System administrator: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

A system administrator describes someone responsible for running, or running some aspect of, a computer system.

The precise meaning varies. Organisations with very large or complex computer systems typically divide up computer staff according to specialism, in which case a system administrator ("sysadmin") is someone responsible for the maintenance of the existing computer system, and who is specifically not :

• Technical Support
• DBA
• Application Analyst
• Programmer
• Network Specialist
• System Architect

In smaller organisations, not all of these specialisms exist separately, and the term "system administrator" is used in a much more generic way - they are the people who know how the computer system works and can respond when something fails.

A system administrator's work will almost always include:

• performing backups
• applying any operating system updates, and configuration changes
• installing and configuring any new hardware/software
• adding/deleting/modifying user account information, resetting passwords, etc.
• answering technical queries
• responsibility for security
• responsibility for documenting the configuration of the system.
• troubleshooting any reported problems.

But may (particularly in smaller organisations) include much of the job description given in the separate articles listed above.

See also: BOFH, PFY, SAGE (organization), System Administrator Appreciation Day.