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As businesses and individuals become more
dependent on computer networks for their daily activities, it becomes
vitally important that these networks function to deliver the services
that users expect. Even after engineers have completed the design and
installation of a new network, the network requires attention and
management to deliver a consistent level of service to its users.
Computer networks are dynamic, they change and grow in response to new
technologies and user requirements.
The ongoing task of maintaining and adapting the network to changing conditions belongs to network administrators and support personnel. Network administrator responsibilities include setting up new user accounts and services, monitoring network performance, and repairing network failures. Often administrators rely on the skills of specialized support personnel to locate the sources of network problems and repair them efficiently. As networks grow, administrators must ensure that network availability is maintained while the network "migrates" to include new equipment and features. Network administrators must be skilled in the use of a wide range of tools on a variety of different types of devices and systems. As they evaluate new technologies and requirements, administrators must measure the benefits of the new features against the issues, costs, and problems that they may introduce to the network.
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