Module 4

                I have chosen to do my essay on Network Administration. A Network Administrator is the person who is in charge of the maintenance of not only a network, but all of the computer hardware, software, and other devices connected to the network. They are also referred to as Network Analysts or Network Engineers. There is a Network Administrator behind every large network, anywhere from schools, call centers, libraries, restaurants, you can name just about any business this day and age and it will in some way utilize a network.

                Network Administration is extremely needed for schools. Have you ever wondered how you can just magically access your saved documents or school work from every computer in your school? Or how each student and teacher has their own personal school email? This is all done through the school's LAN (Local Area Network). A LAN is a network comprised of a series of computers connected by a central server. Some LAN's even consist of multiple servers that connect to each other to combine multiple networks. Typically, a school will have multiple servers that handle different tasks. For example, one server will be for the sole purpose of handling email while another server will just be used to host grading information or software. The Network Administer monitors and maintains all of the wires, servers, computers, log in information, etc. They make sure that the LAN is up and running at all times so that the information and systems can be accessible to every student, teacher, and staff.

                For my interview, I spoke with my brother in law about his career history with Network Administration. He has worked in multiple IT fields for Hill Air Force Base and numerous local businesses. While working as a Network Administrator, he would handle pretty much every task or request the users needed. The most common tasks included regular system updates to fix any slow network traffic, monitoring the network equipment to make sure everything is in good condition to prevent any hardware failure, and monitoring log in access information and security to make sure the information on the network stayed safe from any unwanted eyes. Overall he stated that he has loved his Network Administration jobs because he was always in charge of how things ran and there was something new to do each day.

                I actually look forward to going into Network Administration because of the large demand. A Network Administrator can't necessarily be outsourced either because a lot of the work done is hands on, so the field is a fairly safe career choice as well. I see the future for Network Administration only growing as more and more each day.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_administrator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSavUnXXAnI