Ask Slashdot: What Training is Necessary in Becoming a Sysadmin?

Keith Bassett submitted a question which might interest a few of you out there who aren't in the industry, but might be looking to get into it. He asks: I am currently working in IT as an installer/support person for Pick based systems, and for Win32 networks. This is fine, but I really want to be working as a Unix/Linux administrator. My trouble is simple. What sort of training have the administrators who read this page had? What sort would you recommend? I am willing to hear any and all opinions on this, and could seriously use the input." Keith adds the following.

"Please don't just send me mail telling me to learn Linux... I already have a small network with three machines running it at home. I need advice on how to make it my career."

Comments

Is knowing Linux enough?

[j.e.hahn]

It was enough for me. I started as an admin only "knowing" Linux with experience (minor) in a couple other Unices.

I've now been adminning for almost 2 years, working on Solaris 2.5.1 and 2.6, SunOS 4, HP-UX 10.20, Linux 2.2 (well late 2.1 and 2.2pre, 2.2 isn't quite out yet... close enough for me), Linux 2.0, and some minor exposure to Irix (but not much, mercifully. No offense to Irix admins out there. But then again, maybe you feel the same way...;-) ).

Systems Administration isn't a job, it's a way of life.

Is knowing Linux enough?

[BluBrick]

You'd feel more like an American in the UK.

They speak the same language, but the accent's sometimes a little hard to understand.

You don't know your way around but you can ask for directions and for the most part, get an intelligible answer.

The customs are somewhat similar, but often distinctly different.

Is knowing Linux enough?

[GeekWSpots]

I got a job in a mixed NT / Solaris environment with an MCP for NT Server 4, a previous job doing tech support like you are now and lots of Linux. I called it PC-Based UNIX on the resume, of course...

Since then they have paid for all the O'Reilly books I can eat and are sending me for Solaris training soon. We now use Linux for a few things that Solaris would be too expensive for, like router monitoring with mrtg. I find it as stable as SolarisX86 with a much better GUI. Some of the commands are a bit different. I had to hunt down top [http://www.sunfreeware.com], for one thing.

SysAdmin Credentials

[Chirik]

Basically, you can get by without any official credentials or training, but you need to be good. Knowing unix, you can get a low-end tape monkey job or helpdesk, or other low-end job that requires limited knowledge.

Having a degree or some other paper that says you know what you are doing does help in getting the job, but you can get by in general if you can demonstrate you really do know it. Of course, that depends on the company, too - some companies really want the paper, some are willing to trust your experience, sometimes at lesser pay.

It does make it harder if you don't have previous job experience that indicates you know what you are doing, but again - companies differ in what they are looking for. While it may not be a dream job, a company may just be willing to take that person willing to do the extra work, for a little less pay, to get the experience and then move on.

In my case, I support Solaris and NT mostly, have worked with BSDI, as well as good knowledge of linux, but I had absolutely no official training prior to coming to this job. My current employer has paid to send me to a couple of NT classes, but that's the extant of my training still, and now I'm doing rather well.

The key really is how much you know, how fast you can add to that, how well you can demonstrate it, and whether a company is willing to go with someone who is 'unproven'

In my case, I had the experience, but couldn't really prove it without college training or degrees. (I hadn't even taken a single unix class) What really helped me get around that hurdle, was opting for contract work - a contract agency may take people who are less qualified, or unproven, because they get all sorts of job openings - and that can be a chance to prove yourself. Additionally, a company that might shy away from the 'committment' of hiring an untested person permanent might take them as a contractor. If you work out, the company may then hire you on as fulltime - you've now been proven.

Essentially, it can be done, but companies ARE hesitant to hire someone who hasn't been proven already.

-- Chirik
Unix/NT System Administrator