New System Admin Job? Top 5 Things to Do First

When you're starting a brand new position as a System Administrator, what should you focus on? In this video, Jay gives you his thoughts on the first five things every new SysAdmin should take a look at.

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*⏰ TIME CODES*
00:00 - Intro
01:01 - Keep track of your Accomplishments
02:26 - Documentation is Key
03:40 - Get familiar with Rules and Policies
05:05 - Understand your Organization's Risks
06:07 - Audit your Organization's Backups

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*⚠️ DISCLAIMER*
Learn Linux TV provides technical content that will hopefully be helpful to you and teach you something new. However, this content is provided without any warranty (expressed or implied). Learn Linux TV is not responsible for any damages that may arise from any use of this content. Always make sure you have written permission before working with any infrastructure and that you are compliant with all company rules, change control procedures, and local laws.

#SysAdmin #DevOps #Linux

[Rickety]

From experience it’s: 1) get a list of systems you’ll need to access and pester IAM until you have access to them. 2) install all the little pieces of software you’ll need 3) get a list of bookmarks for consoles 4) clone the repo’s and configure your IDE’s for running and developing existing/new scripts 5) develop good relationships

[druxpack]

a few more:
6. Find the coveted "Hidden" bathroom in an abandoned part of the building
7. Best watering hole in the area
8. Find out what is most important to your managers boss

[Wampa]

"Audit your organization's backups"... The first question I asked at the end of my interview was regarding backups. That's when I found out that their "backup solution" was a weekly incremental snapshot of all VMs on the same storage server. Fortunately I managed to suppress the scream, got hired, and immediately deployed and tested a functional backup on existing hardware.

[oldxebeche]

An untested backup is called Schrödinger backup! (Not my idea, but I love it.)

[Abdulqayyum-rgcn]

Nice knowledge, because my next job is going to be a system administrator.

[MrPirfree]

Each environment is going to be different; it depends upon the business and whatever external guidance that is mandated, or followed. For example, we have an established "maintenance" window, and we also have established well-documented change control procedures. As such, there's an expectation as to what can be done to handle break fixes, security patching for vulnerabilities, routine patching, software upgrades, etc; always good to find out what you are and are not allowed; if there is more than you on the system admin team, don't be afraid to ask questions; just try NOT to keep asking the same question. It's always a good idea to get approvals and such in written correspondence, even if it's via chat (Teams, for example ), or email, etc. With any change, you should know the risks, and take actions that are appropriate to reduce or remove such risks, like taking a snapshot, or getting another backup taken prior to changes, etc.

[johngriffin]

Really needed this! Hope to see more like it &/O greater depth! Keep it up Jay, Linux and Us thank you endlessly!

[catupeloco]

Great tips. My first video for members for me!

[JollyDigitalServices]

And go talk to your co-workers, learn their names, and what position they hold. Build that professional network from day one.

[Rezzurection]

Thank you very much for the list !
I´m switching from Software-Development to System administration in a few weeks so this is highly appreciated !

[TheDillio]

good change of pace video, Jay. A lot of this is stuff that us long-tenured admins could get back to for improvement, too!

[cristivpopescu]

your hosting voice has gotten better with time, Jay. Now it's almost as good as your normal voice (like from the homelab show podcast, for example). Cool video. Keep up the good work!

[mohamedmonem]

Very important advice, Thank you so much

[DannyLyriCa]

This type of content is very very good, Linux users are more likely to want to see this sort of thing.

[CodenameVk]

This is pretty good advice if you work in IT in general.

[waltsullivan]

Learn the company's change management system. Read the Security Policy. Companies have failed due to employee malfeasance.

[michaelangellotti]

I like your first point best ! ... and your second point ... WOW !

[entelin]

Some others: Password management and Monitoring, if they don't have much setup for those

[fromwisdomtohate]

Number 1 should be : never stop to apply and never skip any new job interview regardless current position.

[Errantduvide]

Jay are you the composer of this video music?