SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION OVERVIEW Sysadmin Do
Sysadmin • Plan and manage the machine room
environment
• Sysadmins are often viewed as “a jack of all
trades” – design machine room; specify cooling,
cabling, power connections, and
• Sysadmins are customer service oriented.
environmental controls (fire alarm,
• Sysadmins need to be able to communicate security)
clearly.
• Install and maintain operating system
• Sysadmins need to be able to solve problems software, application software, and patches.
• Sysadmins need to be analytical thinkers. • Determine hardware and software pre-
requisites, which patches to install, which
services to provide, and which services to
• In a “small company” the Sysadmin may be the disable.
entire information technology staff. • Schedule downtime to perform
– The Sysadmin may do everything from upgrades/patches, and test devices and
telephone, to fax, to computer schedule downtime to manage devices.
management. • Install and maintain user accounts; develop
– Sysadmin may have to order supplies, acceptable use policy and login-name policy;
deal with users, develop software, repair determine password change policies;
hardware. install/configure/manage name services; and
manage licenses.
• In a large company the Sysadmin may be one
member of a large group. • Determine disk quota, police/manage disk
space, and monitor log files.
– May be responsible for one aspect of the
data center operation. • Train users on software and security.
• Programmers • Ensure that users have access to
documentation.
• Database Administrators
• Help users and provide help-desk support and
• Network Administrators problem tracking system to answer user
• Operators questions.
– May not even know what the CEO looks • Configure network services:
like. – printing, file sharing, name service.
Common Sysadmin Traits – determine file sharing needs and
• A Sysadmin is a customer service agent! printing policies.
• The Sysadmin must be able to communicate – manage security for shared resources.
with technical and non-technical users.
• Install/maintain system devices,
• The Sysadmin should be patient, and have a hardware/drivers; specify supported devices;
sense of humor. determine spares practices.
• The Sysadmin must be able to solve difficult • Install/configure/manage web servers,
technical problems. configure web access agents
• The Sysadmin must be able to work in a group • Configure and maintain business applications
setting.
– web agents
• The Sysadmin must document activities in
order to reproduce the results. – e-mail
Sysadmin • Plan and manage the machine room
environment
• Sysadmins are often viewed as “a jack of all
trades” – design machine room; specify cooling,
cabling, power connections, and
• Sysadmins are customer service oriented.
environmental controls (fire alarm,
• Sysadmins need to be able to communicate security)
clearly.
• Install and maintain operating system
• Sysadmins need to be able to solve problems software, application software, and patches.
• Sysadmins need to be analytical thinkers. • Determine hardware and software pre-
requisites, which patches to install, which
services to provide, and which services to
• In a “small company” the Sysadmin may be the disable.
entire information technology staff. • Schedule downtime to perform
– The Sysadmin may do everything from upgrades/patches, and test devices and
telephone, to fax, to computer schedule downtime to manage devices.
management. • Install and maintain user accounts; develop
– Sysadmin may have to order supplies, acceptable use policy and login-name policy;
deal with users, develop software, repair determine password change policies;
hardware. install/configure/manage name services; and
manage licenses.
• In a large company the Sysadmin may be one
member of a large group. • Determine disk quota, police/manage disk
space, and monitor log files.
– May be responsible for one aspect of the
data center operation. • Train users on software and security.
• Programmers • Ensure that users have access to
documentation.
• Database Administrators
• Help users and provide help-desk support and
• Network Administrators problem tracking system to answer user
• Operators questions.
– May not even know what the CEO looks • Configure network services:
like. – printing, file sharing, name service.
Common Sysadmin Traits – determine file sharing needs and
• A Sysadmin is a customer service agent! printing policies.
• The Sysadmin must be able to communicate – manage security for shared resources.
with technical and non-technical users.
• Install/maintain system devices,
• The Sysadmin should be patient, and have a hardware/drivers; specify supported devices;
sense of humor. determine spares practices.
• The Sysadmin must be able to solve difficult • Install/configure/manage web servers,
technical problems. configure web access agents
• The Sysadmin must be able to work in a group • Configure and maintain business applications
setting.
– web agents
• The Sysadmin must document activities in
order to reproduce the results. – e-mail
