Comments on: Work: why a good sysadmin has a lot of free time http://www.thetlog.net/2005/09/12/work-why-a-good-sysadmin-has-a-lot-of-free-time/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:39:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Hubert Ortega http://www.thetlog.net/2005/09/12/work-why-a-good-sysadmin-has-a-lot-of-free-time/#comment-35402 Hubert Ortega Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:41:02 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=56#comment-35402 pfm9iycb7fk9hdc0 pfm9iycb7fk9hdc0

]]> By: arensb http://www.thetlog.net/2005/09/12/work-why-a-good-sysadmin-has-a-lot-of-free-time/#comment-6097 arensb Sat, 29 Jul 2006 18:41:38 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=56#comment-6097 <blockquote>A good sysadmin is like an efficient police force.</blockquote> I've come to many of the same conclusions as you have, though I prefer to say that sysadmins are like stagehands: if people notice us, we're not doing our job properly.

A good sysadmin is like an efficient police force.

I’ve come to many of the same conclusions as you have, though I prefer to say that sysadmins are like stagehands: if people notice us, we’re not doing our job properly.

]]> By: Prathap Rajamani http://www.thetlog.net/2005/09/12/work-why-a-good-sysadmin-has-a-lot-of-free-time/#comment-1135 Prathap Rajamani Sat, 15 Apr 2006 05:31:58 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=56#comment-1135 One thing which the top management must understand about sys admins is that they are vital for the proper functioning of the company. The company can still function is a programmer or a developer is on leave. But what would happen if the sys admin was on leave or comes late to the company?? i guess all users would have to be workless unless he arrives to solve the problem!!! One thing which the top management must understand about sys admins is that they are vital for the proper functioning of the company. The company can still function is a programmer or a developer is on leave. But what would happen if the sys admin was on leave or comes late to the company?? i guess all users would have to be workless unless he arrives to solve the problem!!!

]]> By: Bryan http://www.thetlog.net/2005/09/12/work-why-a-good-sysadmin-has-a-lot-of-free-time/#comment-333 Bryan Sun, 16 Oct 2005 15:47:32 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=56#comment-333 Hello again ... Well. Maybe our work situations are different then. It's been a decade or so since I worked for a company with less than 50 people on the IT staff. Net admins, server admins, storage admins, print admins, app admins, developers ... the list goes on. So there's always something happening, always something else to learn or do. I like keeping the time filled. Hello again …

Well. Maybe our work situations are different then. It’s been a decade or so since I worked for a company with less than 50 people on the IT staff. Net admins, server admins, storage admins, print admins, app admins, developers … the list goes on. So there’s always something happening, always something else to learn or do.

I like keeping the time filled.

]]> By: Dehumanizer http://www.thetlog.net/2005/09/12/work-why-a-good-sysadmin-has-a-lot-of-free-time/#comment-102 Dehumanizer Tue, 13 Sep 2005 07:55:22 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=56#comment-102 Bryan: I mentioned it in point 4. Even self-learning, self-improvement, research, testing and implementation of new things doesn't take up all available time - if you're doing it "just" for learning, for your own "growth", you're doing it mostly at your own rhythm (and everything you do is a "bonus" to the company); if you're doing it because the company is <i>really</i> going to replace their mail servers or web servers or proxy servers or change the whole network configuration in a couple of weeks... fine, this is an exceptional period. If in 3 months they're going to change everything <i>again</i>... then we're dealing, IMO, with one of the "insane companies" I mentioned in the article. :) In my opinion, the only way a good sysadmin doesn't have any free time is when the company is large enough, and has enough servers and different systems and "special cases", to require <i>three or more</i> good sysadmins - and they're making one guy do the work of three. In such a case, I believe it's him who should think again about his employment... Bryan: I mentioned it in point 4. Even self-learning, self-improvement, research, testing and implementation of new things doesn’t take up all available time - if you’re doing it “just” for learning, for your own “growth”, you’re doing it mostly at your own rhythm (and everything you do is a “bonus” to the company); if you’re doing it because the company is really going to replace their mail servers or web servers or proxy servers or change the whole network configuration in a couple of weeks… fine, this is an exceptional period. If in 3 months they’re going to change everything again… then we’re dealing, IMO, with one of the “insane companies” I mentioned in the article. :)

In my opinion, the only way a good sysadmin doesn’t have any free time is when the company is large enough, and has enough servers and different systems and “special cases”, to require three or more good sysadmins - and they’re making one guy do the work of three. In such a case, I believe it’s him who should think again about his employment…

]]> By: Bryan http://www.thetlog.net/2005/09/12/work-why-a-good-sysadmin-has-a-lot-of-free-time/#comment-101 Bryan Tue, 13 Sep 2005 07:40:46 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=56#comment-101 Loved the article. Agree 100% with the basic thrust, 'cause I'm one of those 'automate and monitor everything' guys. But one quibble. I think a really good admin finds uses for the time he has saved on other things. He learns about some other discipline - networking, or an app the company runs, or even just how the business does it's moneymaking thing. In time he will find natural ways to apply his automation and stability enhancement skills to these other areas ... and will (if lucky) be trusted to do so, since his own areas run so smoothly. It's always worked for me. First I got my windows servers running sweet (and measurably so, by the way ... I was able to chart the rise in uptime since my start date). Then I set out to document/diagram the network itself, ad as I became more trusted I rearchitected bits of it to make them cleaner and more robust. Then I doubled back into the area of client security, setting up better standardized builds and inventory/update mechanisms. Then it was off into the land of *nix ... and so on. Free time? What's that? Loved the article. Agree 100% with the basic thrust, ’cause I’m one of those ‘automate and monitor everything’ guys.

But one quibble. I think a really good admin finds uses for the time he has saved on other things. He learns about some other discipline - networking, or an app the company runs, or even just how the business does it’s moneymaking thing. In time he will find natural ways to apply his automation and stability enhancement skills to these other areas … and will (if lucky) be trusted to do so, since his own areas run so smoothly.

It’s always worked for me. First I got my windows servers running sweet (and measurably so, by the way … I was able to chart the rise in uptime since my start date). Then I set out to document/diagram the network itself, ad as I became more trusted I rearchitected bits of it to make them cleaner and more robust. Then I doubled back into the area of client security, setting up better standardized builds and inventory/update mechanisms. Then it was off into the land of *nix … and so on.

Free time? What’s that?

]]> By: Nicholas http://www.thetlog.net/2005/09/12/work-why-a-good-sysadmin-has-a-lot-of-free-time/#comment-100 Nicholas Tue, 13 Sep 2005 00:43:35 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=56#comment-100 Needless to say, the most crucial, vital jobs and roles are the ones that when done smoothly you barely notice. Needless to say, the most crucial, vital jobs and roles are the ones that when done smoothly you barely notice.

]]> By: Odrakir http://www.thetlog.net/2005/09/12/work-why-a-good-sysadmin-has-a-lot-of-free-time/#comment-99 Odrakir Mon, 12 Sep 2005 20:58:09 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=56#comment-99 Unfortunately, the portuguese companies and their managers don’t like to see us, Sys Admins, reading a technical book, a manual, or looking at another “thing” other than a computer monitor. I understand you, but sometimes you have to let the users complain a little so that the management thinks that we’re needed, or else, for them, you’re just a guy filling up a chair and occupying a computer. It’s hard to say that everything is under control and that you can’t do anything else, more than maintaining the system, and that’s stupid, because, as you say in your post, that’s our job. Unfortunately, the portuguese companies and their managers don’t like to see us, Sys Admins, reading a technical book, a manual, or looking at another “thing” other than a computer monitor.
I understand you, but sometimes you have to let the users complain a little so that the management thinks that we’re needed, or else, for them, you’re just a guy filling up a chair and occupying a computer. It’s hard to say that everything is under control and that you can’t do anything else, more than maintaining the system, and that’s stupid, because, as you say in your post, that’s our job.

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