What is Network Administration ??
Network administration can be defined as: “branch of engineering
that concerns the operational management of human-computer
systems”]
A network administrator has different roles
[Stallings page 3]
• Controlling corporate strategic assets
• Controlling complexity
• Improving service
• Balancing various needs
• Reducing downtime
• Controlling costs
Why do we need Network
administration at first
The core management areas
• Fault Management
• Configuration & Name Management
• Account Management
• Performance Management
• Security Management
Fault
management
The facilities that enable the
detection,
isolation, and
correction
of abnormal operation of the OSI
environment.
Configuration and Name
Management
The services and facilities that
• control
• identify
• collect and provide data
to clients and managed
objects,
so assisting in continuous
operation of interconnection
services.
OSI - Account Management
The facilities that enable
charges to be established for the use of managed objects and
costs to be identified for the use of those managed objects.
OSI - Performance
Management
The Facilities needed to evaluate
Behaviour of managed objects
Effectiveness of communication
activities
OSI - Security Management
Address those aspects of OSI
security essential to:
operate OSI network
management correctly and
to protect managed objects
How does Network
Administration work in
Practice?
Let’s look at how
Network Management is
Organised…
Structure of Systems and Network
Management Organisation
Network
Hardwar
e
Applicatio Division of
ns Labour
Corporate Networked
Environments
Have team(s) of specialists in various areas Well defined tasks
job descriptions
In small networks usually one person
multi-skilled and multi-tasked
In reality – often somewhere in between….
Network Administrators Tasks
Tasks of a Network Administrator
Security Management
Performance
Management Planning
for Growth
Fault Management and
Recovery Account/User
Management Networked
Application Support
Security Management
Firewalls
Usernames
Password
control
Resource
Access Control
Performance Management
Availability
Response
Time
Accuracy
Planning for Growth
A Network (or any organisation)
is not static
Growth means increased load on
a network. This must be planned
for….
Systems eventually need
replacement. This must be planned
for – in advance…
Fault Management and Recover
Monitoring
Reporting status
Testing
Fixes and Patches
Updates
Repairs
Change
Management
Account / User
Management
Communication Facilities
Connection - Rental - Charges
Hardware Usage
Lease - Rent - Hire
Consumables Usage
Power, Paper, Media (Diskettes,
CDs…)
Software Usage
Licensing,
Tolls,
Application usage
Account / User Management
Accounts are Managed for:
Intrusion detection / prevention
Charging for Services
Legal protection of the
Organisation
Networked Application
Support
Client / Server systems
support Internet support
Server support
Applications and Hardware
Helpdesk
Trouble report / Bug fixes
Printing
eMail
Admin
(yet another Job Description…)
Learn Operating System basics eg Unix
Learn shell utilities and script
programming Learn how to Install and
Configure OS Learn DNS and Bind
Learn TCP/IP networking
Learn NFS and NIS (or equivalent…)
Learn about system tuning and
accounting Learn Compile and Link (eg C
and make)
Goals of
System/Network
Administration
Put together a network of
computers Get them running
Keep them running (despite
Users….) Provide a Service to
Users
Requires skills of
Mechanic
Sociologist
Researcher
Challenges
of
System/Network Administration
Systems or Network Administration is
more than just installing computers
or networks.
It is about planning and
designing an efficient community
of computers that allow users to
get their jobs done.
Challenges of
Administration
Design Logical, Efficient networks
Easily deploy & update many
machines Decide what services
are needed
know the business tasks & customers
Plan and implement adequate
security Provide comfortable
User environment Be able to fix
errors and problems
PRACTICE
Convention or The Best Solution
Have you ever wondered…
Why are things done in certain ways?
Which way is best? Usually it’s because:
Someone did it once, and everyone copied
without really thinking about it
People have thought much about it and
this really is the best way…
An arbitrary choice was made, and it is
now a matter of convention
Comparison ofSystem/Network
Management Styles
Fire-Fighting
Managing by responding to situations
when they happen (Reactive)
Preventative management
Monitor network and make repairs and
changes before problems appear
(Proactive)
These are two opposite
extremes. Most real managers
combine both.
Fire-Fighting
Investigate the Fault or Problem
Isolate the problem and
identify/define it
Use tests and tools to
diagnose the problem
Solve the problem and
document the solution
Prioritize multiple problems
Preventative Management
The Good Circle management
cycle
Preventative Management
Techniques
Capacity Planning
Simulation and
Testing
load generators
Benchmarks
Performance
Monitors and
System Tuning
Network analysis
and modelling
Load balancing
