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System Administrator Truths

By Adam Myers ⋅ December 13, 2005 ⋅ Tags: sysadmin

What are your top ten system administrator truths? Here are a few of mine:

• Be very pessimistic
• Start from a known state of the system (switch off - switch on).
• Make sure you can leave the system exactly like it was before you touched it.
• Dont fix what isn’t broken.
• Even if you are genius, follow the manual/RTFM.
• Dont reinvent the wheel; compare with something thats working.
• Contrary to belief, cables can fail.
• If its exists, it exists for a reason - Delete Never, Rename Always
• Your memory is not infinite, nor are your coworkers mind readers; document.

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