[ale] [OT] Good Server Documentation - Best Practices

[Dow Hurst]

I've got a bound notebook with the essential stuff in case I die so the 
research project can be picked up by someone else.

Essentials are root passwds, serial numbers, support phone numbers, 
fstab layouts, IP to name mapping.

Sometimes a paragraph explaining what is setup can be very helpful down 
the road.  Definitely an explanation or notes on how something was 
changed from default install settings is important.  You may have too 
much history to do that, especially in one day! :-)

However, anything that describes how to recreate a particular 
configuration or how to locate the backup, ie. on CD, of the config 
files and use them would be invaluable.  An experienced sysadmin can run 
with small amounts of essential info.  Since I am at an educational 
institution like you, I know the budget and time constraints you have, 
so just do what you can and let it grow over time.
Dow


Jonathan Glass wrote:

>I'm about to spend a half-day doing nothing but documentation!  Woohoo! 
>Now I'm in a quandary.  I have a nice, new, clean notebook (3-ring
>binder) with inserts.  WHat is the best way to document your servers?
>
>I was thinking about going the minimalist route, including server name,
>ip, mac, switch port #, services, file-system layout, backup policies
>and recovery methods...one sheet for each server.  
>
>How do i document all my client machines?  Should I do the same, sans IP
>addresses?  I'm sure there is more to this.
>
>Thanks for any tips, suggestions, RTFMs (haven't looked for a "man
>documenting-servers" yet...).
>  
>

-- 
__________________________________________________________
Dow Hurst                  Office: 770-499-3428
Systems Support Specialist    Fax: 770-423-6744
1000 Chastain Rd., Bldg. 12
Chemistry Department SC428  Email:dhurst at kennesaw.edu
Kennesaw State University         Dow.Hurst at mindspring.com
Kennesaw, GA 30144
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*Computational Chemistry is fun!*
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