What essential tools do you use in your daily work as a sysadmin

Posted by petshell@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 24 comments

Hi all! I've been working as a sysadmin for several years and I'm reviewing my daily workflow to see what I can improve.

I use Obsidian for documentation and journaling, which has been incredibly useful.

I'd like to hear what tools other sysadmins consider essential, whether it's for automation, monitoring, troubleshooting, documentation, or general productivity.

Which tools have had the biggest impact on your day?

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purplemonkeymad@reddit

My browser tabs. I might need that page at any point/I'm going to get around to it any time now.

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purplemonkeymad@reddit

You know you are really important admin when you don't need one any more.

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UserSPD@reddit

ManageLM, relatively new allows you to manage Linux & Windows servers using natural language via a private LLM. Here is the link if you want to know more: https://managelm.com/

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UserSPD@reddit

I'm involved in the project! The heavy lifting is left to our sysadmins who use it to simplifiy their workflow.

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StartAccomplished256@reddit

And what tasks do you delegate to that tool?

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UserSPD@reddit

Just about anything you can think of when managing Linux & Windows servers. There are a few snapshots you could take a look at: https://managelm.com/#preview

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nme_@reddit

One day old account shilling for a product. lol

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petshell@reddit (OP)

I am new here, but that’s not my intention!

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michivideos@reddit

PDQ has to be the tool I use the most.

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michivideos@reddit

I have like 7 different notepad that aren't worth saving but also cannot close in order to not lose it.

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Twinsen343@reddit

Fleshlight to help relax between calls

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dizzygherkin@reddit

Coffee, pure rage, todo, notepad ++, wireless headset, comfortable office chair

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thatguyyoudontget@reddit

MS To Do - cant remember shit, so need this to remember.

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javajo91@reddit

Ha! I agree. I use old-school notebooks. One for my projects and one for day-to-day to-dos. And a pencil. I love the feeling of satisfaction crossing stuff out after I’m done.

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thatguyyoudontget@reddit

haha...us mate, us! Goldfish memory for a reason 😅

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bukkithedd@reddit

Teflonbrains unite! If we remember to 😂

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SNMP, a dedicated syslog server, and configuring everything that supports it for SMTP email alerting on things like iDRAC/iLO, printers, UPS units, firewalls, etc, will make you look like a god damned clairvoyant genius.

Using 'shutdown /r /f /t 0' in a command prompt in front of users when something blows up in their face nets you beaucoup bonus points, as well.

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funkyferdy@reddit

A working coffee machine with some kind of failover if not.