System Administration Chapter 1

Questions and Answers

What is the primary role of system administration?

To monitor employee activity on the network

To create new software applications

To limit user access to the system

To enhance the reliability and efficiency of computer systems (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a function of system administration?

Hardware development (correct)

Maintenance of network equipment

Access control

User management

What is a key skill for a system administrator?

Designing network infrastructure

Writing software code

Data analysis

Problem solving under constraints (correct)

Which specialized task involves managing user access and permissions?

Access control Signup and view all the answers

What type of systems knowledge is critical for a system administrator?

Knowledge of operating systems and applications Signup and view all the answers

Which task does updating involve in system administration?

Modifying software to improve functionality Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of monitoring in system administration?

To track the performance and health of systems Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a system administrator?

A professional responsible for maintaining and operating computer systems Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of operating system updates?

To fix issues with system software components Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of system administration?

Developing new operating systems Signup and view all the answers

What does capacity planning in hardware management involve?

Evaluating and purchasing hardware Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge in the process of installing software across multiple computers?

Streamlining the process across thousands of computers Signup and view all the answers

Which action is part of auditing security in system administration?

Detecting unauthorized use Signup and view all the answers

In user account management, which of the following is a typical task?

Managing permissions and group memberships Signup and view all the answers

What must be done after installing software to meet business requirements?

Configuration of the software Signup and view all the answers

What does access control primarily involve?

Establishing user rights for resource access Signup and view all the answers

What is the overall goal of performing system backups?

To restore data after loss Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a primary function of user management?

Setting and updating user permissions Signup and view all the answers

Which task is involved in maintaining system documentation?

Keeping records of configurations and policies Signup and view all the answers

What type of monitoring detects and analyzes failures after they occur?

Reactive monitoring Signup and view all the answers

What is a challenge faced in system administration concerning requirements?

Balancing day-to-day operations with strategic planning Signup and view all the answers

What is proactive monitoring primarily focused on?

Preventing vulnerabilities before they result in failures Signup and view all the answers

What does the process of updating software involve?

Replacing defective software components Signup and view all the answers

What role does Active Directory play in user management?

It helps in managing user accounts and permissions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary responsibility of a database administrator (DBA)?

Installing new database software Signup and view all the answers

Which skill is NOT typically required for effective performance in system administration?

Excellent coding skills Signup and view all the answers

What are the main activities involved in network administration?

Deployment, configuration, maintenance, monitoring Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a task that a DBA would likely perform?

Conducting disaster recovery Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about system administrators?

They are only called upon when issues arise Signup and view all the answers

What role is responsible for ensuring the integrity and performance of a database system?

Database administrator Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT part of network administration?

Data modeling Signup and view all the answers

What type of specialist is responsible for diagnosing issues with network-attached computers?

Network administrator Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary responsibility of network administration?

Assigning routing protocols and configuring routing tables Signup and view all the answers

Which task is part of security administration?

Administering security devices like firewalls Signup and view all the answers

What is a major goal of system administration?

Reduce the customer's total cost of ownership Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of ethics is emphasized for system administrators?

Maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a requirement for professional conduct in system administration?

Maintaining personal integrity while dealing with clients Signup and view all the answers

What should system administrators educate themselves about?

Relevant laws, regulations, and policies Signup and view all the answers

In network administration, which of the following tasks is crucial for maintaining network security?

Configuring authentication and authorization settings Signup and view all the answers

System administrators should avoid which of the following to maintain professionalism?

Making personal decisions based on biases Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to System Administration

System administration encompasses functions to provide support, ensure reliable operation, promote system efficiency, and meet service quality objectives.
Knowledge required includes understanding operating systems, applications, and troubleshooting hardware/software issues.
A system administrator (sysadmin) is responsible for maintaining and operating computer systems, using problem-solving skills under constraints and stress.

System Administration Functions

Installation: Writing necessary data on a hard drive for software operation, addressing challenges like process streamlining across multiple computers.
Configuration: Adjusting software settings post-installation to align with business needs.
Access Control: Limiting resource access for users and defining what actions authorized users can take, involving challenges in access assignment.
User Management: Creating/removing user accounts and setting permissions, managed often through Active Directory for efficiency.
Monitoring: Watching system activities to maintain performance and security, divided into reactive (post-failure analysis) and proactive (pre-failure testing) monitoring.

Updating

Software Updates: Replacing defective components to eliminate vulnerabilities, categorized into operating system and application updates, vital for system integrity.

Summary of System Admin Duties

Management tasks include user account maintenance, hardware management (addition, removal, evaluation, inventory), and system backups/restores.
Duties extend to installing and configuring software, monitoring systems, troubleshooting, and maintaining documentation.

System Administration Challenges

Requires broad knowledge of hardware/software, ability to balance conflicting requirements, work under pressure, and possess strong communication skills.

Specializations of System Administration

Database Administration: Involves ensuring data integrity and system performance, with roles including software installation, configuration, security administration, and disaster recovery tasks.
Network Administration: Maintains network infrastructure and troubleshooting, covering deployment, configuration, and monitoring of network devices and servers.
Security Administration: Focuses on computer and network security, including security device management, consulting on measures, and ensuring the integrity of systems.

Importance of System Administration

The primary goal is to reduce the overall cost of computer ownership, which is largely attributed to personnel time rather than hardware/software expenses.

Ethics for System Administrators

Professionalism: Conduct should be maintained with fairness, disregarding personal biases.
Personal Integrity: Honesty in dealings and ownership of mistakes are crucial, avoiding conflicts of interest.
Privacy: Access private information only as necessary within technical duties, ensuring confidentiality is upheld.
Laws and Policies: Understanding relevant laws and regulations related to system administration is essential for compliance.

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Description

Explore the foundational concepts of System Administration in this Chapter 1 quiz. Covering essential functions, specializations, and the importance of system administration, this quiz is aimed at students in the Information Technology department. Test your knowledge on ethical considerations for system administrators as well.