This is the Safari online edition of the printed book.

The first edition of The Practice of System and Network Administration introduced a generation of system and network administrators to a modern IT methodology. Whether you use Linux, Unix, or Windows, this newly revised edition describes the essential practices previously handed down only from mentor to protégé. This wonderfully lucid, often funny cornucopia of information introduces beginners to advanced frameworks valuable for their entire career, yet is structured to help even the most advanced experts through difficult projects.

The book's four major sections build your knowledge with the foundational elements of system administration. These sections guide you through better techniques for upgrades and change management, catalog best practices for IT services, and explore various management topics. Chapters are divided into The Basics and The Icing. When you get the Basics right it makes every other aspect of the job easier--such as automating the right things first. The Icing sections contain all the powerful things that can be done on top of the basics to wow customers and managers.

Inside, you'll find advice on topics such as

• The key elements your networks and systems need in order to make all other services run better

• Building and running reliable, scalable services, including web, storage, email, printing, and remote access

• Creating and enforcing security policies

• Upgrading multiple hosts at one time without creating havoc

• Planning for and performing flawless scheduled maintenance windows

• Managing superior helpdesks and customer care

• Avoiding the "temporary fix" trap

• Building data centers that improve server uptime

• Designing networks for speed and reliability

• Web scaling and security issues

• Why building a backup system isn't about backups

• Monitoring what you have and predicting what you will need

• How technically oriented workers can maintain their job's technical focus (and avoid an unwanted management role)

• Technical management issues, including morale, organization building, coaching, and maintaining positive visibility

• Personal skill techniques, including secrets for getting more done each day, ethical dilemmas, managing your boss, and loving your job

• System administration salary negotiation

It's no wonder the first edition received Usenix SAGE's 2005 Outstanding Achievement Award!

This eagerly anticipated second edition updates this time-proven classic:

• Chapters reordered for easier navigation

• Thousands of updates and clarifications based on reader feedback

• Plus three entirely new chapters: Web Services, Data Storage, and Documentation

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 27 Ratings

One of the best books ever written for systems/ICT administration - 2008-02-20
Reviewer Rating:
Every systems/ICT administrator must have a read at this book as I have not come across any similar book in its category. The authors attempt to be vendor neutral as much as possible and provide best practices from their professional expertise. I can definitely say that I have improved my efficiency in my role as ICT administrator after reading this book. Cheers.

A comprehensive overview of System Administration - 2009-06-18
Reviewer Rating:
If you've been or are planning to be in the hot seat when it comes to running a orginization's computer systems than this book is for you. I read this after being an SA for 12 years for some of the biggest names in the business (IBM, EDS, NetApp, Sprint) and it still has information that's useful to me. I'm no slouch but the fact is that most of us have learned how to do our jobs by feeling pain and working to make that pain go away. This book lets you learn from *others* pain, as well as taking a step back from the "I NEED IT NOW" we all deal with to look in a logical and comprehensive fashion at the many aspects of system administration. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

I don't agree with everything the authors say (I think DDNS is a decent system for most companies for instance), but informed discusion on these topics is a must even if you (as you should) come to your own conclusions. If you're not an SA and you have not read this book chances are you're not doing as good a job as you could be. Seriously.

Must-have for tech writers and trainers of ICT solutions - 2009-05-29
Reviewer Rating:
If you ever have to write a backup/recovery guide, system maintenance guide, administrators guide, disaster recovery guide, training guide, quick start guide for users and administrators of enterprise IT systems in any organization large or small....this is it. And you'll find it how and why they need these.
Why writers, trainers and desk support staff will need it
Credible, practical- Its a best-practice driven approach! Its an immediate pick me up, that you can read immediately when you are prepping for that migration project, system installation or change management project.
Empathy - You'll find stories, shortcuts, practical notes that you can use, discuss, reference immediately, so you can teach, speak and write with better confidence, and credibility about the subject matter for the people who actually need to suppport the systems everyday.
You'll keep it nearby and you'll pick it up often. Its no doorstop. Its one of those books.

Excellent book !!! - 2009-05-11
Reviewer Rating:
This book is written by a real SA, he covers every little mission that every SA have to do everyday !!! It's surely useful for you, buy it.

Computer book - 2008-09-29
Reviewer Rating:
El servicio fue excelente, y el libro es muy bueno para lo que estoy estudiando, a parte de que es el libro escogido para la clase que cojo.

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