Summary of system administration tasks

A system administrator has numerous tasks to perform. They can be divided into groups according to how often they are carried out. The following list of tasks ranges from those that must be performed more often than once a day to those that need be performed less often than once a month. The administrator may have to do some of the tasks in the following list more or less often, depending upon the size and complexity of the system.

Task list

As needed tasks		For more information:
[]	Create/modify user accounts.	``Adding and modifying user accounts''
[]	Record all system modifications and events in log.	``Keeping a system log''
[]	Be on call to restart the system after panics, crashes, power spikes.	``Starting the system'' and ``System crashes''
[]	Maintain security of hardware, software, data file access.	``Maintaining system security''

Daily tasks		For more information:
[]	Perform scheduled backups (if configured).	``Running scheduled backups''
[]	Check usage levels.	``ps -- check process activity''
[]	Check for runaway processes.	``Runaway processes''
[]	Check disk space.	``Maintaining free space in filesystems''
[]	Check mail functionality, connections.	``Checking for MMDF problems''
[]	Check printer status with lpstat -t.	Man page for lpstat(C)
[]	Check auditing output, if activated.	``Generating audit reports''
[]	Check UUCP communications links, if active.	``Generating log reports on usage: uulog''
[]	Check for unattended login sessions.	manual page for who(C)

Weekly tasks		For more information:
[]	Verify system software (checks permissions, links, and missing or corrupted files) -- best done after work hours.	``Verifying software''
[]	Check printer spooler status report.	Check lp(C) account mailbox for messages
[]	Check log files such as /etc/wtmp and those in /usr/adm and /usr/spool and clear, trim, or truncate.	``Checking and clearing system log files''
[]	Use sar(ADM) to generate a report of activity.	``sar -- system activity reporter''
[]	Generate detailed report of user disk utilization.	``Displaying filesystem and directory usage statistics'' -- see description of quot(ADM)
[]	Remove temporary files including lost+found files and .out files.	``Finding temporary files''

Monthly tasks		For more information:
[]	If you are not doing scheduled backups, perform an unscheduled (level 0) backup.	``Running unscheduled filesystem backups''
[]	Re-tune system and re-allocate resources, if necessary.	``Managing performance''
[]	Perform tape drive maintenance: clean heads and retension drive using tape reten command	tape(C) manual page
[]	Change dial-in passwords, if necessary.	``Setting passwords for dial-in lines''
[]	Change root password, if necessary.	``Setting or changing a user password''

Occasional tasks		For more information:
[]	Upgrade system and application software, as needed.	Late News and Getting Started Guide
[]	Check for configuration errors, including verification of system software	``Checking system configuration''
[]	Re-distribute space in filesystems.	``Adding disk space and restructuring filesystems'' or ``Maintaining free space in filesystems''
[]	Find SUID or SGID files, check owner, size. Locate huge (over 64 Mbyte) files and verify their purpose.	``Locating files''
[]	Find ``orphan'' files (files belonging to deleted users).	``Changing ownership of files with an obsolete UID/GID''