Basic System Admin Functions

[Bust02]

Hello,
Several months ago, System Admin. was added to my responsiblities for my company on top of existing responsibilites; sales, administration, purchasing. My company has had the same Network/System consultants for many years and they will not share information with me. It was made clear to them by top management that I have been named system admin. and I am still treated as if these things are something I do not need to know. I do not have time to perform all sys.admin. functions but day to day minor issues and problems arise that I believe I should know how to correct or at least have a better understanding of what & where the problem may be. I have had some experience in programming and consider myself a computer "guru" and am eager to learn. I have had to learn the hard way of various problems/issues that can occur. I have learned some basics on my own, (weekends at home)such as, using SAM. How to kill processes, clear print jobs, adding new users via SAM. Using VI editor is not real clear to me. I have learned some commands but I am not sure where to start to look at database programming. I would like to view programming of a database to learn what and how fields, data is being pulled into reports, processes, etc. Also, how some funtions in our software works. Our basic accounting software functions have been completely changed by Unix programming. And I am ok with this, it is a good system for our business.
It is my task to look at upgrading our current system. To do this, I need to know how some processes and special functions of our current system work in order to make a informed decision.
I have been reading the system admin. postings on this web site for many months and everyone is great. But, some of the commands are confusing to me. Can anyone give me information on viewing file & database programming from start to finish?
ANY help would be greatly appreciated.
Jewell

[harry d brown jr]

Jewell,

I'd suggest you contact your local HP office and find some classes on HPux first. Then take some "c" programming classes, then maybe a oracle class for programmers.

You can read a lot on the internet, but sometimes you need either a class room setting or someone to help guide you along.


live free or die
harry

[Sorrel G. Jakins]

Hijack the root password, and then make clear to the system and network consultants that knowledge transfer is part of every change they do.

Good luck.

[Rita C Workman · Accepted solution]

You may not care for some of things I say...but..I hope you read them, as they are well intentioned!

...Woman to woman I have absolutely no real fondness for outside consultants ..but.. I wouldn't give you the root password until you understood what that power entailed. I know too many folks in mgmt positions, making decisions on things they don't understand. I call it job security.


Before you open yourself up for the responsibility of 'root'...make sure you understand what your dealing with !
Get some good reference books, I suggest starting with HP Certified by Rafeeq Rehman. And get to HPUX Admin classes that HP offers. Don't take over root power until you know how to handle it. It is deadly to a system in in-experienced hands. Once your there,..then look into training on learning databases administration and programming.

With all that said....either your company is very small and is expecting you to wear a bunch of hats. My experience says they are thinking about removing those consultants and they (like many in mgmt) think it can't be that hard to run ! Look at the $$$ we'll save. By the way..does this consultant do everything..sys.admin/programming/dba. Do you have an MIS staff to handle all this?

I would be more concerned with what mgmt is 'planning'.

Just sign me...
..how many hats does it take before your neck is in trouble..

Rgrds,
Rita

[Michael Elleby III_1]

Hello

As being one that has been in your position before, I agree with Rita and others that it is important for you to get the basics down before you attempt any 'root manuevers'..

I did go to the basic fundamental HP courses, but only after I had been thrown into an Admin position, only learning how to do certain tasks.. It hurt me later on as I had to backtrack and go over certain material (environment, kernel mods, scripting) that I had not covered prior to going to the courses.

My saving grace was that I was a very determined individual, and willing to take the time out to read and research to understand what all that is required to be a fully functional sys admin. Even bought myself an HP Server to study at home..

As others have suggested certain reading, I'd also suggest the Sys Admin book written by Marty Poniatowski, as it was very helpful to me in my humble beginnings..

So, as it will take some basic fundamental training, a little (or a lot) of 'elbow grease' will help you in your journey..

Mike-

[Bust02]

Thanks, Rita & Mike,
I do have the root password and am very aware of the problems that could occur if I were to try something I am not familiar with. We do not have a contract with the outside consultants any longer but they still come in when we need them to. I am like Mike. I have studied Unix on my own time. I have learned many things on my own already. I would also like to setup a server at home to help me. The KEY word in my posting in "View". I only want to view the lauguage of the programming of certain functions in our system to not only learn the programming and how it works but to understand the process of particular functions in our system. As I mentioned, I am responsible for looking at upgrading our system. It would help me if I understood particular programming that was written specifically for a special application to determine how and if the upgrade could give us the same function/reports, etc. and how it pulls this information currently. Anu information on viewing database/file programming from root would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.
Jewell