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What is Network Administration ??. Network administration can be defined as: “branch of engineering that concerns the operational management of human-computer systems” [Burgess Ch 1] A network administrator has different roles [Stallings page 3] Controlling corporate strategic assets
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What is Network Administration ?? • Network administration can be defined as: “branch of engineering that concerns the operational management of human-computer systems” [Burgess Ch 1] • A network administrator has different roles • [Stallings page 3] • Controlling corporate strategic assets • Controlling complexity • Improving service • Balancing various needs • Reducing downtime • Controlling costs
“F C A P S” Fault Management Configuration & Name Management Account Management Performance Management Security Management The core management areas
Fault management The facilities that enable the • detection, • isolation, and • correction of abnormal operation of the OSI environment.
Configuration and Name Management The services and facilities that • control • identify • collect and provide data to clients and managed objects, so assisting in continuous operation of interconnection services.
OSI - Account Management The facilities that enable • charges to be established for the use of managed objects and • costs to be identified for the use of those managed objects.
OSI - Performance Management • The Facilities needed to evaluate • Behaviour of managed objects • Effectiveness of communication activities
OSI - Security Management Address those aspects of OSI security essential to: • operate OSI network management correctly and • to protect managed objects
Definitions?? How does Network Administration work in Practice? Let’s look at how Network Management is Organised…
Structure of Systems and Network Management Organisation Network Hardware Division of Labour Applications
Corporate Networked Environments • Have team(s) of specialists in various areas • Well defined tasks • job descriptions • In small networks usually one person • multi-skilled and multi-tasked • In reality – often somewhere in between….
Tasks of a Network Administrator • Security Management • Performance Management • Planning for Growth • Fault Management and Recovery • Account/User Management • Networked Application Support
Security Management • Firewalls • Usernames • Password control • Resource Access Control
Performance Management • Availability • Response Time • Accuracy
Planning for Growth • A Network (or any organisation) is not static • Growth means increased load on a network. This must be planned for…. • Systems eventually need replacement. This must be planned for – in advance…
Fault Management and Recovery • Monitoring • Reporting status • Testing • Fixes and Patches • Updates • Repairs • Change Management
Account / User Management • Communication Facilities • Connection - Rental - Charges • Hardware Usage • Lease - Rent - Hire • Consumables Usage • Power, Paper, Media (Diskettes, CDs…) • Software Usage • Licensing, • Tolls, • Application usage
Account / User Management • Accounts are Managed for: • Intrusion detection / prevention • Charging for Services • Legal protection of the Organisation
Networked Application Support • Client / Server systems support • Internet support • Server support • Applications and Hardware • Helpdesk • Trouble report / Bug fixes • Printing • eMail
How to be a Sys/Net Admin(yet another Job Description…) • Learn Operating System basics eg Unix • Learn shell utilities and script programming • Learn how to Install and Configure OS • Learn DNS and Bind • Learn TCP/IP networking • Learn NFS and NIS (or equivalent…) • Learn about system tuning and accounting • Learn Compile and Link (eg C and make)
SAGE SysAdmin Job Descriptions • http://www.sage-au.org.au/ • http://sageweb.sage.org/jobs/thefield/jobs-descriptions.html
Goals of System/Network Administration • Put together a network of computers • Get them running • Keep them running (despite Users….) • Provide a Service to Users • Requires skills of • Mechanic • Sociologist • Researcher
Challenges of System/Network Administration Systems or Network Administration is more than just installing computers or networks. It is about planning and designing an efficient community of computers that allow users to get their jobs done.
Challenges of Administration • Design Logical, Efficient networks • Easily deploy & update many machines • Decide what services are needed • know the business tasks & customers • Plan and implement adequate security • Provide comfortable User environment • Be able to fix errors and problems • Keep track of & be able to use knowledge
PRACTICEConvention or The Best Solution PRACTICE = “How things are done here” Have you ever wondered… Why are things done in certain ways? Which way is best? Usually it’s because: • Someone did it once, and everyone copied without really thinking about it • People have thought much about it and this really is the best way… • An arbitrary choice was made, and it is now a matter of convention
Comparison of System/Network Management Styles • Fire-Fighting • Managing by responding to situations when they happen (Reactive) • Preventative management • Monitor network and make repairs and changes before problems appear (Proactive) • These are two opposite extremes. Most real managers combine both.
Fire-Fighting • Investigate the Fault or Problem • Isolate the problem and identify/define it • Use tests and tools to diagnose the problem • Solve the problem and document the solution • Prioritize multiple problems
Preventative Management • The Good Circle management cycle
Preventative Management Techniques • Capacity Planning • Simulation and Testing • load generators • Benchmarks • Performance Monitors and System Tuning • Network analysis and modelling • Load balancing • Hardware upgrades
Information about Network Administration The Knowledge…. What is it? Where is it? How do we get it?
Sources of Information for System/Network Administrators • Manuals and Online Documentation • World Wide Web • RFCs, FYIs, IENs • News groups, Discussion lists, WebLogs • Meetings and Seminars • SAGE/Usenix, Novell Brainshare, Microsoft TechNet/TechEd • How-To books