Re: Admins to Boxes ratio

• Previous message: JOSEPH KREMBLAS: "Re: Admins to Boxes ratio"
• In reply to: JOSEPH KREMBLAS: "Re: Admins to Boxes ratio"
• Next in thread: Damir Delija: "Re: Admins to Boxes ratio"
• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

Date:         Thu, 26 Feb 2004 19:43:50 -0700
To: aix-l@Princeton.EDU

I also want to point out if, or when, you point out these things to your
boss, it's CRITICAL that you make these ideas your boss's ideas. He/She
will respect you for this information and your aim is to make your boss
the hero and he/she will always take care of you. Don't neglect this
critical step if you're the only S/A managing these boxes. You take care
of your boss and he/she will take care of you. The rewards are endless
and opportunities almost always pop your way, which pave the way you
want your career to you.

Another point I neglected to make is that if you're a big company,
internal audit will have a vested interest how many S/A's manage the
system. Why? Because they are concerned with disaster recovery and the
safety of company assets. The hardware, software, and personnel are the
company assets.

If you structure your boss's ideas that cover internal audit interests,
disaster recovery, and on-site supoprt interests of your customers and
CIO, you will make your boss a hero and he/she will love you for it and
always look to you for answers and most definitely give you more
responsibility (if you're up for the new challenges that lie ahead).

You want to structure your team of system administrators so that you're
covered from the support end and the disaster recovery end. I personally
structured my teams this way and never had a worry or doubt in the world
when I experienced the fatal falling of Twin Towers in Manhattan. All
the plans were in place and "I love it when a plan comes together." Try
to wipe the smile and respect from your boss's face when things work as
planned. Everybody wins.

It takes planning, planning, and planning to make this work. No
exceptions! Things WILL happen and when they do, you're covered! It's
that simple.

My additional two cents.

-----Original Message-----
From: IBM AIX Discussion List [mailto:aix-l@Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of
JOSEPH KREMBLAS
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 7:24 PM
To: aix-l@Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: Admins to Boxes ratio

I don't think you or your boss needs documentation to determine the
number of system administrators to boxes ratio. Let's think about this
for a moment. One S/A = SPOF (single point of failure), which equals
high risk environment. Legal and insurance companies would have a heart
attack if they heard that only one system administrator was managing one
or thousands of boxes. Two is minimum regardless of number of boxes to
satisfy risk management, legal, and insurance policies and/or
requirements. I would always have three (3) S/A's at a minimum, because
you never know who's going to be sick and who's going on vacation. If
only one S/A is there, who will cover for you when you're on vacation or
if you get sick.

A nice reminder of the risk with system administrator's goes back to the
late 1990's when three system administrator's used to ride to work
together and all got killed in a fatal car crash. Never do the buddy
system with such valuable assets. This is a huge lesson even if you do
hire two or three system administrators. Also, not all of them should be
on-site at the same time. If you do this, then you put the company at
risk again in case of a major disaster. Don't believe me? I watch twin
towers go down from my office in Jersey City and heard reports of the
entire S/A team on site which put a particular firm at high risk.

I think you get the idea. In summary:

        a) What if a S/A gets sick?
        b) What if a S/A wants to go on vacation?
        c) Don't put all your marbles in one basket.
        d) What about insurance policies?
        e) What about legal requirements?
        f) Two S/A's minimum; three is the right answer.

Most companies would be wise to insure all their system administrator's
if they choose to only hire and retain one S/A regardless of the number
of boxes.

My two cents.

-----Original Message-----
From: IBM AIX Discussion List [mailto:aix-l@Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of
Patrick B. O'Brien
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 4:44 PM
To: aix-l@Princeton.EDU
Subject: Admins to Boxes ratio

Anybody have any IBM Documentation defining the AIX Admins to Boxes
ratio?

I'm an AIX Admin supporting some 14 AIX Boxes and a few RH Boxes; I
think I could use some help. My boss wants to see if IBM agrees.

Thank you.

• Previous message: JOSEPH KREMBLAS: "Re: Admins to Boxes ratio"
• In reply to: JOSEPH KREMBLAS: "Re: Admins to Boxes ratio"
• Next in thread: Damir Delija: "Re: Admins to Boxes ratio"
• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]