I've started accumulating rules of systems administration on my office wall, which I'll replicate here.
- If it isn't documented, it does not exist.
- Backups are a myth. Until verified.
- Doing it manually:
- once is research
- twice is testing
- ten times is dumb
- If not in CM (configuration management), it did not happen.
- Automate it. Batch it. Remote it.
- It might be the only way to do it, but it still will be a problem.
- Sometimes being lazy is efficient, sometimes it's wasteful. Wisdom is knowing the difference.
- Ask the "dumb" questions.
- Always double check.
- Label it! Repeatedly. On both ends!
- Few things live longer than a bad decision.
- Always have a backout plan. Always have a way out when things go wrong.
- Proper Planning and Preparation Prevent Pretty Poor Performance.
- Fail to plan, plan to fail.
- Fail to test, fail the test.
