Ask YC: How do you evaluate a good sys admin?

#1

Post by justin » Thu, Apr 17, 2008, 1:32 AM UTC

Justin.tv is looking to hire a great sys admin, but we lack experience in evaluating them. Any advice from the masses?

Re: Ask YC: How do you evaluate a good sys admin?

#2

Post by cperciva » Thu, Apr 17, 2008, 2:03 AM UTC

I'd say that sysadmining is 99% about experience -- if you've encountered a problem before, you'll be much better at fixing it than if you haven't, no matter how good your knowledge of the underlying codebase is.

In that vein, I'd say that the best way to evaluate a sysadmin is to ask (a) what sysadmin experience he has, and (b) what sort of problems he has encountered which he has needed to resolve.

Re: Ask YC: How do you evaluate a good sys admin?

#3

Post by astrec » Thu, Apr 17, 2008, 2:06 AM UTC

You're looking for a problem solver with an unflappable, even temperament. Ask them to bring their notebook, or show you their personal wiki - without exception the best sys admins I've ever met have meticulous notes detailing solutions to fringe problems, running sheets for curly recoveries, and other assorted arcana.

Re: Ask YC: How do you evaluate a good sys admin?

#4

Post by ubudesign » Thu, Apr 17, 2008, 2:44 AM UTC

if he/she edits all config files by hand instead of using some tool AND he can write shell scripts AND he knows how to do builds AND has experince with setup of any app server...