Unix® System Management Primer Plus

Developing On-Call Procedures

Like a doctor, a system administrator working in a 24/7 operation needs to be available for emergencies at all times—even during non-business hours (off hours). And, like a doctor, providing this availability is known as being “on call.” As system administrator, you are responsible for developing the on-call procedures for your technical support organization. On-call procedures vary widely among companies, but all must address three major concerns: delegation, regulation, and communication.

Delegation

Delegation—designating others to share on-call responsibilities—is essential for any system administrator. To understand how important delegation can be, imagine you work for a large ISP with a site hosting 100 servers, ...