Reasons

• ensuring that the computing system runs correctly and as efficiently as possible, and
• ensuring that the users of the system can and do use it to carry out their required work in the easiest and most efficient manner.

These two reasons often conflict with one another. Users generally have an adverse effect on the efficient running of a computer system. Other conflicting factors include management wishing to restrict the amount of money spent on computer systems. While the users will always want more disk space and faster CPUs. The System Administrator must attempt to balance these factors.

The real work required to fulfill these aims depends on the characteristics of the particular computing system and the company it belongs to. Factors that affect what a Systems Administrator needs to do come from a number of categories including the following

• users
• computers
• support