I am sure I will miss something, but, let me give it a shot. Taking Backups and recovering from backups. Again, taking Backups and recovering from backups. Write firewall rules (iptables) for different situations. Reading Logs. Especially how to identify errors to solve problems. The ins and outs of managing a webserver, mysql or PostgreSQL database. Know more than just how to setup a webserver. How to setup DNS, subdomains, virtual subdomains. Writing your own howtos and keeping it organized. I use a wiki sometimes. Have a system for managing passwords and changing them regularly, especially if the box is open to the outside world. Keep them in an encrypted place. Fixing problems without just reinstalling the OS. Reinstalling is not an option for production boxes most of the time. Hard drive recovery, know it. I use testdisk. Have a good way to monitor your servers (ie. nagios,cacti, icinga, tail) Updating servers (it is not just a matter of sudo apt-get upgrade), upgrades and security updates. How to protect certain packages from being updated (i.e., priorities). Sometimes devs need to keep that old version of some library installed. Understand the distribution you are working with, knowing debian doesn't mean you will be fast with Centos, Understand how to communicate with devs on Listservs, Forums become less common with server administration, IMO. Keep track of your servers network configurations. When you have a lot of boxes, something like NIS is nice. Learn bash and if you have time perl and python as you go. How to compile packages from source, say from a Makefile. This does not mean you should always compile from source. Did I say backups?
It is good to know: Learn how to setup and manage NFS. LDAP. How to setup, replace, initialize Raid disks. The exact process usually depends on hardware and Raid controller. Configure a switch/router, process depends on hardware. Keep offsite backups if optional. Networking, subnets etc... Chris... On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 6:44 PM, Michael Gorman <craterburns...@gmail.com> wrote: > That was probably my favorite box I built back in the day. Had so much fun > setting it all up. Stage1 on an athlon xp 2500+, 512 ram. Optimization was > always great. Could run GUI + gAIM, Firefox and only be using like 1/5th of > the memory available. > Michael Gorman > > > On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 4:40 PM, Trevor Benedict <mre...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Want to learn a lot about Linux in general, run unstable Gentoo for a few >> years as your desktop, guaranteed to learn a lot. >> But even Gentoo has become somewhat easy to manage, not like how it was >> back in 2004 ;) >> -- Trevor >> >> On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 3:45 PM, Mark Holmquist <marktrac...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >>> >>> > What skills do I need to be a good admin? >>> > ... >>> > Sent from my iPod >>> >>> Start by getting a decent email client. >>> >>> Learn to run the command line. Artfully. Don't force yourself to use it >>> for everything, there are legitimate uses of the GUI, but the command line >>> should be your friend. >>> >>> Know how to program, or at least script--look up some tutorials on BASH >>> scripting/Perl/Python. Even C programs can be useful every once in a while. >>> >>> If you're serious about being deft at setting up and administrating >>> servers, why not practice a lot? Buy some server time on EC2 or something, >>> then spend a few hours setting up and tearing down test servers. Or use your >>> neighbor's garbage PCs. Either way. >>> >>> If you want any help with Python or BASH, I'm here (off-list) for you. >>> Hope to hear from you! >>> >>> -- >>> Mark Holmquist >>> Student, Computer Science >>> University of Redlands >>> marktrac...@gmail.com >>> _______________________________________________ >>> LinuxUsers mailing list >>> LinuxUsers@socallinux.org >>> http://socallinux.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linuxusers >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> LinuxUsers mailing list >> LinuxUsers@socallinux.org >> http://socallinux.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linuxusers >> > > > _______________________________________________ > LinuxUsers mailing list > LinuxUsers@socallinux.org > http://socallinux.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linuxusers > > -- "As we open our newspapers or watch our television screens, we seem to be continually assaulted by the fruits of Mankind's stupidity." -Roger Penrose _______________________________________________ LinuxUsers mailing list LinuxUsers@socallinux.org http://socallinux.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linuxusers
