User and Hardware Provisioning 🖥️👥

Responsibilities of Sysadmins 🔧

Sysadmins are tasked with managing both users and hardware within an organization. This includes:

1. User Management 🧑‍💻:

   • Account Creation: Setting up new user accounts and granting access to company resources.

   • Account Removal: Deactivating accounts and removing access when users leave the company.

2. Hardware Management 🖥️:

   • Setup and Standardization: Ensuring that user machines are standardized, including installing necessary software and configuring settings.

   • Hardware Life Cycle Management: Managing the hardware through its lifecycle stages.

Hardware Life Cycle Stages 🔄

1. Procurement 🛒:

   • Description: Acquiring new hardware or reallocating existing equipment for new employees.

2. Deployment 🚀:

   • Description: Setting up hardware with a base image, installing software, and configuring the machine for use.

3. Maintenance 🛠️:

   • Description: Updating software, fixing hardware issues, and ensuring the equipment remains functional.

4. Retirement ♻️:

   • Description: Removing outdated or unusable hardware from the organization, including recycling and replacing it.

Process Example in a Small Organization 📋

1. Provisioning a New Employee:

   • Setup: Allocate or order a new computer, tag it, and apply a base image.

   • Configuration: Install necessary software, name the computer, and provide login instructions.

   • Ongoing Maintenance: Address hardware issues and manage hardware lifecycle decisions.

2. Automated Provisioning in Larger Organizations 🤖:

   • Efficiency: Implement automated solutions to streamline the provisioning process, reducing time spent on manual setup.

Key Considerations 📈

• Standardization: Use consistent naming and imaging practices for ease of management.

• Efficiency: Automate processes where possible to handle larger volumes and save time.