Systems Administrator Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Who is a systems administrator on a PC? I am trying to install realplayer for windows, and after I'm asked if it's ok to run, and I say ok. I get a restriction notification stating not systems administrator. If I am not, who is?

Answer: Whoever set the PC up in the first place (?). Go to Start/Control Panel?User Accounts. Select your account and see if it says Administrator. If not, try changing it to be an Administrator. If that doesn't work, reboot the pc and as soon as it goes past the post (black screen before the windows screen) push F8 and keep pushing it till it brings up a dos like screen. Select safe mode and then log in as the admin. It might require you to know the password that was out in when it was first installed.

Question: How much does an independent Systems Administrator Consultant charge? I have been working as a systems admin supporting windows, citrix, cisco, exchange, goldmine, dockmaster, client machines, etc. I have almost ten years of professional IT experience with a few technology certifications to back it up. How much could I charge reasonably per hour for my services as an independent consultant? What's the going rate (southeast US if that makes a difference)? Thanks.

Answer: I charge up to $350/hr depending on what is being done. Of course, I only see a portion of that. Mostly penetration testing and network/server deployments. Business is good. Just as general sysadmin stuff, you will not have a large amount of available work, and will probably make anywhere from $15-30/hr depending on who does your contracting. If you are solo, you could charge maybe $125/hr, but you will not get enough work to make it worthwhile. From your description, I see very little to qualify you as a serious IT professional. You could not even capitalize the company names you listed.

Question: We have a systems administrator who blocks websites, how can i by pass this? We have a systems administrator who blocks certain websites, how can i by pass this?

Answer: If this is a corporate or business network you can do what has been suggested and you can be reprimanded, lose your job, be prosecuted for theft (using the company network is the same as stealing paper, computers or petty cash). If you read your employment agreement then your access to the internet is not a right and can be monitored and restricted at the companies discretion.

Question: How much does the average Systems Administrator Consultant Charge? I have been working as a systems admin supporting windows, citrix, cisco, exchange, goldmine, dockmaster, client machines, etc. I have almost ten years of professional IT experience with a few technology certifications to back it up. How much could I charge reasonably per hour for my services as an independent consultant? What's the going rate (southeast US if that makes a difference)? Thanks.

Answer: I am not exactly certain. The rates do vary quite a bit. I think I can give you a range that is in the ball park maybe. From $35.00 to $80.00 an hour. If it involve only a few hours work at a location a week, a high rate is called for. If it involves a pretty steady 8 hr per day 5 days a week assignment over 6 months to a year, a lower rate might be called for.

Question: How do I program on systems without administrator access or installation authorization? I am very familiar with programming in Microsoft Visual Basic, Basic, Turbo Pascal, Excel, Matlab, Maple, Mathcad, etc, but I have two problems: 1) I need to program on Windows and Unix systems without administrator priviledges and without paying much for the compiler. I own all of the programs above, but I don't want to get anyone in trouble by installing them on someone else's computer. I want to program with a high level language for file i/o, math with large matrices, and graphical representations. What should I do? I've thought of using Basic in a Dos session, but I prefer a higher level language if possible and I don't know how it interacts with Windows or Unix, or if it is even enabled. Any free programming and compiling programs which don't register with the OS and also "fly below their radars?"

Answer: You could program in Object Pascal, using the GNU Pascal compiler (use MingW+GNU Pascal on Windows). For an IDE, on Windows, use Dev-Pascal, if nothing else looks appealing. On Unix, use VIM ;) If you are willing to learn/use C++, learn the Qt library in combination with 'make'. Use MingW to run make on Windows.

Question: We have a systems administrator who blocks certain websites, how can i by pass this? I Work in a busy enviroment where now our system administrator blocks some sites like rapid share u can not download. What should i do?

Answer: Ask him ! Also it doesnt look to busy if you have time to download ...

Question: What do i do when the systems administrator blocks some links? After entering the site ,it shows that there is an error on the requested page.

Answer: use a proxy. www.kproxy.com www.pagemode.net these are just two there are millions and only one or two work. use a remote access program if you have a home computer. www.logmein.com or open notepad and type command.com then click the X to close. it asks you if you want to xave hit yes. type PC.bat and enter re-open and a black window will pop-up. type ping (space) and the web address and hit enter. if numbers shows up type that code in the browser and open it there should be no problems then. if it is blocked this will work. if it is just errors then that is because the computer can't load it and there is nothing even the Admin can do ether.

Question: What is the best way to become a network and computer systems administrator within a school district.? Would a college diploma or technical certification be better. I am in county college now and wish to go to a tech school in the coming fall because i feel it will do me more justice.

Answer: If you plan to work in education, it would be better to get BOTH the college diploma and the certs. Not having a college diploma will always be holding you back. You are consigning yourself to a lower echelon if you don't do college. I guess it depends what you want.

Question: What is the best path to take to become an IT Technician or Network Systems Administrator? I am enthusiastic and motivated to get into the Information Technology field. I currently do not work in the IT industry, but I am training myself to get my A+ Certification and Network + Certifications. Would I be able to find a job with just these certifications alone? I do not have alot of time right now to go back to school (new baby, new wife, new house).

Answer: They'll certainly help, but beware, MANY companies are really only looking for staff with experience, and here's the dilema (been there know it) HOW do you get experience without a job, and you can't get the job without experience. Ideal situation, find a college that offers training options that include a work placement.

Question: I want to take a Information Systems Administrator course. Good idea or bad? Want to find who is looking Information Systems Administrators? Average Pay, Hours, turn-over, pros and cons. Thanks!

Answer: It all depends on what your trying to do with the information you take from the course. Are you trying to get a degree in something? Are you trying to get a certificate? Some kind of rating? That is a tough question to answer with the limited information you have provided.