Sysadmins as Sisyphus

Sisyphus is the figure from Greek mythology, punished byZeus and condemned to eternally push a boulder up a hill only to have to watchit roll back down.

At time the tasks of systems administration can seem likethe task of Sisyphus. We apply patches, update software, upgrade hardware onlyto have to repeat the task again. Server management is an ongoing endlessprocess and just when you get the configuration right, along comes a newproduct that necessitates an upgrade or entire server replacement.

I sometimes wonder if systems administration will always bethis way. Perhaps if there is some point in the dim distant future whereservers, once installed, won’t require much in the way of constant attention. Whetherover time the number of updates that need to be installed will reduce, notbecause the product has reached its end of life, but because the complexitiesinvolved in its design are better understood so that it needs less in the wayof patching after its release.

Of course the invention of the server that does not requiremaintenance is a two edged sword. When servers don’t need constant attention thereis less work for systems administrators! If we as sysadmins become a littleless like Sisyphus, our jobs become a little less secure.

Until they invent the boulder that pushes itself up thehill, at least we will have a reason to go into work tomorrow.