The sections below summarize some of the main tasks that administrators are expected to perform.
1. Account Provisioning
The system administrator adds accounts for new users, removes the accounts of users that are no longer active, and handles all the account-related issues that come up in between (e.g., forgotten passwords).
2. Adding and removing hardware
3. Performing backups
Performing backups is perhaps the most important job of the system administrator, and it is also the job that is most often ignored or sloppily done.
4. Installing and upgrading software
5. Monitoring the system
Regularly ensure that email and web services are working correctly, watch log files for early signs of trouble, make sure that local networks are properly connected, and keep an eye on the availability of system resources such as disk space.
6. Troubleshooting
Finding the problem is often harder than fixing it.
7. Maintaining Local documentation
Documenting where cables are run and how they are constructed, keeping maintenance records for all hardware, recording the status of backups, and documenting local procedures and policies.
8. vigilantly monitoring security
The system administrator must implement a security policy and periodically check to be sure that the security of the system has not been violated.