You should know that businesses, libraries, schools, small, and even large corporations rely heavily on computer networks for the running of their day-to-day activities. It makes sense, in a world that is quickly becoming a global village to aspire for efficiency. This is where network administration comes in.
In the midst of all these operations, there must be someone or even a group of people who are held accountable for the administration of these networks. The perfect word that can be used for this is network administrators. These very important people are the brains responsible for keeping the technology behind networks updated and ensuring that the networks run smoothly. This type of job is well-suited, especially for individuals who are technically inclined.
However, it is important to realize that network administrators are, more often than not, critically skilled, and possess a combination of interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, and technical skills. As a network administrator, you will not only interact with these machines but also with people, and, therefore, you need to have an understanding of the machines through technical and analytical skills and must be armed with interpersonal skills to maintain the human touch. It is a delicate play, but a lot of people have the right skills to help them get fully involved in network administration even as a career.
At this point, you may be wondering what the duties of network administrators are. We outline them below:
- Installation of hardware, including network printers, wireless access points, and video conferencing systems in an organization
- Deployment of upgrades and also enterprise applications
- Monitoring the network traffic of an organization to establish any suspicious activities and performance bottlenecks. Suspicious activities in such a case could include inappropriate network usage among employees and security breaches.
- Organizing, planning, and management of other administrators, especially as an administrator begins to climb higher up the career ladder
- Training the employees of an organization on the basics of networking and how they can handle user support calls
- Management of servers, mobile, and desktop equipment within the organization
- In some instances, network administrators may work hand in hand with network architects in the designing and analysis of network models
- Supervision of computer support specialists
From the duties outlined above, it is clear to see why there is a need for the combination of technical and interpersonal skills when undertaking network administration duties. They require a deep knowledge of the technical world, and they should be able to quickly learn the details of server software and new networking packages. The role of network administrators is not always clear-cut, especially in small companies. In such settings, it is possible to find that the duties of the network administrator are pegged to those of network engineers. Also, sometimes, the terms system administrator and network administrator are used interchangeably as a result of related job roles in the two positions.
The responsibilities of network administrators fall within the four areas outlined below:
Designing the network
Typically, this is the first phase of the life cycle of the network. While this is the initial phase of network administration, it is usually not carried out by new network administrators, as it can be a daunting task. This task will often involve making decisions on a variety of issues, for example, which network type best suits a given organization. In many large organizations, there is usually a senior network architect, basically a highly experienced network administrator that is familiar with the software and hardware of a network that will make decisions during the design phase of network administration. There are many factors involved in network design.
Setting up the network
This is the step that comes after the initial design phase of network administration. This phase involves not just setting up but the configuration of the network as well. If you are a network administrator, this is where you install any hardware that makes up the network’s physical parts and configures databases, routers, hosts, and servers for network configuration. This is a part played quite well by network administrators as the tasks within this phase are major responsibilities associated with the role of network administration. As such, as a network administrator in an organization, you should expect to perform these tasks unless the organization you work with is sufficiently large and with a system already in place.
Maintenance of the network
After design and installation are done, the network must be maintained. There are many tasks that are involved in maintenance, including the addition of new host machines to the network in question, administration of network services, such as name services and electronic mail, and network security. Also, another duty is troubleshooting problems within the network. These responsibilities constitute the bulk of duties performed by a network administrator in an organization.
Expansion of the network
Sometimes, there is a need to expand existing networks. Interestingly, the more a network stays in place and functions efficiently, the higher the probability that an organization will need to expand its network’s services and features. At the early stages, it is possible to expand the network by expanding network services and adding new hosts. However, over time, a network expands so much that further expansion will yield inefficient results. This is when the fourth phase of network administration comes into play.
There are many different options available for this type of expansion, including the possibility of setting up a new network, then connecting it to the already existing network via a router, hence creating an internetwork. Also, it can involve configuring the machines in the office or even homes to remote networks thus enabling machines to connect to the network over social lines. Also, it may involve connecting the network to the internet so that those within it can retrieve information from the other systems, even when they are in different parts of the world. Lastly, a configuration can be done by configuring UUCP communications such that users can exchange files and emails through remote machines.
Principles of Network Administration
Administration of a network is done to ensure that it is under control in terms of resources and how they are utilized within the network. To maintain a network, there are principles that have to be followed and practiced. Below is an analysis of these principles:
Firewall rules
A firewall ensures the protection of an individual against threats within the computer network because it monitors all the traffic that comes in and goes out of the network, making a decision whether to permit or refuse it based on some set safety procedures. Firewalls have been the most popular and widely used line of defense in networking. They work by creating a barrier between untrusted outside sources, for example, the internet and internal networks that are trustworthy. Firewalls come as software, hardware, or both. There are various types of firewalls, including proxy, stateful inspection, unified threat management, next-generation, and threat-focused next-generation firewalls, etc.
VLAN management
The logical interface of a VLAN is known as the switched virtual interface. This interface is crucial in helping share resources and communication between layer three switches so that there can be inter-VLAN communication. To create an SVI, you will initially have to create Layer 2 VLAN on a switch, after which you will assign an IP address on the Layer 3 VLAN interface. This Layer 3 will have an IP address just like physical routers. The difference, in this case, is that the third layer, in this case, is virtual. So, clients connected to the VLAN use the SVI interface as their gateway.
Secure route configuration
To ensure a proper configuration of the router, there are several steps taken. For instance, there must be a change in the default username in the website of the router to ensure that the account information cannot be hacked. The SSID has to be changed and the MAC or physical address activated and the SSID broadcast feature disabled. Also, static IP addresses must be assigned, and the option for auto-connecting to Wi-Fi networks automatically must be disabled. Statistic IP addresses are then assigned to all devices in the network. Firewalls are also enabled to ensure security.
Access control lists
Access control lists are typically catalogs of access control entries. Each access control entry identifies a specific trustee and specifies what rights are allowed and even denied for that specific trustee. There are basically two types of trustees, DACL and SACL. DACL is a discretionary access control list that identifies every trustee that is allowed or denied access to an object. When a procedure, therefore, attempts to gain admittance to a securable entity, the DACL comes into play, and the systems will scan the ACE to determine whether it should be granted permission or not. SACL is also known as the system access control list. It works by authorizing administrators who log on to try and reach a securable object. The log attempts of different administrators are itemized by every ACE, and therefore, a record in the security event log is generated.
Home Network Administration
Home network administration is just the same as professional network administration. As such, the duties of a network administrator in the workplace reflect what can be done in the home setting; the only difference is that it is done on a smaller scale. Some of the activities taken by home network administrators include:
- setting up broadband features with advanced features, such as QoS and wireless security keys · troubleshooting performance issues and any outages that come within the network
- training family members on the technical details of network usage and network devices
- building a network backup system for the home
It is vital to realize that home networking cannot act as a substitute when it comes to network administration. However, when doing network administration in the home, you get a snippet of what network administration is all about. This educational value increases when you use your home networking expertise to help neighbors and friends with their network connection. For other people, network administration is a hobby that they love to undertake.
Building a Career in Network Administration
Computer networking is an attractive career that many have set their eyes on. It became a field of interest in the early 2000s and has not gone down the ladder of popularity since. The reason why computer networking continues to be popular is that there is a shortage of professionals that can take up jobs in the field, and yet, it can be an easy way for a person in the field to land a relatively lucrative position and scale-up in a fast-growing company. Whatever side of the debate you lie on, there are some things you should know about beginning a career in networking, expanding. Also, we outline some of the things you will need to be keen on when hunting for a job in this field. Luckily, these tips apply for other jobs in technical careers as well.
Job Titles in Networking
There are several positions when it comes to professional computer networking, and each of them comes with a variation in salaries and a high potential for long-term careers. The only disadvantage with this field is that job titles in networking can always be a source of confusion and not just for beginners but experienced people as well. There may be bombastic or bland titles that may fail to capture the essence of the actual work a professional may need to carry out in the field. There are some job titles that should be clearly spelled out as is done below:
Network administrator
It is only fair, to begin with, that a large chunk of the discussion in the above has been focused on network administration. Basically, the job of a network administrator entails managing and configuring WANs and LANs.
Network engineer
A network engineer is also called a systems engineer. The job role primarily focuses on system upgrades and evaluation of vendor products. Also, a systems engineer is always responsible for security testing.
Network technician
Sometimes, network technicians are referred to as service technicians. The job, in this case, tends to give more focus on setting up, troubleshooting, and repairing both software and hardware products. It is not uncommon to find network technicians traveling to remote locations so they can upgrade fields and offer support as needed.
Network analyst
A network analyst is also known as a network programmer. Their duties revolve around writing software scripts and programs that are useful in network analysis. Network analysis, in this case, involves monitoring of utilities and diagnostics. They also must evaluate third party products and integrate these products and software technologies into the already existing network environment. Conversely, they can easily build new network environments as well.
Network systems manager
A network systems manager can also be called an information systems manager. Their main duties revolve around supervision of the work of network administrators, technicians, engineers, and programmers. They have a special focus on longer-range planning and make strategy considerations.
It is vital to realize that there are no uniform salaries in networking; in fact, salaries may vary, depending on different factors. These factors include which organization is in question, the market conditions within the locality, and the skill level and experience of the person being hired. This is why it is important to get into networking with a straight face and realistic expectations. Rarely will you find it a smooth walk in the park, but when you have the passion and determination for the job, you will find that your movement upward is a simple task. Advancement up the career ladder will often carry with it more lucrative opportunities when it comes to networking. Read on for more about gaining experience in networking.
Gaining Experience With Networking
Well, getting a job in networking can be quite an arduous task. This is because most employers are always seeking employees with experience, but where are you supposed to gain experience when you are fresh out of college? It is not uncommon to hear job seekers lamenting about this reality, and many people complain that the best and only way to gain experience is through getting hired. These sentiments may be true, despite the many promises of a lucrative job in the IT industry. The conditions are increasingly becoming harder and landing an entry-level position in networking can be difficult. However, you can still gain experience in other ways, as will be discussed in the next paragraphs. With these tips, you can have better chances of getting a good job and faster.
One great tip for gaining experience in networking is to pursue a help desk or programming internship full time in the summer months. Alternatively, you can take up a work-study job in these fields as they will work equally well. Internships are not assuring of the best pay, but the work could turn out to be more interesting or uninteresting for some. If the job is not interesting, there is a likelihood that an individual will not finish a substantial project during the limited time they have there.
However, there is a clear advantage for you should you manage to complete your work-study or internship. Besides, you will gain hands-on experience, and you will be adequately trained, so you are ready for the market. With you being able to obtain and work well in these jobs, you demonstrate to your future and potential employers that you have an interest in the networking role which you are currently applying for, & that is exactly what they want to see when hiring.
Another useful tip that can help you to gain experience is to self-study. Being handy can pay, albeit in different ways. One thing for sure, however, is that being hands-on can work in your favor as the skills you have can be useful and powerful when you demonstrate something to a potential employer. For instance, you may have just completed a class project recently. Do not stop there, extend the project in some way that will show that you can think out of the box, and show your abilities. You can also create a personal project that you have not been tasked with and complete it. A good way to start would be, for example, to experiment with network administration tools.
Also, above, we mentioned something about home computer networking. This can be quite a useful way to gain experience. You can start with setting up the networks of friends and family and acting as an administrator for the same, for free. While this may not be the best idea for earning income, it will provide you with a basic understanding of how networks run. Should you find a job in business, however, remember that business computer networking is more complex. Therefore, you should expect that there is a different level of complexity and that you will use different technologies than you did in the home environment.
Also, the field of networking is vast and can be overwhelming for many people who may just be starting out. Instead of trying to eat more than you can chew by mastering every language and trying to keep up with every trend, make your life easier. Simply focus on the basic technologies that will be most important as you enter into the market. Over time, you will realize that you keep learning and keeping up if indeed, your interest is in the computer networking industry. Some core technologies that you can build expertise in include TCP/ IP, as this will form a foundation for you to learn other specialized new ones in later life.
Education and Experience
As a person that is interested in venturing into networking, you may wonder the value that education holds when placed against the value of experience. As you may have noticed by now, a lot of employers seek out employees who have completed a four-year degree in university. This may not make sense in some instances, but it is important because they use this as a gauge for your commitment to the industry and field at large.
The technology utilized in networking is not constant, and it keeps changing every other day. This is why employers find it important to know that you possess current information when it comes to networking and that you are willing to learn and adapt in the future as technology continues to change. Certifications in networking help prove that you have the basic knowledge base, but college degrees are the real thing; they demonstrate your general ability to learn.
Experience is also important because it demonstrates that you have skills that are needed for the workplace. The more experience you have in the field, the better because it tends to put you in a better position to get a job. However, nothing beats the combination of experience and education when it comes to getting into networking as a career. This is because when you have both experience and education, it sets you apart from individuals who have one of each.
Representation of the Skills and Abilities
We discussed above that to get into network administration, a person should have a great combination of technical and interpersonal skills. we need to emphasize that interpersonal skills are important, and yet often, they are underrated. Also, you need to understand how to explain and exchange information pertaining to the technical aspects of networking. You will most likely be working in a team and not alone and having the ability to explain yourself verbally and in writing, both email and formal, you have the advantage of getting the chance to enjoy communicating with other networking professionals throughout your life as you seek to build your career.
Before even going further about the importance of communication skills at the networking workplace, let us start with the initial stages. You will definitely need good communication skills during an interview. Your ability to articulate yourself in the work environment is important, and the interviewers will be looking for possible clues into how well you can be understood within the networking environment as you work in a team.
Therefore, understand the jargon used in such places and learn to relax when making conversation about such technical subjects. This is not something that will simply come to you in one day, but over time and with practice, you can learn so much that you can answer impromptu questions when asked. You can learn to articulate yourself through many tactics. For instance, you can visit local job fairs and discuss professional subjects with the people you will find there and with your friends. You will find that you gain indispensable knowledge on these subjects.
There are some tips that have been outlined above that may not work for people who are already in the field of networking. However, they can be used by those who aspire to venture into fields related to networking. Furthermore, there are tips that can be used no matter where you are in your career, for instance, visiting job fairs to help polish your skills. We hope that the information given can be of help to you, even in the slightest of ways.
