Sysadmin Todo List

This is the new Sysadmin Todo List as of 05/27/2010. The previous list was moved to Old Sysadmin Todo List. This list list is incomplete, and needs updating.

Daily Tasks

1. Verify that all systems are running and all necessary services are functioning properly
   • Einstein: Make sure that LDAP and all e-mail services (dovecot, spamassassain, postfix, mailman) are running
   • Roentgen: Make sure website/MySQL are available
   • Jalapeno: Named and Cups
2. Check Splunk: click here if you're in the server room, or open localhost:8000 from Pumpkin
   • Check logs for errors, keep an eye out for other irregularities.
3. Check Cacti: http://roentgen.unh.edu/cacti
   • Verify that temperatures are acceptable.
   • Monitor other graphs/indicators for any unusual activity.
4. Verify that backups ran successfully overnight.
   • Check space on the current backup drive, add new drives as needed.

Weekly Tasks

1. Check physical interface connections
   • Verify that all IPMI and RAID interfaces are accessible
2. Check Areca RAID interfaces
   • Look for any problems with RAID volumes, check error logs.
   • Eventually we should have the Areca cards set up to send e-mail when errors occur so we don't need to do this.

Monthly Tasks

1. Clean HVAC filters in Server Room
2. Check S.M.A.R.T. information on all server hard drives
   • Make a record of any drives which are reporting errors or nearing failure.

Annual Tasks

This regular maintenance is not critical, but should be completed during semester breaks when we're likely to have more time to do them.

1. Server software upgrades
   • Kernel updates, or updates for any software related to critical services, should only be performed during breaks to minimize the inconvenience caused by reboots, or unexpected problems and downtime.
2. Run fsck on data volumes
3. Clean/Dust out systems
4. Rotate old disks out of RAID arrays