The Practice of Systems and Network Administration

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The Practice of Systems and Network Administration
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Basic Principles

• Simplicity
• the smallest solution that completely solves the
  problem is the best
• Clarity
• the solution can be easily explained
• Generality
• the solution solves many problems at once
• Vendor independent / open standard protocols
• Automation
• Processes can be repeated accurately
• Communications
• Do the basics first
• Solve the basic problems before the more advanced
  ones

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What is a Systems Administrator?

• What do they do?
• Define infrastructure
• Keep things running
• Organize resources both physical and human
• Manage the SA organization
• Yourself
• Your team
• Your Boss
• Negotiate salary

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Systems Administration Matters

• Changing technology and Business processes
• Business processes more dependent than ever on IT
• Internet / Intranet redefined technological
  dependency
• 24/7 anywhere availability
• Increased executive awareness and involvement
• IT represents a significant expenditure
• 1982 IT expenditures exceed Industrial Equipment
• 1994 IT 3X industrial equipemnt expenditures
• Today in excess of 1 Trillion worldwide

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Critical Issues

• Use a Trouble Ticket System
• Too many requests
• Increased customer satisfaction
• Puts focus on task not complaints
• Establishes control and accountability
• Manage Quick Requests Right
• Interruptions hinder productivity
• Assign one person to handle
• Specialization is a good thing
• Align priorities with customer expectations
• Start Every New Host in a Known State

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Part I the Principles

• Desktops
• Most numerous machines in the organization

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Managing the Desktop

• Loading System and Application Software
• Updating software
• Configuring Network parameters
• Key to success is consistency
• Key is Automation
• How do you accomplish the above?
• First Class citizens vs all Others
• Under what circumstances would you promote?

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Desktop Life Cycle
New
Off
Configured
Entropy
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Desktop Life Cycle

• New
• Clean
• OS installed but not localized
• Configured
• Local configuration applied
• Only real usable state
• Unknown
• Entropy
• Debug
• Rebuild
• Off
• Retire
• Defined procedures

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Entropy??

• Goal is to keep systems in a known configuration
  state as long as possible
• Delay OS degradation as long as possible
• How do you do this?

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Entropy??

• OS decisions impact ability to keep systems in a
  known state
• Microsoft vs Unix
• Administrative privileges
• Third Party software policy
• Is there a well defined place all files are
  installed?

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Loading System and Application Software

• A case for Automation
• Saves money
• Obviates Hidden costs
• Manual mistakes - lurking problems
• NonUniformity
• Most important to be completely automated
• Any manual intervention should occur up front
• Partial Automation is no automation
• Well documented procedure

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Automation

• Golden host
• Cloning disks
• Assumes identical systems
• Automated Install preferred
• Win2003
• Setup manager
• RIS
• RISprep
• Sysprep
• Third Party / vendor installed OS??
• Applications must be installed
• Preloaded configuration can change
• May include special applications or add-ons

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Updates are Different

• Host is in a usable state
• Host is in an office
• Network traffic consideration
• No physical access
• Zero Administration
• Host is already in use
• Host may not be in a known state
• Os may have decayed
• Host may have live users
• Host may be gone
• Laptops
• Remote login
• Host may be dual boot

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Update Strategy

• One
• Some
• Many
• Steps
• Create a well defined update obtain user buy-in
• Communicate with those affected
• Execute the plan the same way every time
• Go / No Go metric
• Customer Abort
• Have a back out plan

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Network Configuration

• DHCP
• Static Addresses permanent lease
• Reserved addresses
• Dynamic addresses
• Many host chasing a small number of addresses
• Public Networks
• Lease times
• DDNS
• DHCP register
• Host register

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The Icing

• High Confidence of completion
• Relieves worry of failure
• Start to see new ways to use the process
• Involve Customers in Standardization
• Establish SLA for each application
• Real world platforms are controlled
• Management exacting specs
• SA Team - provide the basic so user can
  customize
• Multiple Standard Configurations

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