As newcomers in system administration, professionals often encounter similar challenges. To offer solutions, I have taken on the task of creating this lecture series. While some aspects may be specific to technical hosting support, many of the concepts presented here can be beneficial to a wider audience. As such, I have adapted my lecture notes to share with you.
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Regardless of your job title, what truly matters is that you are responsible for managing tasks. Therefore, let us begin by exploring what tasks a system administrator should perform. The primary objective is to establish order, maintain it, and prepare for future growth. Without a system administrator, servers can quickly become disorganized, with incorrect logs, sub-optimal resource allocation, overflowing disk space, and ultimately leading to an overall system breakdown. But don't worry! As a system administrator, you will learn to resolve issues and tidy up the chaos!
Before diving into problem-solving, it's essential to understand the four fundamental pillars of administration:
dоcumentation
Templating
Optimization
Automation
These pillars serve as the foundation for efficient and productive workflow. Let's take a closer look at each one.
**dоcumentation**
dоcumentation is critical to managing a system effectively. It's not just about reading dоcumentation; it's also about maintaining and updating it.
Here are some tips for maintaining accurate dоcumentation:
- When encountering a new issue, write down the key symptoms, diagnosis methods, and elimination principles.
- When you come up with an innovative solution to a common problem, dоcument it so that you won't have to reinvent the wheel in the future.
- If someone helps you resolve a question that you didn't fully comprehend, note down the main points, concepts, and even draw diagrams if necessary.
The primary idea is not to rely solely on your memory when learning or applying new things.
You can dоcument these items in whatever format works best for you, such as a note-taking app, a personal blog, a text file, or a physical notebook. The key is that your notes should meet the following criteria:
- Be concise and focus on the main ideas, methods, and tools.
- Avoid redundancy: if understanding an issue requires detailed technical knowledge, provide a link or reference to the original source material.
- Ensure that your entries are readily understandable to you. If a line of code or a technical term is unclear, explain it in simpler terms.
- A search feature is highly useful. If you're maintaining a blog, add relevant tags; if using a physical notebook, use small post-it notes with descriptions. dоcumentation isn't helpful if it takes as long to find a solution as it does to resolve the problem from scratch.
Maintaining comprehensive dоcumentation will not only save you time by avoiding repetitive searches, but it can also assist in learning new concepts, honing diagnostic skills, and streamlining your workflow. Accessible dоcumentation can also help your colleagues comprehend your work when you are unavailable.
Backups should always be conducted whenever possible, especially when making changes or anticipating potentially destructive actions. It's also important to verify the backup for data integrity and accessibility. Don't delete the backup immediately after verifying it unless disk space is needed. If necessary, you can store it on a personal server for up to a week before deleting it.
The second rule to follow relates to transparency. Make sure that your colleagues know where backups are stored so that they don't have to search for them. Take notes on any complex or non-obvious actions you take as well, as this can help others in the future. Even if you are confident in your own abilities, keep in mind that your colleagues might not have the same level of expertise.
The third rule is simple: never take action without understanding the consequences first. Avoid using commands from the internet that you don't understand. Reduce the use of obfuscated code as much as possible, and always test new scripts, tools, and commands in a controlled environment before running them on a production machine. Minimize all transactions that you cannot control, and always check the potential impact of your actions.
Communicate with your colleagues if you encounter issues that you can't solve on your own, and don't hesitate to ask for help. If someone comes to you with an issue, take the time to clarify and explain as necessary. If it's something that you can't address right away, let them know that you are busy but will get back to them as soon as possible. Finally, don't be afraid to delegate tasks to colleagues who have more experience in a particular area.
I have some additional suggestions to make.
Simplicity is key - before resorting to additional services with complex dependencies for simple operations, explore simpler alternatives. In most cases, there is a way to simplify things and make them faster.
Make the most of standard tools - while convenience is important, it's also crucial to remember that you may not always have access to your preferred tools. By maximizing the use of standard tools, you'll be better prepared to handle unexpected situations.
Maintain a firm and assertive demeanor to avoid being taken advantage of. It's better to stand up to your department head once than to let them continuously burden you with unnecessary tasks and responsibilities.
It's important to note that these suggestions are geared towards larger companies, as smaller firms may have different priorities. For small businesses, it may be more important to have someone who can analyze the market and confidently program. Regardless of the size of the organization, it's crucial to maintain a strong sense of self and prioritize your own well-being.
To an average person, an administrator is a versatile IT specialist who:
ensures that all company computers are functional and operational;
ensures that software updates are applied when necessary;
sets up the internal network within the organization;
regularly monitors and maintains antivirus systems;
configures new PCs for incoming employees;
repairs broken computers;
establishes access parameters within the organization, sets up mail servers and internal storage, and oversees overall network performance.
In general, for most people, the term "sysadmin" is often used interchangeably with the word "programmer".
It's worth noting that while this may be the perception of an average person, in reality, a good sysadmin should possess a wide range of skills and knowledge beyond just basic programming. As the role of IT administrators continues to evolve, the need for specialized skills in areas such as cybersecurity and cloud computing is becoming more important.
If you're one of those people who think a few random notes scribbled on a sticky note or a hastily compiled text file is going to save your bacon when the server decides to implode, think again. Effective dоcumentation isn't about just having a record—it's about having a usable record. Your notes should be detailed enough to actually guide you through troubleshooting without making you feel like you're reading hieroglyphics. And please, stop with the redundant information! If you need to look up something that's already been dоcumented a thousand times, it's not a matter of having the info—it's a matter of it being accessible and relevant.
And let's not even start on backups. It's mind-boggling how many people still treat backups like some afterthought. Just because you've slapped a backup solution in place doesn't mean you're covered. It's not just about having a backup; it's about having a reliable, tested backup. If you're storing backups on some random external drive and hoping for the best, you're playing a dangerous game. And don't get me started on the practice of "I'll delete it after checking." That's a one-way ticket to disaster. If your backups aren't stored securely and tested regularly, they're worth less than a used napkin.
When it comes to transparency, the lack thereof is a major irritant. If your colleagues can't find backups or decipher your dоcumentation, you're setting everyone up for failure. It's not a favor you're doing by keeping everything obscure—it's a ticking time bomb. Make it clear where things are stored, how they should be used, and don't hide behind jargon. Remember, just because you understand your notes doesn't mean everyone else does.
Let's also address the all-too-common habit of diving headfirst into actions without fully understanding their consequences. If you're executing commands that you haven't verified or understood, you're essentially playing Russian roulette with your systems. The internet is full of snippets and scripts that look impressive but are often hazardous. Learn to test things in a controlled environment first. You wouldn't drive a car you've never seen before without a test drive, so why treat system commands any differently?
Communication is key. If you're stuck on a problem, admit it. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of professionalism. Likewise, if someone comes to you with a problem, don't brush them off. Clear, open communication and proper delegation are vital. Don't assume that everyone's on the same page as you are; clarify and instruct as needed. Being a lone ranger who handles everything alone is a quick route to burnout and inefficiency.
So, if you're new to system administration and think you can wing it, think again. The job isn't just about managing servers—it's about creating an environment where dоcumentation, backups, transparency, and communication are at the forefront of every action. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that a few shortcuts and superficial solutions will suffice. Take the time to master these fundamental practices, and you'll find that managing systems becomes not just manageable, but efficient and effective.
You'll drown in a sea of logs without dоcumentation. Templating? You think you can remember every configuration detail? Optimization is for the weak; real admins can handle any resource crunch.
And automation? That's for lazy admins who can't handle the grind. But hey, if you must, at least backup before you brick your server. And remember, communication is overrated, and understanding? That's for the books, not for real admins.