Slashdot Mirror
Server Optimization For Newbies?
supaneko writes "I recently took a new job as a network and server administration for a small IT company. I am absolutely shocked at how much is taking place within this company that I have little to no experience with. To help bolster my experience, I purchased a used server to use for hands-on training and practice. My ultimate goal is to have a complete, secure LAMP server available to the public running CentOS. I have been browsing the Net for various guides and tips on setup, optimization, security, and maintenance, but nothing I've found really gives me a hands-on approach to the topics I want to learn about. When you all started out, what route did you take to pick up the server setup and maintenance skills you have now? Is there anything in particular that you would recommend to someone who has excellent skills with consumer PCs and servers but is a total newbie to corporate and enterprise networking and servers?"
How did you get a job as a company's sole "network and server administration" (sic) when you are a "total newbie to corporate and enterprise networking and servers"?
In every case I've experienced where someone was hired for a sysadmin job with absolutely no experience, there was a more senior person on staff there to mentor/train them. But it doesn't sound like that's the case here.
So... either (a) you were completely up front with your employer about your lack of experience and they hired you anyway, in which case there's no problem because they have limited needs, know you're learning and don't expect much; or (b) you lied to them, in which case the answer is "quit and go get a job you're actually qualified for".
Read my blog.
Virtualization is probably the greatest training technologies ever created, especially for the Network Administrator and Server Administrator.