Week 1

Introduction to Server
Administration
Mr. Khyle Alegre
IT31SYSADM Course instructor
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• Define server administration and explain its role in managing IT infrastructure.
• Differentiate types of servers (file, web, DNS, DHCP, etc.) and explain their
functions in a network.
• Identify the responsibilities and required skills of a server administrator.
• Recognize the importance of server administration in modern businesses and
industries.
• Describe the server-client architecture and how clients interact with servers in a
network.
• Explain the significance of uptime, availability, and security in IT operations.
• Explore career opportunities in system and server administration.
What is Server Administration?
Server administration is the discipline of configuring, maintaining, and securing
servers to ensure the reliable delivery of IT services.

Purpose in IT Infrastructure:
1. Acts as the backbone of an organization’s data processing and communication.
2. Manages centralized resources for efficiency and security.

Example:
Google data centers handling billions of search queries daily.

Without proper server administration, even the most advanced hardware can fail
under load or security threats.
Role in Managing IT Infrastructure
Primary Responsibilities:
• Installation & Configuration – Setting up physical or virtual servers with the
necessary OS and applications.
• Monitoring & Maintenance – Checking system performance, logs, and alerts.
• Updates & Patching – Applying security updates and service packs to reduce
vulnerabilities.
• User & Resource Management – Creating accounts, assigning permissions, and
managing shared resources.

Business Value:
• Reduces system downtime.
• Improves productivity.
• Ensures compliance with industry regulations.
 Types of Servers (Basic & Advanced)

01 02
File Server Web Server
Stores and shares files across Hosts websites and web apps.
the network. Example: Example: Apache, Nginx, IIS.
Windows File Server using
SMB protocol.

03 04
DNS Server DHCP Server
Converts human-readable Automatically assigns IP
domains into IP addresses. addresses to devices,
Example: BIND, Microsoft reducing manual
DNS. configuration errors.
 Types of Servers (Basic & Advanced)

05 06
Database Server Mail Server
Handles email sending and Handles email sending and
receiving (SMTP, IMAP, POP3). receiving (SMTP, IMAP, POP3).

07
Advanced Servers
• Proxy Servers for content filtering and caching.
• Application Servers for delivering enterprise software.
• Virtualization Hosts for running multiple virtual servers.
• Cloud Servers hosted in public or private clouds.
 Centralization of Resources Purposes of Servers in
01 Reduces redundancy and
simplifies control.
a Network

Data Security & Access Control

Performance Optimization
03 Dedicated processing power
for specific functions.

Real-world Example
A university’s LMS (Learning Management
System) is hosted on a web server, while
student records are stored on a database
server.
 Responsibilities of a Server
Administrator
• Technical:
o Configuring RAID for data redundancy.
o Setting up server monitoring tools like Nagios or Zabbix.
o Automating tasks with scripts (e.g., PowerShell, Bash).
• Security:
o Applying security patches immediately.
o Configuring firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS).
• Support & Documentation:
o Troubleshooting network bottlenecks.
o Maintaining SOPs for disaster recovery.
Skills Required for Server Administration
• Hard Skills:
o OS mastery (Windows Server, Ubuntu Server,
CentOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux).
o Networking concepts (TCP/IP, subnetting, VLANs).
o Understanding of virtualization (VMware vSphere,
Hyper-V) and containerization (Docker,
Kubernetes).
o Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS EC2, Azure
VMs, Google Cloud Compute Engine).
• Soft Skills:
o Communication for cross-department
collaboration.
o Crisis management during outages.
o Documentation for compliance audits.
Relevance in Modern Businesses
Why It’s Critical:
1. Almost all modern applications run on server infrastructure—on-
premises or cloud.
2. Hybrid models combine local servers with cloud-based services.

Case Study:
Netflix uses cloud servers on AWS to deliver streaming services globally.

Business Risks Without Proper Admin:

Client: Requests resources/services.

Example:
Browser (client) → Web server (Apache/Nginx) → Database server →
Response back to client.
How Clients Interact with Servers
Protocols & Communication:
• HTTP/HTTPS: Web browsing.
• FTP/SFTP: File transfer.
• SMB/NFS: File sharing.
• SMTP/IMAP: Email.
Authentication & Authorization:
• Multi-factor authentication for security.
• Role-based access control (RBAC) to limit exposure.
Security Considerations:
Always use encrypted channels (e.g., HTTPS, SFTP).
Importance of Uptime and Availability
• Metrics:
• Uptime SLA (Service Level Agreement) often targets 99.9% or
higher.
• High Availability Methods:
• Redundant power supplies.
• Geographic failover clusters.
• Load balancing.
• Real-World Impact:
• A payment processing company experiencing just 1 hour of
downtime during peak shopping hours can lose millions.
Importance of Server Security
Common Threats:
• Brute force login attempts.
• Malware infections.
• Data breaches.
Security Best Practices:
• Principle of least privilege.
• Regular vulnerability scanning (Nessus, OpenVAS).
• Logging and monitoring suspicious activity.
Incident Response:
• Have a clear response plan to isolate and resolve threats
quickly.
Career Opportunities
• Entry-Level:
• Helpdesk Technician
• Junior System Administrator
• Mid-Level:
• Server Administrator
• Network Operations Center (NOC) Engineer
• Advanced:
• DevOps Engineer
• Cloud Solutions Architect
• Certifications for Advancement:
• CompTIA Server+
• Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
• Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)
Summary
1. Server administration is both a technical and strategic role.
2. It ensures servers are secure, highly available, and optimized.
3. The demand for skilled server admins is increasing with the rise of
cloud and hybrid infrastructures.
Questions?
References
1. Lifewire. (n.d.). What is a server? Retrieved August 10, 2025, from
https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-server-2626186
2. Microsoft Learn. (n.d.). Windows Server administration fundamentals. Retrieved
August 10, 2025, from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/shows/windows-
server-administration-fundamentals/
3. Medium. (n.d.). Client-server architecture explained with examples, diagrams, and
real-world applications. Retrieved August 10, 2025, from
https://medium.com/nerd-for-tech/client-server-architecture-explained-with-
examples-diagrams-and-real-world-applications-407e9e04e2d1
4. Zenarmor. (n.d.). Types of servers. Retrieved August 10, 2025, from
https://www.zenarmor.com/docs/network-basics/types-of-servers
Thanks!