The Practice of System and Network Administration [Paperback]

Students need to know more than just what command to type to become a successful system administrator. This unique book discusses the fundamentals of the craft, and how to think about the problems that are posed. Through real-world examples the authors discuss the models that experienced system and network administrators use, but rarely document. From a series of philosophical and practical points, the authors, in mentor-like fashion, build a set of larger guides and teach how to think like an experienced system administrator. The "What To Do When" section is of immense utility when students grapple with the many-sided issues faced in system and network administration. Students gain an understanding of the role and responsibilities of the profession and learn the technical skills that are critical to the success of a system and network administrator.

"Your organization needs this book!"
--Peter Salus, Chief Knowledge Officer, Matrix.Net, "The Bookworm"

This book describes the best practices of system and network administration, independent of specific platforms or technologies. It features six key principles of site design and support practices: simplicity, clarity, generality, automation, communication, and basics first. It examines the major areas of responsibility for system administrators within the context of these principles. The book also discusses change management and revision control, server upgrades, maintenance windows, and service conversions. You will find experience-based advice on topics such as:

• The key elements your networks/systems need that will make all other services run better
• Building and running reliable, scalable services, including email, printing, and remote access
• Creating security policies and enforcing them
• Upgrading thousands of hosts without creating havoc
• Planning for and performing flawless scheduled maintenance windows
• Superior helpdesks, customer care, and avoiding the temporary fix trap
• Building data centers that prevent problems
• Designing networks for speed and reliability
• Email scaling and security issues
• Why building a backup system isn't about backups
• Monitoring what you have and predicting what you will need
• How to stay technical and how not to be pushed into management

And there's more! When was the last time you read a book that dealt with:

• Real-world technical management issues, including morale, organization building, coaching, maintaining positive visibility, and communicating with nontechnical management
• Personal skill techniques, including our secrets for getting more done each day, dealing with less technical people, ethical dilemmas, managing your boss, and loving your job
• System administration salary negotiation tips--the first book that includes this topic!

Chapters are divided into The Basics and The Icing. The Basics are those key elements that, when done right, make every other aspect of the job easier. Things like starting all new hosts with the same configuration and picking the right things to automate first. The Icing sections contain all those powerful things that can be done on top of the basics to wow customers and managers. Do the basics first. The icing is a vision for the future that usually only comes with decades of experience.

Thomas A. Limoncelli is Director of Operations at Lumeta Corporation, a venture startup that focuses on intranet security. His more than 11 years of experience includes time at Drew University, Mentor Graphics, and seven years supporting the researchers and scientists at Bell Labs.

Christine Hogan is an independent consultant. Her 11-plus years of experience have been gained at a variety of different companies including Trinity College in Dublin, Synopsys, and Global Networking and Computing (GNAC). Currently, she is taking time out to earn a Ph.D. at Imperial College in London.