Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!uunet!sci34hub!gary
From: gary@sci34hub.UUCP (Gary Heston)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.large
Subject: Re: Difference between "operator" and "system administrator"?
Message-ID: <790@sci34hub.UUCP>
Date: 30 Oct 90 20:51:47 GMT
References: <680@dynasys.UUCP>
Reply-To: gary@sci34hub.sci.com (Gary Heston)
Organization: SCI Technology, Inc., Huntsville, Al.
Lines: 36

In article <680@dynasys.UUCP> jessea@dynasys.UUCP (Jesse W. Asher) writes:
>A local company is going unix in a big way and one of the MIS Dept. 
>managers posed a question I was unable to answer.  They have AS400's and
>a couple of VAXs for which they have "operators".  The question was:  What
>is the difference between a system administrator and an operator?  They are
>trying to figure out the definition of system administrator in relation
>to what an operator does.  Can anyone give me an idea of how to answer this
>question?  I'm not familiar with what an "operator" does, so I couldn't
>answer the question.  Any suggestions would be welcome.

An operator has duties on the level of tape changing, vacuuming out
printers, changing printer ribbons, refilling paper, and responding
to minor error messages and console instructions (when to change tapes
or disc packs). Operators generally do not install software, or have 
more than cursory power when logged on, i.e., they're not root. They
don't make major configuration changes (sometimes, not even minor ones),
the manufacturers' service rep actually fixes things. In the case of 
VAXs, some operations people do get to the point of installing packages
and boards, but not AS400s. In those types of environments, software
config and installation is generally handled by systems analysts.

A UNIX sysadmin is a cross between an operator, service rep, and
systems analyst. Sysadmins generally have lots of power thru their
logins (root, for example) and have a much deeper involvement with
how the machine works, configuring it, and troubleshooting it.

When a UNIX machine print spooler clogs, a sysadmin tracks down
the problem and fixes it.

When an AS400 stops printing, the operator calls IBM.

-- 
Gary Heston System Mismanager and technoflunky uunet!sci34hub!gary or
My opinions, not theirs.  SCI Systems, Inc.     gary@sci34hub.sci.com
  The sysadmin sees all, knows all, and doesn't tell the boss who's
  updating their resumes....  This .sig Copyright G. L. Heston, 1990