UNIX Support Effort

[Bing Wong]

I have a general question. If you were to support 3 UNIX servers, would you consider it a full time position? Or what is the percentage of effort on a daily basis? Any ideas are appreciated.

[DCE · Accepted solution]

How much support do the servers require?

User add/deletions?
patching?
core files?
backups/tape handling?
Is file space usage a concern, ie. needs to actively monitored for space filling up?

The more involved you in the daily activities, the more of your time is required.

If you have dynamic, active systems, then the rule of thumb (at the shops where I have assisted) is 7 - 10 systems per sys admin. If the systems are fairly stable, that numbers runs from 10 - 20 per admin.

I would guess 30 -50 % time, if the systems are dynamic.

just my opinion
DCE

[Rick Garland]

My experience has been 6 servers in a shop that was very dynamic to 50 servers in a shop that was very stable.

Generally I see somewhere in the 12-18 servers range.

[Bing Wong]

Thank you all.