3 Golden Rules of Systems Administration - Revision history

WikiSysop at 09:08, 14 February 2017

2017-02-14T09:08:07Z

WikiSysop at 09:05, 14 February 2017

2017-02-14T09:05:01Z

WikiSysop at 08:51, 14 February 2017

2017-02-14T08:51:42Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "=The Three Golden Rules of Systems Administration= Know how to undo Know how to redo Know more than you need to Bearing these three rules in mind when undertaking work on..."

2017-02-14T08:49:18Z

Created page with "=The Three Golden Rules of Systems Administration= Know how to undo Know how to redo Know more than you need to Bearing these three rules in mind when undertaking work on..."

New page

=The Three Golden Rules of Systems Administration=

Know how to undo
Know how to redo
Know more than you need to

Bearing these three rules in mind when undertaking work on computer systems has saved me many times:

1: Always know how to undo what you are about to do

Always. It does not matter how many times you have done this operation - what is your back out plan if something goes wrong? Are all the resources you need available to reverse this action? If a process appears to be irreversible, then perhaps this needs a bit more thought.

2: Always know how to redo what you just did

Rarely is anything done just once. Keeping a log of what was done and in which order helps the next time. Once it becomes a habit you will find it quick and easy to do.

Save the commands in a file in order, even if you don't create a script - you will have the raw materials for your script the next time you need to do it. At the very least, you will have instructions on how to do it.

I'll bet you need the scripts or document sooner than you think.

3: Don't live on the limits of your knowledge

Read the documentation, read around the subject. Experiment. Feel comfortable with the technology.

If you live on the limits of your knowledge, your opportunities are curtailed and the jaws of defeat grow wider.

==Conclusion==

The Golden Rules of System Administration:

1: Know how to undo
2: Know how to redo
3: Know more than you need to

You will live a more happier and more prosperous life by keeping to these.

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@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 * Know how to redo
 * Know more than you need to
 Catchy aren't they? But it is applying them in practice that yields results. All too often, a Systems Administrator has their back to the wall and a gun to their head in a room with a ticking time bomb. These rules have helped me move away from the wall, appease the gangster with the gun (aka the project manager) and feel calm enough to diffuse the time bomb.
-: Always know how to undo what you are about to do
+===1: Know how to undo===
 Always. It does not matter how many times you have done this operation - what is your back out plan if something goes wrong? Are all the resources you need available to reverse this action? If a process appears to be irreversible, then perhaps this needs a bit more thought.
-: Always know how to redo what you just did
+===2: Know how to redo===
 Rarely is anything done just once. Keeping a log of what was done and in which order helps the next time. Once it becomes a habit you will find it quick and easy to do.
@@ Line 22: / Line 25: @@
 I'll bet you need the scripts or document sooner than you think.
-: Don't live on the limits of your knowledge
+===3: Know more than you need to===
 Read the documentation, read around the subject. Experiment. Feel comfortable with the technology.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 =The Three Golden Rules of Systems Administration=
 * Know how to undo
@@ Line 6: / Line 8: @@
-Bearing these three rules in mind when undertaking work on computer systems has saved me many times:
+Catchy aren't they? But it is applying them in practice that yields results. All too often, a Systems Administrator has their back to the wall and a gun to their head in a room with a ticking time bomb. These rules have helped me move away from the wall, appease the gangster with the gun (aka the project manager) and feel calm enough to diffuse the time bomb.
 : Always know how to undo what you are about to do