This post is in response to a question:

What exactly do you do in work and what tools do you use to do it.

I am a systems administrator in a very large organization.
This job involves active directory, mail, proxy, firewall and other administration, implementation of new servers, racking servers, system security hardening and a lot more. It’s a highly technical role that I really enjoy.

the organization has 4 server rooms, dozens of coms rooms, clustered servers, fibre links and hundreds of clients. It’s like a tech hevin!

For client and server systems that run windows, I use a screen reader. called Jaws for Windows. www.freedomscientific.com

For Linux command lines I use speakup. http://speakup-modified.org

For Linux graphical systems (Gnome), I use Orca http://live.gnome.org/Orca

For the VOIP phones, I use my memory. I basically memorise the menus I need to access. I also scan the manual of any system that I need to know well using an OCR application called Kurzweil.

For programming, I use a Braille display. This interfaces with the screen reader so that information that is spoken can instead be sent to the Braille display. Using a Braille display is not necessary however I find it easier to consintrate on what I’m working on in this type of environment.

A screen reader provides highlighted and / or relevant parts of a user interface to the user via synthesized speech and/or Braille.

When working with switches, I use a LED meter. This is actually a light meter but it works well for determining when LED’s on servers, switches etc are on, flashing or off.

For RSA administration, I use a RSA keyfob that connects via USB. This is not a specialist adaptation. It is a product that is offered by RSA that suits what I need.

For backup tape storage and administration, I use a hand held barcode reader to read the labels.

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