Become a Linux System Administrator: Government Contractor Career Path

Alright, so, let’s talk about how I ended up as a Linux system administrator working for a government contractor. It wasn’t exactly a straight path, but hey, whose career is, right?

It all started way back when I was just a kid, messing around with computers. I was always the one who figured out how to fix things when they went wrong, and that kind of problem-solving just clicked with me. Fast forward to high school, I took all the computer classes they offered, but nothing too serious.

Then I went to college. I decided to go for a *. Why? I don’t know, it seemed like a good idea. During that time, I still tinkered with computers, but not much with Linux, I was more into Windows. After I graduated, I realized that * wasn’t for me and I started thinking about getting into tech.

I started looking into what it took to become a Linux administrator. There are tons of resources out there, courses you can take, and all that jazz. I even found this guide that had info on what you need to know to get into Linux. It talked about starting from scratch and going all the way to becoming a pro. I didn’t want to spend more money on another formal degree, so I went the self-taught route. Lots of online tutorials, practice, and banging my head against the wall when things didn’t work. I learned about basic commands, then moved on to more complex stuff.

I built my own little lab at home, installing different Linux distributions, messing with virtual machines, I basically lived and breathed Linux for a while. I practiced setting up servers, configuring networks, and all that good stuff. And I gotta say, it was tough at times, but it was also really rewarding when I finally figured something out.

Then, I started looking for jobs. I applied everywhere, even those “classified government contract” ones. I saw a posting from a company, and it said they needed a primary Linux Systems Administrator for a classified project. Sounded cool, so I applied. It took a while and a lot of interviews, but I finally got the job.

Now, I’m working as a Linux system administrator, doing all sorts of cool stuff. Setting up and maintaining systems, troubleshooting issues, you know, the usual. This company I work for has all these different projects, so it’s never boring. I’m part of a team, and we’re always learning new things. It’s a challenge, for sure, but it’s also pretty darn cool to be working on projects that make a difference.

So, that’s my story. It wasn’t a straight line, but I got there. If you’re thinking about becoming a Linux system administrator, I say go for it. It’s a lot of work, but it’s definitely worth it in the end.

Here’s what a typical day looks like for me:

• Check system logs: First thing I do is check the logs to see if there are any errors or anything unusual going on.
• Monitor system performance: Keep an eye on CPU usage, memory, disk space, all that jazz. Make sure everything is running smoothly.
• User support: Help out users who are having problems. Sometimes it’s a simple fix, other times it’s a bit more complicated.
• Security patches: Gotta keep those systems up to date with the latest security patches. Can’t have any vulnerabilities, especially on a government project.
• Meetings: Yeah, we have meetings. Lots of them. Gotta coordinate with the team and all that.
• Project work: This is where the fun stuff happens. Setting up new servers, configuring networks, and working on whatever project we’re assigned to.

And that’s about it. It’s a pretty busy job, but I like it.