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Administrative Checklist
The tasks listed here are basic steps that should be carried out on a periodic basis to maintain the network. By no means is this a complete or exhaustive list of all duties involved in maintaining a network! Although the majority of tasks described in this document are focused on Microsoft based networks, its possible to apply the basic principles to other platforms. Many of the tasks within this document can be automated. Please refer to the vendor or contact LogOn Technologies to initiate a service visit to discuss such options.

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LEGAL NOTICE

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Table of Contents
Reference Table..................................................................................................................................... 3 NOTES....................................................................................................................................................... 3 Recommended Network Documentation ....................................................................................... 3 One-Time Administration Tasks ....................................................................................................... 3 Electronic Notification Subscriptions........................................................................................... 3 Daily Administration Tasks ................................................................................................................ 3 Change Backup Tape ....................................................................................................................... 3 Weekly Administration Tasks ............................................................................................................ 3 Reboot NT Servers............................................................................................................................ 3 Clean Backup Tape Drive/s............................................................................................................ 3 Weekly Administration Tasks (continued) .................................................................................... 3 Check Server Event Logs for Errors ............................................................................................ 3 Exchange Server Basic Information Store Size Limitation/Management........................ 3 Weekly Administration Tasks (continued) .................................................................................... 3 Workstation/Server Updates ......................................................................................................... 3 Semi-Weekly Administration Tasks................................................................................................. 3 Ensure Anti-Virus Definitions Up-To-Date................................................................................. 3 Workstation/Server File System Optimization......................................................................... 3 Monthly Administration Tasks........................................................................................................... 3 Check Hard Drive Space Usage on Servers.............................................................................. 3 Initiate/Schedule Network Wide Anti-Virus Sweeps/Scans ............................................. 3 Quarterly Administration Tasks........................................................................................................ 3 Backup Integrity Test ...................................................................................................................... 3 Perform Hardware Preventative Maintenance on All Computer Hardware ..................... 3 Quarterly Administration Tasks (continued) ................................................................................ 3 Security Scans ................................................................................................................................... 3

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Reference Table
This document is organized in the following manner: Frequency of task. This dictates how often the tasks within the corresponding sections are to be carried out. Task title. This specifies the target task. Task table. This table is used to manage and track progress for the corresponding task. o Description of Task: Provides the reader with a brief description of the task and its significance. o Responsible Party: Provides a Primary and Secondary designation for responsible parties. If the Primary is absent or unable to perform the task it is the responsibility of the Secondary Party to ensure the task is done as scheduled. The final column is used as a checklist. Depending on the designated frequency for a particular task you will see a number of blocks that can be used as a check list to ensure tasks are done when necessary. You may use this area to communicate when a task was done by placing your initials with the date in the appropriate box. Notes/Comments: This area is used as a placeholder for notes. You may write down notes as you see fit.

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NOTES
Notes/Comments: This area is used as a placeholder for notes. You may write down notes as you see fit.

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Recommended Network Documentation

Disaster Recovery Plan Acceptable Usage Policy/Workstation Usage Guidelines Acceptable Use Policy for E-Mail Acceptable Use Policy for Web Access Remote Access Policy Acceptable Usage Policy for Computer/Network Resources Network Security Policy & Response Plan Emergency Escalation Procedures (Security Violations, User Problem Escalation, etc.) Network Topology Diagram Protocol Topology Document Systems Inventory Document Third Party Vendor Manual (holds contact info., services offered, etc.)

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One-Time Administration Tasks

Electronic Notification Subscriptions
The Network Administrator is not necessarily a person with extensive computer experience/knowledge. Many times someone in the organization is assigned the secondary role of the Network Administrator or Coordinator. Its the responsibility of this individual to either outsource the maintenance of the network or educate themselves. Electronic notification subscriptions have become a very useful way of keeping up with the latest issues for your network. By subscribing to mailing lists you can be notified automatically via e-mail of potential threats and/or issues relating to the software/hardware on your network. Mailing lists are managed by vendors and provide end-users/clients with notifications ranging from the release of a new driver for a specific device on your network to high profile virus alerts that could potentially hinder or paralyze operations for your organization. The following is a brief list of suggested mailing lists: Operating System security and update alerts (i.e., Microsoft, Novell, Redhat, IBM, etc.) Antivirus security and update alerts (i.e., Symantec/Norton, Computer Associates, Network Associates, Trend Micro, etc.) Critical Application security and update alerts (i.e., ArcServe, BackupExec, Exchange Server, SQL Server, etc.) Critical hardware security and update alerts (i.e., BIOS releases, driver updates, etc)

Since each organization is different its up to the assigned Network Administrator to determine which mailing lists to subscribe to. One can accomplish this by either contacting the developers and/or manufacturers of the products on your network or by contacting LogOn Technologies to initiate a service request and have a consultant provide assistance.

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Daily Administration Tasks

Change Backup Tape
Description of Task
To ensure the successful daily backup of the networks data the responsible party must change out tapes at the backup server on a daily basis and log this event. Furthermore, the responsible party must check the backup logs to ensure that significant errors are not overlooked. Please refer to the documentation for your backup solution on how to manage backups and logs or contact LogOn Technologies to initiate a service visit for this task.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Daily (checklist)

SECONDARY

NOTES/COMMENTS

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Weekly Administration Tasks

Reboot NT Servers
Description of Task
To reduce the amount of issues on a server related to memory leaks its highly advisable to reboot NT/Win2k/Win2k3 servers on a weekly basis. Procedures on how to properly power cycle your equipment can be obtained from the developers web site, documentation or by contacting LogOn Technologies to initiate a service visit for this task.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Weekly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

Clean Backup Tape Drive/s

Description of Task
Many of the problems encountered by tape drive backup devices are due to lack of cleaning. Depending on the environment tape drives have to be cleaned regularly. Many tape cleaning cartridges come with a 52 week logging checklist which infers that the tape device should be cleaned on a weekly basis. Procedures on how to properly clean your tape drive/s equipment can be obtained from the manufacturers web site, documentation or by contacting LogOn Technologies to initiate a service visit for this task.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Weekly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

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Weekly Administration Tasks (continued)

Check Server Event Logs for Errors
Description of Task
To ensure the integrity of the network servers it is imperative that the Event Logs be monitored. See the web site for the developer of your operating system for more information on how to check and manage the event logs on your systems or contact LogOn Technologies to request service for this task.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Weekly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

Exchange Server Basic Information Store Size Limitation/Management

Description of Task
Exchange Server 5.5 & 2000 Standard Edition have a file size limitation on the main database file called the Information Store. This is where all e-mail resides. Once this file size limit is reached Exchange ceases to function until free space is recovered. Exchange Server has utilities that allow you to defragment the database and recover unused free space. Please refer to Microsofts web site for more information on how to check and manage the Information Store file size on your system/s or contact LogOn Technologies to request service for this task.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Weekly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

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Weekly Administration Tasks (continued)

Workstation/Server Updates
Description of Task
To ensure all systems (workstations/server/s) are free of bugs and protected from the latest virus threat it is imperative that the administrator ensures the operating system and all critical applications are up-to-date with the latest service packs and security patches. To find out more information on how to accomplish this task please refer to the web site for the developer of the software product you are wanting to update or contact LogOn Technologies to initiate a service visit for this task. NOTE: Make sure you completely understand the patches/updates that are being applied. Sometimes the application of such updates/patches may cause additional problems. This notice applies especially to driver updates. **PLEASE PERFORM A FULL BACKUP PRIOR TO APPLYING ANY UPDATES!!!

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Weekly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

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Semi-Weekly Administration Tasks

Ensure Anti-Virus Definitions Up-To-Date
Description of Task
To ensure your network is protected from the latest virus threat its important to check the AntiVirus Server and spot check a couple of systems on the network and guarantee virus definitions are being propagated. For more information on how to manage virus definitions on your network please refer to the documentation for your antivirus solution, check the web site of the antivirus developer, or contact LogOn Technologies to initiate a service visit for this task.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Semi-Weekly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

Workstation/Server File System Optimization

Description of Task
To ensure the integrity and continued optimized performance of the file system on all workstations and servers it is imperative to have both the Scandisk and Defragmentation utilities run on all systems on a weekly basis. This task can be run manually with native tools on many systems or you may contact a LogOn Technologies representative for recommendations on third party utilities that automate the process. For more information please refer to the web site for the developer of your operating system or contact LogOn Technologies to initiate a service visit for this task.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Semi-Weekly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

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Monthly Administration Tasks

Check Hard Drive Space Usage on Servers
Description of Task
To ensure the integrity of the network servers it is imperative that the administrator confirms that all servers have adequate space on their hard drive partitions. An absence of disk space can cause file system corruption and at times system crashes. For more information on how to manage hard disk space on your servers please refer to the developers web site for your operating system or contact LogOn Technologies to initiate a service visit to discuss this task.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Monthly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

Initiate/Schedule Network Wide Anti-Virus Sweeps/Scans

Description of Task
To decrease the chances of a virus residing in a dormant state somewhere on your network its necessary that a monthly virus sweep/scan be performed. For more information on how to manage and initiate network wide virus sweeps please refer to the antivirus documentation or the developers web site. You may also contact LogOn Technologies to initiate a service visit to discuss this task.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Monthly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

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Quarterly Administration Tasks

Backup Integrity Test
Description of Task
To ensure the integrity of the data backed up on the network it is necessary to perform test restore. A test restore should be done every quarter to a temporary location other than the production area. Once a test restore has been completed the administrator should test that the restored data is good. For more information on how to manage test restores on your servers please refer to the developers web site for your operating system, backup solution and database vendor or contact LogOn Technologies to initiate a service visit to discuss this task.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Quarterly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

Perform Hardware Preventative Maintenance on All Computer Hardware

Description of Task
To ensure the hardware on the network (servers, workstations, printers, routers, hubs, monitors, scanners, keyboards, mouse, CD/floppy drives, etc.) continues to work properly and without obstruction from dust a preventive maintenance schedule should be established and followed. NOTE: THIS TASK SHOULD BE PERFORMED ONLY BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN. Some environments may be more polluted with dust than others. In such cases the components may have to be cleaned more frequently to extend the life of your hardware.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Quarterly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

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Quarterly Administration Tasks (continued)

Security Scans
Description of Task
Typically networks should have security mechanisms in place to alert administrators in the event of a break in attempt and/or success by hackers. Sometimes these tools fail or are circumvented so it is up to the administrator to remain diligent and ensure the security of the network and the data contained therein. Manual security scans should be a routine performed at least 4 times a year to ensure all is well on the network. Performing security scans (port scans, trojan scans, etc.) and comparing the results against a network services document can be invaluable. In many cases administrators dont know and arent notified of network break-ins until its too late. Many times these break-ins are discovered by accident after the administrator mistakenly noticed out of the ordinary activity while troubleshooting either a related or non-related issue on the network system and/or service. NOTE: THIS TASK SHOULD BE PERFORMED ONLY BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN. Some network environments may be more complicated than others so a generic approach may or may not work in each case.

Responsible Party
PRIMARY

Quarterly (checklist)

NOTES/COMMENTS

SECONDARY

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