A Day in the Life of a Systems Admin…

A day in the life of a sysadmin – 2 October 08 October 2, 2008

Many people think that my job is the most awesome thing out there.

And far be it from me to make people feel differently about the Smitty – The Exchange Ninja but, here is a run down.

When you walk into my non descript office the first thing you notice is my door. I am the only door in the office that has nerd lore all over it, from a list of complaints i have heard in my job, to pictures of motorcycles, and dilbert comics, all have some meaning.

So as you walk into my office (that looks a little like a clusterf*@k ) you notice 2 19″ monitors on one end of my desk, and another one directly infront of where i sit, day in and day out on average for 10 hours… giving my self carpal tunnel syndrome from driving my mouse around.

The first question always asked by a Non Geek (or N00b) is WOW! You have 3 Computers?! No, I have 2, there is this awesome new invention, it is called multiple monitors on one machine… which then leads to a discussion about why the IT Department needs multiple monitors. Forget the fact that the Laptop in front of me is my Primary Machine, and the Desktop unit is more of a development / test bed for new applications and random queries to our database server and 2 monitors helps me spread more information out to my users.

So then that brings up the question – WHAT DO YOU DO FOR THE COMPANY?! well, here is a short list.

I usually walk in around 0800-0805. With Coffee – Coffee or Caffine is the life source that keeps me sane..somewhat, along with my nicotine.

First thing i do, is check the E-mails i didnt see when I woke up in the morning and rolled over and grabbed my iPhone. Then, I answer a few, and go outside and have a cigarette. mmmm nicotine.

Then I go in and take an inventory/status update on all 11 of my servers, my 3 Web/Mail/and Firewall Filters to make sure they are working ok. (Sometimes for kicks, i will reboot one and just sit back and relax as the phone calls – which i make sure to ignore until about 30 seconds after the firewall is booted up and in running mode.

Then I read blogs/industry news usually consisting of www.slashdot.org www.news.com www.macrumors.com www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/txt and the Microsoft Exchange Server team blog – www.msexchangeteam.org

Then the calls begin.

Now being as i am the only sysadmin in the company, I also am the following

• Sysadmin
• E-mail Admin
• Printer Admin
• Firewall/Web Filter/Spam Filter Admin
• HELP DESK

 So I get tons of calls “Hey i can’t get my e-mail” “Hey, this website wont load” “Hey I got me a virus”. Now most of the people in my company are a little older/closer to retirement than I am, and we get along pretty decently, but somedays it is enough to make you want to scream!

Nothing makes me feel better about my life than when i sit back, relax and remember  I AM a single point of failure not because of my career but because, I am one person. This network, like every one else’s network, is custom to me, no two sysadmins are the same, think of it as the master/grasshopper theory, i can teach you the ways to run your network, but in the end it is your choice how it works, and your little quirks when you program it.

Which is bad, why? Because if I get hit by a bus tonight, or run over by a moose, or die in a horrible motorcycle accident….

My network, and all the information about it goes with it. My users might have the most simple passwords in the world, but mine are not,.

I do not envy the person who has to come in and take over should anything happen to me…..

//* SK