Confessions of a SysAdmin
Ell Marquez
Community Architect
- Technology Evangelist
-
Training Architect
- Docker Quickstart
- Essential Container Concepts
- OpenStack Mentorship Co-lead
- OpenStack Trainer
- Linux System Administrator
Ell Marquez
Professional noob
Allie Barnes
- OpenStack Engineer
- DevOps Engineer
- Linux SysAd
Cloud Operations Engineer
120-211-123
Ellopunk.com
Confession #1
I really wanted to feel accepted by the Linux Community. However, more often than not I felt I couldn't get past the front gate.
Confession #1
Gate Keeping Happens.
What's Linux?
Hardware
Kernel
Libraries/
Drivers
Apps
User Space
Operating system
Even Linus Torvalds doesn't completely understand the Linux kernel.
Lessons to be learned:
- Look at the big picture.
- All you need is a starting point.
- Gate Keeping happens
Confession #2
I've psyched myself into thinking Linux is a lot harder than it is several times, simply by using the wrong tools for the job, or aiming above my skillset.
TL;DR Linux doesn't have to be hard to use.
rEal LinUx aDmIns uSe ArCH
Picking a Linux Distribution
What are you using Linux for?
- Workload
- Features
- Skillset
Keep Learning!
BYOL, Arch, etc.
use VMs! (Kali, etc.)
#OSChallenge with Ell
- github: Ellopunk/OSchallenge
Lessons to be learned:
- Use the right distro for what you need - work smarter, not harder!
- Don't lock yourself into one distro, keep learning!
Confession #3
When I started as a sysadmin, I was told to use all the tools I had available to me. However, when using the GUI, I was told I wasn't a real admin. I don't understand why that tool is not okay to use.
Tar vs "open here"
Button click?
user@localhost:~# tar -xzvf mentoring-101.tar.gz
CLI equivalent example:
nmcli vs network manager
Lessons to be learned:
- Learn your tools - again, work smarter, not harder!
- Learn appropriate use cases.
Confession #4
Technology sucks sometimes. There are plenty of days when I feel discouraged and want to throw my computer out of a window... and, that's okay.
War Story Time!
Confession #4b
When things didn't work as planned, I blamed my self even though most of the time the issues were limitations in the OS, not my abilities.
Ell's War Story
Lessons to be learned:
- It's okay to try new distros.
- In fact I would encourage it.
- Join #OSChallenge.
Confession #5
I'm scared to admit when I don't know something I feel like my peers would expect me to know, and I psych myself out of asking for help because of this.
It's okay not to know.
Docs!
Confession #5a
Sometimes you really do need to RTFM.
Lessons to be learned
- Google is your friend.
- Documentation is your friend.
- Write the Docs!
Confession #6
I feel like my certifications are what gets my resume/profiles looked at, sometimes. But, it's only a starting point. Do I know what I'm talking about past the exam?
Confession #6
Certifications are only a starting point
Confession #6a
Attending a boot camp did not make me a command line ninja.
Confession #6b
Neither of us have a CS degree.
Lessons to be learned:
- Nothing beats hands on experience.
- Your knowledge and understanding defines you, as well as how you pass that knowledge down.
Confession #7
I used Mac OSX to do Linux SysAd work for several years. And I didn't hate it.
...and I couldn't tell you how to use Windows to save my life :)
Confession #7
*Side note
Money doesn't have to be an obstacle
How do I get started?
- Choose Linux
- Write an Ansible playbook (or some automation)
- Learn a scripting language (even if it's just Bash!)
How about us grey beards?
- fine, you can use Arch. 🙄
- but keep learning!
- BYOL
- #OSChallenge
- Give back to the community, spread the knowledge.
wanna do InfoSec?
Play CTFs!
GirlsTakingOver
Cult of the Party Parrot
Open To All CTF
Final Lesson
You ARE going to break some Shirt!
Allie Barnes
@ac1dgoddess
Ell Marquez
@ell_o_punk
ellopunk.com
Questions?
