Hey there, I'm a 29-year-old system administrator who has been working in various IT roles since my student days, and currently, I work as a junior Linux administrator in hosting. I enjoy my job, but I'm curious about where our profession is heading and what skills will be in demand in the future. Despite rapid technological advancements, I don't want to invest years of my youth in a profession that may become obsolete or lose its demand.

Could esteemed members of the community, including experienced administrators, provide insight regarding the trajectory of our field? What changes can we expect in the next few years, and how can we prepare for them?

When comparing the system administration profession to other fields, such as ENT doctors, it's clear that certain jobs will always be necessary due to the nature of their specialties. In contrast, other professions, like frontend developers, may experience a decline in demand over time due to market saturation and technological advancements.

So, what do you think about the future of system administration in general and Linux admins in particular? Are there emerging trends or specializations we should focus on to remain relevant in the ever-evolving tech landscape?

Select your preference between IT Ops and DevOps. IT Ops is a stable profession regardless of any cloud trends. Some organizations still prefer to keep their data storage and IT infrastructure in-house. This is a wise choice given increasing laws and methods for leak notifications etc.

In terms of interesting tasks, IT Ops takes the cake albeit for less money than DevOps. Nevertheless, there are many elements of DevOps involved in IT Ops such as Infrastructure as a Code, ansible/chef/puppet, storing configs/playbooks in VCS etc. This leads to fewer personnel managing larger infrastructures but with higher qualifications required, particularly programming backgrounds which are needed to deal with automation through Shell, Powershell, Python etc.

For those looking to earn more money, DBA specializing in Oracle, PostgreSQL or MariaDB is the route to take. There are few skilled DBAs in the market and subsequently they are expensive. With a narrower market, high qualification is necessary to secure a job and get paid well.

NetOps, i.e. network engineers require a lower qualification for operator networks but salaries (at around 90-100 thousand in Moscow) are commensurate with night/weekend shifts. However, the general market practice is not highly remunerative.

In summary, IT Ops requires a lower qualification level and thus finding a job is easier although wages are less. DevOps represents a higher qualification level but comes with correspondingly higher pay. Meanwhile, DBA has an even higher qualification threshold with salaries exceeding that of DevOps. NetOps is much more complex and does not offer high pay relative to the extensive amount of knowledge needed. Nevertheless, combining IT Ops and NetOps offers more opportunities for a good job albeit with significant reading requirements.

The Linux admin has a plethora of options available to them, including virtualization technologies like kvm and VMware. They also have a choice between various types of databases, such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, NoSQL heap, and ClickHouse archive databases.

Another area where Linux admins can specialize is storage management, especially if they are dealing with large quantities of data, such as 600TB or more. This requires significant expertise and self-assembly skills.

In addition, there are opportunities to work in various highload areas, including web, mail, and streaming services. Linux admins can also focus on DevOps, which involves everything related to CI/CD, including using tools like Jenkins, Gitlabs, and auto-heating setup. Cloud-based solutions like Amazon also offer opportunities for Linux admins.

Of course, there are many other directions that a Linux admin can explore based on their interests and training.

The trend is shifting towards virtualization, not only for clients but also for developers. A few years ago, a friend of mine predicted that sysadmins would become obsolete as everything would move to the cloud. At the time, I found this unbelievable and asked: Who would then handle cloud deployment?


On a related note, in my opinion, Linux is still going strong.

Quote from: KellenFoster on Jun 23, 2023, 12:02 AMHey there, I'm a 29-year-old system administrator who has been working in various IT roles since my student days, and currently, I work as a junior Linux administrator in hosting. I enjoy my job, but I'm curious about where our profession is heading and what skills will be in demand in the future. Despite rapid technological advancements, I don't want to invest years of my youth in a profession that may become obsolete or lose its demand.

Could esteemed members of the community, including experienced administrators, provide insight regarding the trajectory of our field? What changes can we expect in the next few years, and how can we prepare for them?

When comparing the system administration profession to other fields, such as ENT doctors, it's clear that certain jobs will always be necessary due to the nature of their specialties. In contrast, other professions, like frontend developers, may experience a decline in demand over time due to market saturation and technological advancements.

So, what do you think about the future of system administration in general and Linux admins in particular? Are there emerging trends or specializations we should focus on to remain relevant in the ever-evolving tech landscape?

As computers grow in importance in virtually every sector of the economy, system administrators play a vital role in making sure computer systems are running smoothly and securely. They are likely to be an important part of the IT sector for the foreseeable future.

System administration, particularly Linux administration, is unlikely to become obsolete anytime soon. The demand for cloud computing, big data, and extensive server management is increasing. Businesses are shifting their operations to cloud infrastructures, which makes skilled Linux admins even more relevant. With the rise of virtualization and containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes, there's a growing need for system admins who understand not only the underlying OS but also how to manage complex deployments efficiently.

Emerging trends suggest that automation will be a big part of the future. The use of tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Terraform will allow administrators to manage infrastructures as code, which can increase efficiency and reduce human error. Learning these tools can set you apart from others in the industry. Additionally, understanding DevOps principles will become increasingly valuable, as the collaboration between development and operations becomes more critical for delivering software quickly and reliably.

Moreover, cybersecurity is becoming an integral part of system administration. With the rising number of cyber threats, businesses are prioritizing their security postures. As a Linux admin, acquiring knowledge in cybersecurity practices and tools will not only enhance your skill set but will also make you indispensable to your organization.

Networking skills will also remain essential. Understanding Network configuration and troubleshooting in various environments is a must-have expertise. The Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding rapidly, which means more devices are connected to networks. This will necessitate strong system and network understanding from administrators to keep everything secure and running smoothly.

In terms of preparing for these changes, I recommend focusing on continuous learning. Online courses, certifications, and attending tech meetups can all help you stay current with industry trends. Engaging with the community through forums and contributing to open-source projects can also enhance your skills.
While every profession faces certain challenges due to automation and tech advancements, system administration, especially with a Linux focus, has a bright outlook. By continuously improving your skills in automation, cybersecurity, and networking, you can ensure your place in the evolving tech landscape.