sys admin vs network admin

sulekha · 01-11-2009, 04:27 AM

Hi all,

what exactly is the difference b/w sys admin and a n/w admin ? in my experience they both are the same, isn't it ? , but i keep hearing from some people that they are different ? what exactly is the true story ?

norbert74 · 01-11-2009, 04:50 AM

My understanding is that they have a different focus. A sysadmin works mainly on servers like installing software, configuration etc.
A network admin works mainly on routers, switches and so on.
If you have package loss you go to the network admin, if you need an upgrade on a web server you ask the sysadmin.

acid_kewpie · 01-11-2009, 04:51 AM

Well generally the network admin looks after the network and the systems admin looks after the systems. Sorry if that sounds crude / rude, but the clue is in the title. Of course many many many businesses combine the roles formally or informally, but past a certain size of infrastructure the work on the servers, server operating systems and applications is seperated from the work on the routers, switches and firewalls. Maybe you'd be suprised how many sysadmins have no idea about TCP/IP past an ip address and default gateway.

acid_kewpie · 01-11-2009, 04:52 AM

personally I go to Fedex when I have a package loss. Packet loss i might talk to the network guys. ;-)

sulekha · 01-11-2009, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acid_kewpie

Maybe you'd be suprised how many sysadmins have no idea about TCP/IP past an ip address and default gateway.

well I haven't seen a system admin like that , what i have seen is the
combination sort of thing, the guys who do both stuff

acid_kewpie · 01-11-2009, 05:03 AM

Well that's down to the way a company works. If you can afford people who can cover an entire infrastructure at a suitable level then that's the better option usually - until sheer vast scale makes it unworkable. I used to be a strictly assigned network admin in a team of about 5 people at the higher technical level. Currently I'm right across the board with Linux and Network as specialities in a flexible pool of about 40... horses for courses really.