I'm a brand new sysadmin, and I can't shake the feeling that something's not quite right with how our server maintenance is handled at my job. I work at a small managed service provider (MSP) with only three of us, including my boss, and we manage about 35 separate Windows servers. Each month, we spend a week doing maintenance which includes running Windows updates, checking the event viewer, and testing backups. This work is done outside regular hours on nights or weekends without extra pay. I'm also concerned if our processes are outdated, especially considering my boss still uses the default domain admin account for maintenance. I could really use some insights from people who know what's typical in the field. Am I justified in feeling uneasy about this?
4 Answers
As a newbie, the best advice I can give is to ask questions and take notes. Don't rush to make changes unless absolutely necessary. Understand the current processes before suggesting alternatives. You’ll want to pick your battles wisely and focus on small, manageable improvements while keeping an eye on your work-life balance—it's crucial in this field.
Honestly, it sounds like your current maintenance routine is lacking. Ideally, you should be monitoring numerous aspects of your systems regularly—not just once a month. When I worked at an MSP, we set up email alerts for daily checks on backups, malware, and critical alerts. Investing in some monitoring tools can really save you time and frustration.
I totally get that perspective, but a lot of these routines were set long before I came here. Everything feels kind of stuck in the stone age and it’s tough to change things up.
It's good to hear you are checking backups, that often gets overlooked. You could look into automating updates with tools like GPO and WSUS, but be cautious with WSUS as it can be finicky out of the box. Focusing on driver and BIOS updates during your maintenance checks can also be a smart move.
Yeah, I see the potential there, but with each server on a different network, setting up automated solutions feels daunting. I’ve started creating my own PowerShell scripts, but I find myself hitting limits there.
You definitely should automate monthly patching. While setting it up might seem tricky, it’s worth it in the long run. Just keep in mind that doing manual updates on 35 servers might be simpler than automating the process if your resources are limited right now.
I appreciate that perspective. I’ve learned so much here already, but figuring out what my next step should be is tough. Sometimes it feels like I’m stuck.