Summary of system administration tasks

A system administrator has numerous tasks to perform. They can be divided into groups according to how often they are carried out. The following list of tasks ranges from those that must be performed more often than once a day to those that need be performed less often than once a month. The administrator may have to do some of the tasks in the following list more or less often, depending upon the size and complexity of the system.

Table 9-5 Task list

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 As needed tasks              For more information:
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 [] Create/modify user        ``Adding and modifying
    accounts.                 user accounts'' 
 [] Record all system         ``Keeping a system log'' 
    modifications and
    events in log.
 [] Be on call to             ``Starting the system'' 
    restart the system        and ``System crashes'' 
    after panics,
    crashes, power
    spikes.
 [] Maintain security of      Chapter  5, ``Maintaining
    hardware, software,       system security'' 
    data file access.

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 Daily tasks                                  For more information:
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 [] Perform scheduled backups (if             ``Running scheduled
    configured).                              backups'' 
 [] Check usage levels.                       ``ps -- check process
                                              activity'' 
 [] Check for runaway processes.              ``Runaway processes'' 
 [] Check disk space.                         ``Maintaining free space
                                              in filesystems'' 
 [] Check mail functionality,                 ``Checking for MMDF
    connections.                              problems'' 
 [] Check printer status with lpstat -t.      Man page for lpstat(C) 
 [] Check auditing output, if activated.      ``Generating audit
                                              reports'' 
 [] Check UUCP communications links, if       ``Generating log reports
    active.                                   on usage: uulog'' 
 [] Check for unattended login sessions.      manual page for who(C) 

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 Weekly tasks                 For more information:
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 [] Verify system             ``Verifying software'' 
    software (checks
    permissions, links,
    and missing or
    corrupted files) --
    best done after work
    hours.
 [] Check printer             Check lp(C) account
    spooler status            mailbox for messages
    report.
 [] Check log files such      ``Checking and clearing
    as /etc/wtmp and          system log files'' 
    those in /usr/adm 
    and /usr/spool and
    clear, trim, or
    truncate.
 [] Use sar(ADM) to           ``sar -- system activity
    generate a report of      reporter'' 
    activity.
 [] Generate detailed         ``Displaying filesystem
    report of user disk       and directory usage
    utilization.              statistics'' -- see
                              description of quot(ADM) 
 [] Remove temporary          ``Finding temporary
    files including           files'' 
    lost+found files and
    ∗.out files.

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 Monthly tasks                For more information:
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 [] If you are not doing      ``Running unscheduled
    scheduled backups,        filesystem backups'' 
    perform an
    unscheduled (level
    0) backup.
 [] Re-tune system and        Chapter  2, ``Managing
    re-allocate               performance'' 
    resources, if
    necessary.
 [] Perform tape drive        tape(C) manual page
    maintenance:  clean
    heads and retension
    drive using tape
    reten command
 [] Change dial-in            ``Setting passwords for
    passwords, if             dial-in lines'' 
    necessary.
 [] Change root               ``Setting or changing a
    password, if              user password'' 
    necessary.

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 Occasional tasks             For more information:
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 [] Upgrade system and        Release Notes of the new
    application               version
    software, as needed.
 [] Check for                 ``Checking system
    configuration             configuration'' 
    errors, including
    verification of
    system software
 [] Re-distribute space       ``Adding disk space and
    in filesystems.           restructuring
                              filesystems'' or
                              ``Maintaining free space
                              in filesystems'' 
 [] Find SUID or SGID         ``Locating files'' 
    files, check owner,
    size.  Locate huge
    (over 64 Mbyte)
    files and verify
    their purpose.
 [] Find ``orphan''           ``Changing ownership of
    files (files              files with an obsolete
    belonging to deleted      UID/GID'' 
    users).