Does being a system admin have anything to do with IT?
 

Hi im new to the whole linux thing but really do enjoy the OS and everything that it can do. Im planning to be a system admin but just barely started understanding what all the directories do. And learning how to set file permissions and proper group policys without using sudo. But im not that far into it to know if i will be dealing with IT type stuff as a system admin. Unless iptabes,SElinux etc is considered IT? Its my understanding that IT people build network infranstructures. This is probaly a dumb question but some clairifacation on this would help alot, thanks!

Information Technology embraces a wide range of skills and tasks, everything from updating individual workstations to managing networks with thousands of computers. The term also does not have a specific definition, other than referring to computer stuff.

IT people build network infrastructures. They also administer them. Some IT admins specialized in database stuff, some focus on security, some on maintenance, some strictly managing web servers. In smaller organizations, sysadmins are often expected to be jacks of all trades.

This Wikipedia article might help: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_administrator

Thanks for replying i wanted to redact this question cause i felt it was in the wrong thread, but i do not see an option to do so.. Nevertheless this did clear things up for me 100 percent, I keep thinking sys admins have full authority over the whole system, and as a system administrator posted before thats not the case and that ill be lucky if i get root access. Thanks again cheers

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Hi.

Off\on-topic: :) just starred watching the IT Crowd (4 seasons,) a good show. The IT is a pun there because they're the crowd to be... :D

I wouldn't say this question was in the wrong forum.

I've found that, when posting a question of my own, I often have to decide among two or three forums, any one of which might be a suitable choice.

I was thinking about this thread today and remembered that, in the 70s and 80s, the name of the computer stuff department in my company changed from the computer services department to the information services department to the information technology department. All the while, it was the same persons doing the same things.

It depends on the management.

A system admin MAY have full authority over the whole system - but that would most likely apply to very small shops.

Once things get complicated the job divides - network admins tend not to be the one applying updates to hosts (routers, yes). Depending on the organization requirements a "system admin" job may be split into three separate jobs - security, users, and system. The system admin does not have the authority (and may not have the privileges) to add/remove users. Neither does that admin have the privileges to access security audit data... Conversly, the user administrator will not have access to modify system configuration or update the system, nor have access to the security audits. The security admin may not be able to add users (though he should be able to block them from access to systems), and will not be able to configure the system other than with the security controls.

But it depends on the organization, and the software defining the roles.

As jpollard said, it depends on the organization.

At my company, for example, I am IT (pun intended). I build the machines, I set them up, I do all security, user, and system maintenance, I decommission them when they've exceeded their useful lifetime (usually around 6-7 years), and I administer the network infrastructure.

Yes, it's a small company. At a large company, you might be a member of an entire team that just focuses on one of those areas. IT can be anywhere in between.

Cool ok then, it doesnt discourage me cause this is the only thing i can see myself doing, it's just it would be more exciting if i had full control. But i can see why though that they dont allow it for security reasons, so it makes sense. All very interesting thank you help alot!

Remember - if you are in full control... it also means it is your fault when things go bad.

And they will, no matter how hard you try, you will make a mistake. But when you don't have others backing you up... the fault is all yours.

That brings to mind a quote: the average human "uses ten percent brain power" at any given time so find nine more people... :)

Find nine more people to share the fault.. :)

:) actually, with 9 more people to catch the fault before it becomes catastrophic.

ROTFL :D

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/1...tory-proves-it ("History Proves" something?)

lmao sounds legit, but yeah i understand that id have more responsibility and possibly fault. But alot less stressful then being like an airline operator id imagine, where one mistake can lead to a crash, even though they get paid well (i think) i couldnt do it. So i can probaly handle crashing the printers lol... Besides i like technology more anyways :) Thanks again fellas