Today is System Administrator appreciation day. A day for all to commemorate the heroic efforts these modest workers make in maintaining the ‘structured flow’ of a company. This day of celebration was created by Ted Kekatos - a System Administrator. Considered depressed and lonely as most are in his job, Kekatos found hope in reading of a rare act of thanks for the work of a System Administrator, in which he was presented with flowers and fruit. The tough task this particular Administrator had to endure was to install the printers for the office – a classic example of one of the extra charges these kind people thanklessly do for us every day.
I took the time to interview one of our own Admins here at Moonfruit, Hiren Joshi, tired but accommodating after installing the latest coffee machine in the office. "It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it", he says, putting on a brave face considering his clearly crumbling interior.
I ask him if System Administrators are under-appreciated because no one really knows what they do. A simple answer would suffice, but Josh decided it better to use the Hindu Trimurti to describe the workings of a website office. The devout atheist described "the Designers as the Creators, System Administrators as the Preservers, and Marketing as the Destroyers." Open to debate is how I’ll leave this portrayal, but I felt it wise not to ask his opinion of the Support Team...
I get the impression Josh sees himself as a kind of maternal figure for the company - Florence Nightingale with a Leatherman and a phone flashlight. Yet he would describe himself instead in a Sherlock Holmes mould - problem solving to save the computer world of viruses and bugs.
But not being recognised for these gallant efforts clearly takes a toll on System Administrators. Josh tells me that he likes 'the odd drink’ after a hard days labour, as he trawls through the long list of his favourite Soho dives. The odd drink may be an understatement, considering his reliance on coffee to get him through the day. A medicine for a heavy night, or possibly something different – "Do you like your coffee Irish?" he casually asks.
But Josh takes solace, while drinking from his camera lens canister. He tells me that, as much as the job may appear boring, "System Administrators have a reputation for being adrenaline junkies." I ask him if it’s a case of working hard and playing harder, but he gives the impression that his work is more for medicinal purposes to control his hyperactive lifestyle. He boasts of his accomplishments like a young Brownie parading her sash of badges: "Skydiving, abseiling...", he counts with his fingers, but a significant mention should go to his pride in his fire safety certificate. "They give you a fluorescent jacket and everything", he exclaims - I was soon understanding why Kekatos felt the need for creating this day of appreciation.
So I conclude this piece with great thanks to System Administrators, for all the hard work they do in maintaining comfortable office environments. I now hope that people will not have to revert to a calendar to recognise and be thankful for the hard work they do. Oh, and I take milk and no sugar in my coffee - thanks, Josh!
By Tony - Our Lovely Intern!
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A quick quote from one of the Moonfruit Team
"Moonfruit's sysadmin team grease the wheels of the company with dedicated attention to vital server hardware, good quality coffee, and trips to the pub in equal measure. We wouldn't get by without all their hard work."
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