This is the definitive guide for today's system and network administrators. It covers the entire craft of system/network administration: today's best techniques, practices, and principles, as well as rarely discussed -- but critical -- career and management issues. Thomas Limoncelli and Christine Hogan show how to think like a sysadmin, discussing the approaches and processes that experienced system and network administrators always use, but hardly ever document. Through real-world examples the authors present both the philosophy and practical day-to-day techniques of system administration, offering guidance that will help system and network administrators regardless of the platforms and environments they are responsible for. Early sections blend philosophy and practice, while the final section introduces specific techniques and policies that can supercharge the effectiveness of any system or network administrator. For all system and network administrators, and for the managers who supervise and train them.