A Linux system administrator is responsible for computers running Linux operating systems. The specialist deals with support infrastructures, OS platforms and applications. The linux system administrator is responsible for the integrity & security of servers and IT systems in accordance with established security protocols and practices.

These professionals work with the computer system engineer to install the system. The Linux administrator ensures that the systems are updated with scalable technologies. The user is responsible for installing new software, granting permissions and training users for applications.The Linux administrator plays an active role in correcting, compiling, backing up and troubleshooting Linux servers in a heterogeneous environment. The specialist performs system updates and server configurations. You are responsible for implementing changes in multiple environments from development to production. The expert can also develop scripts with different languages ​​such as Bash, Python and PHP.

What a Linux system administrator does

A Linux system administrator wears many hats. The smaller your environment, the more hats you will wear. The Linux administration includes backups, file restores, disaster recovery, new system builds, hardware maintenance, automation, user maintenance, file system management, application installation and configuration, system security management and storage management. . . System administration covers almost all aspects of hardware and software management for both physical and virtual systems.

Curiously, you also need a broad base of knowledge about network configuration, virtualization, interoperability and even Windows operating systems. A Linux system administrator must have technical knowledge of network security, firewalls, databases, and all aspects of a functioning network. The reason is that you are primarily a Linux SA, but also part of a larger support team that often has to work together to solve complex problems. In one way or another, security is often the cause of problems encountered by a support team. A user may not have access or adequate access. A daemon may not have appropriate permissions to write to a registry directory. A firewall exception has not been registered in the current configuration of a network appliance. There are hundreds of sources of error in a network. Your job is to identify and fix bugs.

For Linux system administration, you also need to know best practices, familiarize yourself with new software, keep patches, read and follow safety instructions, and apply hardware updates. The day of an SA is very crowded. In fact, you never really end, but you have to choose a time to finish your activities. Being Sa is a 24x7x365 job that affects you physically and mentally. You will hear a lot about fatigue in this area. 

Responsibilities and duties :

•         Install and manage all server hardware and software systems, manage all server performance, and ensure availability.
•         Keep all system backups, restore all procedures, and provide all users with the required training.
•         Design and manage all system tools for all automation processes and scripts and monitor all capacity planning.
•         Integrate all the necessary software and solve all the problems in different technologies. The design requires commercial servers and provides backup support.
•         Evaluate all documents according to system requirements, evaluate the overall design and run tests of all development activities and manage all complex methods.
•         Develops an infrastructure that meets all business needs and regularly resolves system issues.
•         Monitor systems daily, evaluate the availability of all server resources, and perform all tasks for Linux servers.
•         Helps configure and deploy all virtual machines, and install and distribute backup copies of all configuration processes.
•         Maintain and monitor all patch versions and design different patch installation strategies. Store all systems according to the NIST standard.
•         Manage all the power of different resources, optimize and support all applications and offer the best customer service.
•         Maintain and monitor all system infrastructures and provide support after attending all systems and gaining the best Linux knowledge.
•         Fix bugs in all tools, manage multiple servers, and back up all script files and servers.
•         Test all new software, manage administrative services fixes, and monitor all security processes.

Salary :

According to Ziprecruiter, the Linux system administrator in the United States earns about $ 100,425 a year. The annual salary of professionals is $ 158,500 and $ 43,000. Most salaries for Linux system administrators currently range from $ 81,500 (25th percentile) to $ 120,000 (75th percentile). The national median salary for this position is $ 78,322 per year, according to Glassdoor. The actual salary estimate shows that the salary for Linux system administrators is between about $ 66.003 a year for the administrator and $ 91.157 a year for Unix administrators.

Bottom Line:

Being a Linux system administrator is a useful activity. You have many responsibilities. Sometimes it's inconvenient. Sometimes it's really fun. It's a job that Linux SAs have different backgrounds. They are also among the most creative and interesting IT people. System administration is not easy and also not suitable for thin-skinned users. It is intended for those who wish to solve complex problems and improve the IT experience of all members of their network. It's a good job and a good career.