Role of systems administrator

[Quetzal59]

Hello

I have about 3 years' experience on a Helpdesk - a role which varies from place to place. In some companies the role involves heavy troubleshooting, remoting on and resolving issues such as 'why can I send an email but not an attachment'. In others, only call logging is involved.

I have now applied for a job as a systems administrator and have an interview - and I'm worried about it!!

The job description lays emphasis on data protection legislation (which I know nothing about) and the following:

Morning checks of systems/software.
* Performing backups of data.
* Applying operating system updates, and configuration changes.
* Installing and configuring new hardware/software.
* Adding/deleting/creating/modifying user account information, resetting passwords, etc.
* Answering technical queries.
* Responsibility for security.
* Responsibility for documenting the configuration of the system.
* Troubleshooting any reported problems.
* System performance tuning.
* Keeping the network up and running.

Can I ask what 'Performing backups of data' entails? Do they mean the back-up tapes (never used one) placed in a server each night?

I can install and configure new hardware/software and add new accounts, etc - that's done in Dameware, consoleOne, and Active directory, I think. But sending down SP2, etc I am not sure how to do that.

Are there any good links I could look at?

Cheers

Steve

[Snurfen]

OK, a brief overview of the backups part (do you want a run through of any of the other bullet points?)

The backups could very well be server to tape, server to SAN (Storage area network) or from clients (pc's) to a server.

Most often, it's going to be one of the fist two.

for server to tape, you have something like a DLT tape drive, either shoved into a slot on a server (not very common these days) or a backup device attached by scsi cable to a server.

A propriertary software suite will perform the backups on a timed basis. For example, I use Veritas Backup Exec (Sorry z1p! - thats swearing in his books!) that runs a series of timed batch jobs to backup each server in my rack.
The data has been pre-selected, as I dont want to backup the operating system on each server every night, and the data is written to one of the tapes loaded in the Overland tape library. This is a scsi attached device that holds a magazine of 17 DLT tapes, and writes to the next available DLT. It actualy appends the data to the end of the previous tape. I then whip check the logs to make sure the backups ran ok, look at which barcoded DLT tape it used, remove it from the Overland device and send it offsite for storage.

I can't actually find anything short and punchy that covers the topic, most google hits are a bit wishy-washy, but fire away with any questions you have and I'll try and answer them when I get back from the pool in a few hours!

There are several tools for deploying and updating SP2 across the network, what sort of area are you looking at?

what part of the world are you in, btw?

[DonBB]

Quetzal, since you are studying for a Microsoft exam I can only imagine this is another hypothetical test question. What are you using to study? People don't mind helping out, but you would probably find it much more efficient as well as easier if you had a book. Which exam are you studying for?

Its also a little deceiving posting these questions in 1st person as if you are really experiencing them.

[Quetzal59]

Hello to you both.

Don, my question has little to do with the Microsoft exam I am studying for (70-271 and 70-272). I was more concerned with trying to get through an interview I have for a Systems Admin post in the UK.

Many thanks Snurfen for your reply.

So SAN is hardware (the physical back-up device) and software which runs the timer, selects which files to save, etc, though this is not the most common type of server back-up.

The most common type is DLT tape drive (http://www.pctechguide.com/35Tape_DLT.htm), most usually a backup device attached by scsi cable to a server. And software performs the timed backups.

When you work on a helpdesk you are aware of back-up tapes and what they do, but you are very much in receipt of this information from external sources. As a Systems admin, you are providing this information and this difference between the two roles explains the 'step up' in job terms.

On one helpdesk I worked on only certain people - with 'domain admins' - were allowed to send SP2 to laptops. These had to be switched on, but the user could not be present. I imagine the SP2 was held on a print server at the particular company I have in mind, and then sent down the line to the IP address of the laptop concerned. Does that sound right? But why this was considered a privileged role, I'm not sure.

I can install new hardware/software, so I should be OK on that point, add/delete users, etc and answer technical queries. I also have a few years troubleshooting MS applications but I am not up to MVP standard. On a helpdesk you are more of a Jack-Of-All-Trades and a master of none. I know someone who only knows about printer inks: he knows the different serial numbers for light blue as opposed to turquoise and that sort of thing, but he probably couldn't send an email.

The other items listed seem fairly general. Regarding these:

System performance tuning and Responsibility for security. We get to know, on the helpdesk, how the network is performing because we take the calls. But do the system administrators seemly wait to be informed by the helpdesk of malfunctioning, or do they have their own software that tells them that the computer cluster in the library or wherever is down? If so, I suppose that needs constant monitoring, doesn't it?

Many thanks again to you both for your replies.

Steve

[z1p]

Q -

SAN = Storage Attached Network. It is the Fibre/SCSI network which storage devices (storage arrays/Tape Library Units [TLUs]) are attached to so that servers can access them.

TLUs come in a wide range of shape and sizes and virtual TLUs are being seen more and more.

You'll most likely find that the setup and management of the storage and backup devices is handled by someone else. So, i wouldn't get to caught up with the storage and backup systems back end.

You may want to ask what backup software they are using, (Veritas NetBackup/ Legato Networker/ Dantz Retrospect/ ...) Don't pretend to know things you don't, and don't be afraid to ask for more details on items. Some up front reading on backup products wouldn't hurt your chances either.

You haven't said what size company, so its hard to guess how complicated the task may be. You may want to sharpen the areas you are familiar with, and try to get enough of an overview of the areas outside what you know well so that you can ask some intelligent questions in those areas.

I'm assuming that they aren't looking for a seasoned admin, so I'd expect that they are expecting that their might be holes in your knowledge.

good luck

-z1p

[Quetzal59]

Hello Z1p

Thanks for your post.

Great idea to ask about their software. I have downloaded some data/information sheets on the software you suggest Legato Networkerand the Semantec software.

The company is UK-wide and is in the property business with branches in three or four cities.

I don't think they are expecting too much, either. My CV shows on helpdesk experience, yet they have called me in for an interview.

Cheers again.

Steve

[Snurfen]

OK, so thats the backup side of things squared off Steve, how comfortable are you with the rest of the job description?

I'd take a few moments to google UK pages for the data protection act so you have a bit of a skim through of the principles. Don't get hung up on the DTi site, they get a bit too legal in their descriptions! Actualy, this isn't a bad starting point CLICKY (http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/legal/35_2/data-protection-overview.shtml)

[Quetzal59]

Hello Snurfen

Thanks again for your post (and link).

Would you know if administrators have their own software to inform them that the computer cluster in the library, for instance, is down? I am just thinking about the item in the job description which refers to system monitoring.

Finally, regarding sending SP2 down the line. Would this be sent to the IP address of the laptop/workstation concerned? Yet I'm not sure why domain admins were necessary to do it.

Cheers again for all your help.

Steve

[Snurfen]

Theres all sorts of tools out there to tell you what is and isnt up at any one time.
I think the bullet point there is more related to keeping an eye on the servers to make sure they arent going slowly downhill - things like checking the system logs to make sure all processes are behaving properly, discs arent getting too full, cpu usage is fairly gentle etc etc.

Sending SP2 down the line - you'd do something like upgrading the operating system as a particular project - you'd tell the command console what targets (could be by IP, MAC or system ID). The more pressingissue is keeping your operating system fully patched and your antivirus software up to date. There are loads of tools out there for both.

We use WSUS to keep our MS stuff up to date. Basically, a server is nominated as a download centre, then we have a group of pcs that we test that latest release on, and when satisfied it isnt going to do an IE7 on us, release to the whole site.

Similarly, we have McAfee as our AV product. One server is nominated as the ePO Policy Orchestrator and that does a similar function to the WSUS server.

[Quetzal59]

That's great Snurfen

Many thanks for all your help and advice.

Steve