How do you learn new System Administration Tools?

There's always the right tool for the right job. Rather than following trends or going through online tutorials just for the sake of doing them, focus on a problem and choose the right tool you need to solve it. Try to address it with the tools you know, identify their shortcomings, look for better ones, and master them. And then rinse and repeat. Eventually, "muscle memory" will kick in and you'll suddenly realize you are an expert.

For the tool part of a System administrator, It must be Powershell to automate everything. Powershell and Bash scripting help you not only in an on-prem or cloud environment, but also in Exchange and intune and all M365 Admin centre work automation by using a module.

to acquire proficiency in new System Administration Tools by engaging in online courses, extensively reading documentation, and reinforcing self skills through hands-on practice in dedicated test environments.

?? Learning new System Admin Tools: ?? Research and identify tools. ?? Set up a test environment. ?? Collaborate with peers. ?? Watch tutorials for hands-on learning. ?? Practice in real-world scenarios. ?? Take notes for reference. ?? Stay updated with documentation & forums.

There are many players in this space. Know your use cases and needed features, look at what is an enterprise standard for those needs. Make sure you keep in kind 3rd party bolt-on cost vs. integrated tools. Once you've selected a product, set up a home lab and spend time running through/figuring out scenarios. In the systems management space, there is no substitute for "I've done this before". Have fun!

To prevent biases and ensure a comprehensive understanding, it's advisable to explore the same processes and technologies from multiple sources, authored by different individuals. This approach helps fill potential gaps in your knowledge. Repetitive learning can be effective for memorization, but it's also helpful to condense and summarize information, correcting any misconceptions along the way. Keep in mind that the IT landscape is constantly evolving, and what was effective in the past may no longer be relevant or useful today. Building your own Lab either with VirtualBox or GNS3, is always a must to help you practice with new technology.

One of the best ways to learn to use a new tool is to test the tool in virtual environments and play with it for some time The next step is to try using the tool in a real project and you should learn the tips and tricks of the tool

Selecting the right resources is essential to effectively master any new tool. I recommend starting with the official documentation and tutorials provided by the tool's creators for the most accurate and comprehensive information. Then supplement this with interactive learning platforms and join online forums and communities to ask questions. If you prefer reading, invest in books or eBooks for structured learning paths. Finally, attend webinars or online conferences to learn from industry experts. There are many resources available, and I believe a good combination of reading and watching can be very effective. So make sure you choose the resources that work best for you to help you master new system administration tools efficiently.

By methodically evaluating your needs and the available options, you can choose systems administration tools that align with your environment’s specific requirements, enhancing operational efficiency and security in your networked environments. Make sure to evaluate available tools with trial versions before committing, then you can make sure you get the right tool for the job at hand.

In the early part of my career, security was fairly lax. We forced our users to change their passwords every year. Security in those days was not a hot item and most of the people that I worked with were far more cavalier. Today, you're irresponsible if you're not behaving in a manner that might have seemed paranoid 10 years ago. Whatever you do, don't stop learning. Computer skills get old fast and that isn't going to change any time soon. Spend some time everyday learning something new and get your hands on some tools that might lead to the next phase in your career. Put on your seatbelt, you probably can't begin to imagine how the field is going to look in another 30 years.

This is the enjoyable part: always test on non-production systems. You have access to cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, GCP, VMware, or VirtualBox, which enable you to set up an entire infrastructure for testing. You can experiment with Microsoft AD, Exchange, Linux, and various other tools right from your laptop or desktop. Even entire network topologies with GNS3, a wonderful tool for any Network Engineer. Having a lab at home or at work is highly recommended. Cloud platforms offer trial modes for testing their services. Be cautious of costs and ensure you delete or shut down resources after your studies. Sharing your newfound knowledge to assist others can be highly beneficial and empowering for both you and others.

I've been fortunate enough to be given the flexibility to evaluate as many platforms as necessary and it begins with my "Sandbox Environment." For self-development purposes, I've always tried to stay on the cutting edge, I make sure to carve out a few hours a week to assess new products and how they would fit in our environment with the least resistance.

This phase is by far the most critical piece of the puzzle. Over the years, the importance of establishing my environment fully to provide everything I need within a self-contained, easily re-deployable environment has proven itself to be critical, time and time again. Depending on the scenario, virtualized containers can be fantastically useful. They allow you to create and destroy consistent test environments quickly, and by having a destructible environment to apply what you've learned within, you can begin to let loose and explore the tool for all of its capabilities without the kid gloves.

Arbitrarily finding ways to apply arbitrary knowledge: no thanks, it's next to impossible. (You graduated a computer science school, couldn't find a job for 5 years, went into construction instead. "Apply what you learned": a hollow advice, maybe?) Instead: go the other way around. Choose a problem or a business need, learn what needs to be learned to solve it.

Almost all usage cases for the new system administration toll may be tried and tested in non-production environments; at times it may not even possible. This practice will bring the environment specific experience to the surface for the administration teams to learn from, enhance usage and keep trying new things with the tool.

If you're learning to work with a tool that is to become a core element of your daily workflow, it's always a good idea to keep your finger on the pulse. Track down some relevant communities and development sites that cater to your tool or provide relevant updates on surrounding developments. Don't skip those update notes. By staying on top of each new update release, you will become more in sync with what is possible within your tool of choice, and you'll be the first to adopt the latest and greatest components. Taking it a step further, you can participate in any bug submission or feature request boards that may exist, allowing you to play an active role in the direction of the tool's development.

Hey if you learned how a certain button works, and that set you for life with a decent salary - stop right there. Learn nothing more. :) (That's the story of maybe 80% of techies? At least in my experience.) Curiosity is rarely an acquired skill, and is often only encouraged on paper in your average enterprise. I've been admonished more than once for "digging" and "hunting for answers". Get too curious - and you may get fired. So if you're curious, learning comes naturally to you - and that's the best way to learn - out of curiosity and desire to solve problems. Yet be careful with getting too curious. (You know what happened to some cats...)

We can't learn everything by ourselves, we can certainly try, but it's not the same. Feedback, shadowing, coaching, pairing, and collaborative work are just a few ways to accelerate your expertise. Senior Administrators can share valuable insights, warn you about potential pitfalls, and provide guidance based on their past experiences. Even to validate or not your assumptions. Documentation is crucial, but researching how others have tackled challenges similar to yours is often the best way to find solutions. As they say, 'sharing is caring,' and learning is most effective when done together with others.

Copying (someone else's awesome ways to solve problems) is one of the fastest, most effective ways to learn. Call it mentorship, shadowing, biomimicry, what not - if you can find someone to help you - that's just awesome. Lucky you. :)

Enjoying learning is essential in virtually all roles, including System Administration. Be proactive and be willing to teach others about your new findings. This field provides opportunities to gain experience with a wide range of platforms. Understanding how various systems interact and depend on each other is crucial. It not only aids in comprehending your architecture but also simplifies troubleshooting and assists in planning for future decisions.

Learning about a new tool sometimes got hectic. Sometimes?we need to take some rest and start again.?And after learning and implementing the lesson it became super enjoyable. Also helping?others about new things ultimately helps me to learn myself.

Making the learning process enjoyable is not just about making it fun; it's about creating a sustainable, engaging, and effective approach to professional development. This approach fosters a positive attitude towards continuous learning, encourages creative problem-solving, and builds a foundation for learning and adaptation in a dynamic field. By integrating enjoyment into the learning process, you enhance not only professional capabilities but also personal satisfaction.

O primeiro passo é n?o ter medo novo, ver as possibilidades e saber que errar faz parte do processo de aprendizagem. Deixar passo a passos anotados para e contribuir no processo de melhoria tornando prático e eficiente!

1) Allocate time to learn new things 2) Learn and Implement 3) Make a Document of what you have learned 4) Make Mistakes 5) Fix it 6) Keep Going....

Learning new system administration tools involves diverse methods: 1. Documentation: Dive into official guides for foundational knowledge. 2. Online Courses: Enroll in structured courses for comprehensive learning. 3. Hands-on Practice: Experiment in safe environments to build confidence. 4. Community Engagement: Join forums for insights and collaboration. 5. Reading: Explore books/articles for in-depth understanding. 6. Peer Collaboration: Learn from experienced colleagues. 7. Stay Updated: Follow updates and trends to remain relevant. By combining these approaches, mastering new tools becomes more manageable.

Teach others in your team to reinforce your learning. Document anything that applies in your work and share it with others who might benefit as well.

Explain the information as much and as variedly as possible. Firstly recognized from the documentation, separated for the time of testing, for all the necessary personal experience. Internet, online presentations, IT specialized forums, blogs, webinars, delivery websites, timely implementation of new technologies, good practices, constant training in technology and IT news. Add to experience for characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, compatibility/incompatibility on distinguish tools for administration. Document good practices and specific sins. Comments and discussions with colleagues.

By solving actual problems. Bet it PowerShell, WireShark, Grafana, Prometheus, Open Telemetry or anything else - the absolute best way to learn new tools is to solve actual problems, address real business needs. (That's how I learned PowerShell, SolarWinds, Splunk, Datadog, Perl and a number of other tools and technologies. Looking forward to implementing and learning: Grafana, Open Telemetry, Prometheus.)