (N-power) programme is priced between Rs. 20,000-40,000 (depending on the city) whereas a 36-month programme of GNIIT is pegged at Rs. 1.5 lakhs.
• Some institutions provide a value-add; GNIIT for instance, enables students to take admission to Semester 3 or 4 of BSc. (IT) and BSc (ITIM), where degrees are awarded by Kuvempu University, Karnataka. 

Expert talk: Ravinder Goyal, Director, IACM Ravinder Goyal It is expected that by 2012, there will be a demand of over 5 million computer professionals, as per a recently concluded IDC-NASSCOM–McKinsey survey.Today, even an organisation having five employees can’t function without networking support. A network engineer must be  capable of implementing, administering, maintaining computer Hardware, Networks and overall Security Systems. He or she will be able to manage and troubleshoot computer hardware and LANS, administer and configure different kinds of servers, implement and manage CCTV, Biometric, smart Access Control Systems and RFID devices and maintain access control systems, manage Intruder Alarm and Building Automation and prevent and manage fire through Automatic Alarm Systems and much more. After completing the programme a student can work as a Trainee Engineer in the field of Hardware, Networking and Electronic Security at a starting salary of around Rs. 5,000-10,000. He can grow as Server Administrator, Network Administrator, Security Manager, Project Manager, Infrastructure Leader and a Technology Consultant. With a starting salary of around Rs 5,000-10,000 at an entry level, a student can reach up to a salary of 12 lakhs per annum in a span of around 8–10 years.

  Institutions offering computer courses