Systems and Network Administration

LECTURE # 01
 System administrator
 One who manages computer and network
systems on behalf of another, such as an
employer or a client. SAs are the people who
make things work and keep it all running
 Successful Administrators
 No stereotypes. “White/black Cats Theory”
 Normally if one can keep the users happy she is successful (which is very difficult).
 Life-long learning skills. One’s proud knowledge and expertise today may be obsolete
tomorrow (Be prepared to be jobless if you do not keep learning).
 Some myths for new SAs
 There exists a right answer for every problem.
 Things should always work in the way we expect.
 Every problem should have a happy end.

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 2

System administrator (cont.)
 Challenges of SAs
Not just installing system/software, also about planning and
designing an efficient community of computers.
Design a logical and efficient network.
Easy upgrade for a large number of computers.
Decide what and where services are installed.
Plan and implement security.
Provide a comfortable environment for users.
Develop ways of fixing problems and errors.
Keep track of new technology and software.

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 3

Practice of SAs
 Common practice may not be good practice
 There are three reasons for common practice:
○ Someone did it and others followed
blindly;
○ Believe it is good after careful thought;
○ An arbitrary choice had to be made;
 Think for yourself.
 Pay attention to experts but don’t automatically
believe anyone.
 Every choice needs a reason.

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What is a Sysadmin?
In a small org, sysadmin can be entire IT staff
Phone support
Order and install software and hardware
Fix anything that breaks from phones to servers
Develop software
In a large org, sysadmin is part of large IT org
Specialists instead of “jack of all trades”
Database admin, Network admin, Fileserver
admin, Help desk worker, Programmers,
Logistics

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 Practice of SAs (cont.)
 Good practices
Look for answers in manuals, newsgroups, and archive of mailing lists. Usually
“google” helps for most common problems.
Use controlled trial and error for diagnosis.
Listen to people who tell us there is a problem. It might be true.
Write down problems and solutions in a log book, and write down experiences.
Take responsibilities for our actions.
Remember to tidy things up regularly.
After learning something new, ask yourself “How does this apply to my work?”

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 6

What do sysadmins do?
1. Add and remove users.
2. Add and remove hardware.
3. Perform backups.
4. Install new software systems.
5. Troubleshooting.
6. System monitoring.
7. Auditing‫حساب کتاب کرنا‬security.
8. Helping users.

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 Slide #7

Outline
 How can you define a System?
 Who is an Administrator?
 Explore the world of the System Admin.
 List the duties of the System Admin.
 List the skill set required of the System
Admin.
 List a few personality traits‫ خاصیّت‬of a
typical System Admin.

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 8

System ???
 A set of connected things or parts
forming a complex whole, in particular.
 A set of principles or procedures
according to which something is done;
an organized scheme or method.

Interconnection of different things or persons

is called INTERNET.

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 9

Administration ???
 Administration is the management of an
office, business, or organization. It
involves the efficient organization of
people, information, and other resources
to achieve organizational objectives.

A person who manage the office, business,

or organization is called Administrator.

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 10

Who is System Admin??
 In a “small company” the System Admin
may be the entire information
technology staff.
The System Admin may do everything from
telephone, to fax, to computer management.
System Admin may have to order supplies,
deal with users, develop software, repair
hardware, and laugh at the CEO’s jokes!
Within one office or Building

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 11

Who is System Admin??
 In a large company the System Admin
may be one member of a large group.
May be responsible for one aspect of the
data center operation.
○ Programmers
○ Database Administrators
○ Network Administrators
○ Operators
May not even know what the CEO looks
like.

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 12

System Admin Traits (character)
 A System Admin Should be:
 Customer Service Agent (services provider. Like in Jazz Help)
Communication expert with tech & non-tech
users (Able to convey his message)
Be patient and have sense of humor (cold
minded)
Able to solve tech & non-tech problems
Work in a team settings (group working)
Documentation and generate reports
What to do and how to do?
Willingness to work (ready to work by his own will)

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 13

Duties of System Admin
 Plan and manage working environment
Rooms, cooling, power etc.
 Install and maintain software
Operating system, application software,
services etc.
 Determine pre-requisites of hardware
and software
OOP in C++ or Java

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 14

Duties of System Admin
 Schedule downtime to perform upgrades, test and
maintenance of hardware, software and services
 Install and maintain user accounts and groups
 Change password, login name, work type policies etc.
 Decrease workload on system
 Determine disk quota, manage disk space, and
monitor log files.
Student can use up to 500MB for personal data
 Downtime A time when minimum number of
user using an app, or software

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 15

Duties of System Admin
 Train users on software and hardware to
use (take training and then give training to other)
 Provide documentation to users
 Help user by either help desk support or
problem tracking systems. (which one is famous)
 Installing, maintaining network and its
services
Printing, file sharing, manage security,
manage shared resources etc.

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 16

 Duties of System Admin
 Install/ configure/ manage web servers, configure
web services
 Configure and maintain business applications
Web agents
Email
Order tracking software
Problem tracking software
Reporting
 Configure: make ready to use software after installation….

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 Duties of System Admin
 Configure and manage system security
 security for business software and hardware
 Install antivirus, firewall etc. to limit intruder
 Collect evidence about intrusion and cleanup
 Troubleshoot and repair system problems
 determine, locate, and repair/replace problem components
 Document the system, and develop and maintain
documentation on local setup and local policies
 System security: place hardware or system in secure place
 Software Security :Login , password, biomatric , face recognation
 Troubleshoot: step by step method of problem solving

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 18

Duties of System Admin
 Configure and maintain system backups,
determine backup strategy and policies, and
configure backup software
Perform backups
monitor backup logs
check backup integrity
determine disaster survival plans
perform restores
 Logs : list of info about backup
 Integrity: shifting from one platform to another
 Backups: creating copy of data and system
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Duties of System Admin
 Many others duties except these
 Different answers of one question

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 20

System Admin Skills
 Delegation (willingness) and Time Management
 Ethics (moral values)
 Ability to create/follow Policies and Procedures
 Desire to learn (willingness)
 Customer Service Attitude (cold minded)
 Knowledge of technical aspects
Hardware
Software
Problem Solving

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 21

Tips of Improving SA
 Use trouble-ticket system
Can’t remember queries, use an automatic
system (flash, moveable storage)
Tracking, customer interaction, auditing,
performance etc.
 Manage quick request right
Set priorities of queries (small, medium,
large)
Use of a shield or multiple shields

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 22

Tips of Improving SA
 Adopt three time-saving policy
How do people get help?
○ Helpdesk or request tracking system
○ Inform and aware people to use it
What is scope and responsibilities of SA
team?
○ Clearly defined policy and goals of SA
What is our definition of emergency?
○ Each task is emergency task?

Sunday, August 08, 2021 SNA Lecture # 1 23