Top 10 System Administrator Truths

Vo0k writes "What are your top ten system administrator truths? We all know them already, but it's still fun re-telling them. Stuff like "90% of all hardware-related problems come from loose connectors", even though you already know it's true, may save you from replacing the "faulty" motherboard if you recall it at the right time."

Comments

In no particular order....

[FalconZero]

Fixing Problems
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• Rebooting Solves 90% of Windows problems.
• Users are the cause of the problem 90% of the time.
• The weakest link(s) in your security is/are human.

Getting Help
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• Good manuals should be read before you do anything.
• Bad manuals should not be read UNDER ANY CIRUMSTANCES.
• Google is your best freind. ever. period.

Other People
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• Good managers ask for something in 5 days, but need it in 6.
• Good developers/suppliers promise something in 5 days, but deliver it in 4.
• "I don't know, but I'll find out" is always better than "I know" (when you don't).
• Technical support hotlines will invariably tell you what you already know.

Simple

[mysqlrocks]

The solution to the problem is almost always simpler than you think. You can often cause more problems trying to fix a problem then the original problem itself. When you try one thing and it doesn't work, reverse the changes before trying the next thing and document each change.