Unfortunately, choosing a good sysadmin can be very difficult. Often it is not easy to distinguish a high class specialist from a not very good candidate for the position. It is not always only the sysadmin’s experience that is decisive. A good specialist must not only have sufficient knowledge and skills, but also a certain intuition that helps in solving complex problems.

Choosing a specialist by diploma in this case is also not suitable. The main baggage of professional knowledge and skills that they need in their daily work, system administrators receive by self-education, constantly faced with tasks of the most diverse nature. In universities, there is no training direction on the sysadmin. It is important that the candidate has a basic higher technical education and has taken special courses. It is good if his baggage contains certificates, for example, from Cisco.

In fact, to distinguish a good system administrator from a not so good helps only time. Only by observing the activities of a helpdesk and the results of his work, you can really adequately assess the specialist, to understand how useful he is and how much the company needs him.

In addition to professional skills and knowledge, a good sysadmin must have certain personal qualities. His ability to solve complex production tasks and his ability to work with people depends on this. It is not obvious for everyone that a significant part of his working hours is spent in communicating with people.

The main personal qualities of the system administrator can include:

• The ability to simultaneously solve several diverse tasks and quickly switch between them.
• Stress resistance – the ability to cope with a significant amount of work, communication with management and with users whose behavior is not always adequate, in terms of sysadmin.
• Ability to plan his work time wisely.
• The ability to communicate with people. The system administrator must be able to listen to and understand users, drawing the right conclusions from his conversations with them.
• Technical mindset, the ability to think in terms of systems engineering.

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• Skills in the proper use of search engines – the ability to formulate the right queries accurately and quickly.
• A good knowledge of the GUI of the operating systems used in the company. It is recommended to get acquainted in detail with new versions of operating systems as soon as they are released in order to implement updates promptly and efficiently. We are talking, of course, mostly about different versions of Windows.
• Thorough knowledge of the software, allowing remote access to computers. Such applications as SysAid, RMS, Teamviwer, RDP system client and others are used for this purpose.
• Mastery of command line skills. A sysadmin must have a good knowledge of all the basic commands and be able to use them correctly.
• Ability to work with all major software used in the company. The sysadmin performs the tasks of installing and uninstalling programs, making basic settings. This includes regularly working with programs Office suite, browsers, email clients, anti-virus software, im-agent, etc.
• Ability to work with basic snap-ins to perform operating system setup, including compmgmt, msconfig, services, printmanagment, etc.
• Ability to work with peripheral equipment. Helpdesk is periodically required to install and configure printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, webcams, speakers, card readers and other devices.
• Skills and understanding of working with “hardware”. Working in a company sysadmin regularly disassembles and assembles computers, conducts diagnostics, and performs preventive maintenance and minor repairs to PCs.

In addition the system administrator in his daily work has to deal with many other tasks and problems, the scope of which is very difficult to outline. Therefore, it is very important for a specialist to constantly evolve, keep their knowledge and skills up to date.

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To become a system administrator, follow these steps:

1. Complete higher secondary education
   To become a system administrator, pass the 10+2 examination from a recognized higher secondary school with subjects such as physics and mathematics. Try to get at least 50% aggregate marks in 10+2 as it is a prerequisite for admission to some professional courses. Prepare for exams by studying with a friend.
2. Take a bachelor’s course
   After graduating from high school, apply for a bachelor’s course in your relevant field of study. Consider getting a Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Science, Engineering or Information Technology. Well-known government institutions like IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) and NITs (National Institutes of Technology) conduct admissions through JEE (Joint Entrance Examination), which consists of two parts: main and advanced.
3. Obtain relevant certificates
   Although it may be optional to get a job as a system administrator, some employers prefer candidates who have several relevant certifications such as Microsoft and CompTIA certifications. This shows that you are serious about building a career in this field. Experience in obtaining certifications can also help you develop your technical skills.
4. Get a master’s degree
   Although not mandatory, a postgraduate degree or diploma can give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs. Among the popular courses:

Master of Technology in Computer Science
Master of Technology in Information Technology
Master of Science in Systems Administration and Networking
Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security and Systems Administration
Master of Business Administration in Systems Management

What certificates are needed to be a system administrator?
If you want to be a system administrator, you may want to consider the following certifications:

1. Microsoft certifications
   Microsoft certifications have three levels:
   MTA (Microsoft Technology Associate): The MTA certification is for beginners and indicates that the candidate has a basic understanding of technical concepts.
   MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate): This certification may be required for some entry-level positions. Getting it can mean that you have basic technical knowledge.
   MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert): MCSE certification is for professionals who have a good technical background in system administration.
2. RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer).
   RHCE certification involves a series of rigorous tests that test the candidate’s knowledge of Red Hat system administration. Through this certification course, you will be able to have a good understanding of Red Hat system operations, security management and storage configuration. The knowledge you have gained from your work can help you pass the certification test.
3. CompTIA Server+ Certification.
   This certification requires candidates to have several years of professional experience in server management, including software and hardware knowledge. The course aims to provide candidates with skills in topics such as troubleshooting, data recovery, networking, security, storage, server administration, and server architecture. Candidates who pass the 90-minute exam receive a certificate that is valid for life.
4. CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate).
   CCNA is an associate-level IT certification from Cisco Systems Inc. It indicates that you have the skills to install, maintain and repair network systems for small and medium-sized organizations. To pass the test, candidates must have a good understanding of security, programmability, automation, and network access.

Is it hard to become a system administrator?
Becoming a system administrator is not necessarily difficult if you have basic computer literacy, technical knowledge, analytical skills, and a problem-solving mindset. However, to succeed in this field of work, it is important to keep up to date with best practices and technological developments in the field. While your academic qualifications are an indicator of your industry knowledge, certifications can provide employers with verifiable proof of your experience and real-world application skills. Many professionals hold certifications from well-known organizations in addition to formal degrees.

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However, it is also possible to identify a set of universal basic requirements, which are presented to sysadmins in almost every company. Among these requirements are the following:

• Windows OS administration skills. The administration of Unix and other operating systems may also be required. Including administration includes security management, setting group policies, creating users, managing remote access, and many other procedures.
• Proficiency and understanding of the OSI network model as well as basic network protocols.
• Proficiency in bash scripting, PowerShell to optimize and automate daily routine system administration functions.
• Ability to perform ongoing infrastructure and network monitoring, routing and configuration of local area networks.
• Understanding and proficiency with IP Telephony and mail servers.
• Skills in working with office software and applications.
• Ability to perform repairs and maintenance of computer and peripheral equipment.

A cursory glance at these requirements might suggest that they are not that high. However, they are far from it. To master each of the items in this list specialists need to study a lot of technical documentation, instructions, learn the many tricks and features of work. In addition, these are only basic requirements. To successfully realize themselves in the profession sysadmin specialist has to constantly engage in self-development during the practical work.

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