Is it safe to disable the ILS_ANONYMOUS_USER account?
I found an account named ILS_ANONYMOUS_USER in our environment. It was created in 2004 and has the description "Anonymous Account for ILS Server." Some documentation claims it may…
system administration
How should I propose and set up IT support for our small school?
I teach at a small private middle school in a developing West African country, and over the past two years I have gradually become the person responsible for…
How do I remove a Flatpak repository I added for one app?
I'm new to using the terminal. I added the Flatpark repository so I could install Stoat, a Discord alternative, with this command: flatpak --user remote-add --if-not-exists flatpark https://dl.flatpark.org/flatpark.flatpakrepo…
Is it safe to disable the ILS_ANONYMOUS_USER account?
I found an account named ILS_ANONYMOUS_USER in our environment. It was created in 2004 and has the description "Anonymous Account for ILS Server." Some documentation suggests it may…
How can we reduce Windows workstation slowdowns from too many security agents?
Our Windows workstations now run more than 10 security, monitoring, and management agents, with additional tools likely to be added. Users are reporting slow startups and poor general…
How can we reduce Windows startup delays caused by too many security and monitoring agents?
Our Windows workstation environment has accumulated more than ten security, monitoring, and management agents, with more likely to be added. Users are reporting slow boots and poor overall…
What does a government actually mean by “switching to Linux”?
When a country announces plans to switch from Windows to Linux, does that mean replacing the operating system on every government computer? What does the migration usually involve,…
Can enabling XSLT in Edge suppress the upcoming deprecation warning?
Microsoft Edge has started displaying a prominent warning that XSLT support will be disabled in a future update. This is disrupting existing software that still depends on XSLT.…
Is Ansible Secure Enough for Managing Sensitive Servers?
I need to manage seven Ubuntu 22 servers running a MERN application in a load-balanced setup. The infrastructure will include a local machine acting as the Ansible control…
How do I handle being the only IT person supporting more than 1,000 employees?
I was hired into help desk with no formal IT education, certifications, or prior experience. After two years of learning on the job, I was promoted to sysadmin.…
How Much Does Earlier IT Experience Help When Moving Into Cybersecurity?
I'm trying to understand how experience carries over during an IT career, especially in a difficult job market. My long-term goal is cybersecurity engineering, and I'm considering a…
Are the September 2026 Windows Server out-of-band patches still causing problems?
Has anyone else continued seeing issues after installing the September 2026 out-of-band updates for Windows Server? In my environment, RDP still fails intermittently, some servers require two or…
Is Ansible Secure Enough for Managing Servers with Sensitive Data?
I manage seven Ubuntu 22.04 servers running a MERN application in a load-balanced setup. The servers handle sensitive data, and I'm considering using Ansible to automate administration and…
Are the September 2026 Windows Server out-of-band updates still causing problems?
Has anyone else continued seeing issues after installing the September 2026 out-of-band updates for Windows Server? In my environment, RDP is still unreliable, some servers require two or…
Will Windows Fall Back to DHCP DNS If a Static Resolver Goes Offline?
Our company is considering configuring workstations with static DNS servers that point to a cloud-based resolver where we can enforce security policies when the VPN is disconnected. If…
How can I use project-based learning without getting stuck in tutorial hell?
I've been studying system administration for about three months and feel comfortable with the fundamentals. I'd like to start learning by building projects, possibly beginning with a homelab…
Windows 11 machines suddenly developing massive Windows folders
Windows 11 bloat has always been a nuisance, but over the past few weeks I've found dozens of user machines with C:Windows folders approaching or exceeding 100 GB.…
How Can I Learn Through Projects Without Falling Into Tutorial Hell?
I've been studying system administration for about three months and have finished most of the foundational material. I feel ready to start learning by building real projects, possibly…
How can I turn strong Linux skills into a professional systems or DevOps career?
I've been fascinated by computers since I first encountered one, although I never formally pursued an IT career. Linux has remained a serious hobby, and I can now…
How should I handle a critical production update without vendor support?
My employer canceled the support contract for a mission-critical production system but still expects me to perform an update. Management says the change is straightforward and that the…