The Evolution Of The System Administrator

Today is System Administrator Appreciation Day. Join us in celebrating these unsung IT heroes and take a look at how much the role has changed through the years.

Network Computing Editors

July 31, 2015

1 Min Read

Technology moves fast, and nowhere is that fact more apparent than in the role of the system administrator. Back in the year 2000, the original System Administrator Appreciation Day was inspired by a Hewlett-Packard ad depicting a technician who had successfully installed a laser printer. Today's sysadmin has evolved, in many cases, into a jack-of-all-trades who troubleshoots complaints and ensures the overall IT environment is working up to snuff.

Research has shown that the most common duties of system administrators include troubleshooting a broad range of IT problems, monitoring system performance, maintaining network infrastructure, and system performance tuning. In today's businesses, that requires a deep understanding of virtual, mobile and cloud technologies -- and how they work together.

To celebrate SysAdmin Day 2015 and show appreciation for system administrators everywhere, the folks at SolarWinds asked members of the Thwack community for feedback on how things have changed and what lies in the future. The results are illustrated in the comic below. Let us know your reactions, and be sure to thank your sysadmin today.