RHEL Systems Administrator at Educology Solutions – Austin, Texas

Key Responsibilities:
1. System Assessment & Planning:
o Assess Legacy Systems: Conduct detailed assessments of existing EOL systems, including Windows Server (2012 and older) and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL 5, 6,7 and newer).
o Identify Priorities: Prioritize migration based on system criticality, security risks, and operational needs.
o Develop Migration Strategy: Create a comprehensive plan for transitioning legacy RHEL and Windows systems to supported versions, including risk assessments, upgrade paths, and timelines.
1. System Migration:
o Legacy OS Migration: Migrate RHEL 5/6 and older Windows Server systems to newer, supported OS versions (RHEL 8/9, Windows Server 2022/2025).
o Upgrade Path Planning: Perform in-place upgrades as last resort. Primary job is to preform a reinstallation, following best practices to ensure compatibility and minimize downtime.
o Data Backup & Recovery: Implement data backup and recovery strategies before, during, and after the migration, with a focus on reducing potential data loss during the upgrade process.
o Post-Upgrade Validation: Validate the system’s functionality after the upgrade (e.g., performance checks, compatibility testing of critical applications, system services, and networking configurations).
1. Configuration Management:
o System Reconfiguration: Reconfigure system services and settings (e.g., networking, storage, security settings) after OS upgrade.
o Configuration Management Tools: Utilize tools like Ansible for RHEL configurations and PowerShell for Windows configurations to maintain consistency across systems.
o Automation Scripting: Write and maintain automation scripts for repetitive tasks across both Windows and Linux systems.
1. Security Enhancements:
o System Hardening: Perform system hardening tasks on RHEL and Windows Server systems before and after migration to mitigate security risks.
o Patch Management: Apply security patches and updates for both RHEL and Windows servers. Ensure that legacy systems are brought up to current patch levels before the upgrade.
o Vulnerability Remediation: Run vulnerability scans and perform security updates to address any issues uncovered during the migration process.
o Compliance Assurance: Ensure all systems meet internal security policies, compliance regulations, and industry standards (e.g., CIS Benchmarks, NIST).
1. Troubleshooting and Support:
o Issue Resolution: Act as the point of escalation for system issues encountered during the migration process, especially for legacy RHEL 5/6 and older Windows versions.
o Post-Migration Support: Provide ongoing support for both Windows Server and RHEL systems after migration, addressing system issues, performance concerns, or compatibility problems.
o Problem Solving: Troubleshoot OS-level issues and application problems on both Windows and RHEL systems post-migration, ensuring high availability and reliability.
1. Documentation and Reporting:
o Migration Documentation: Maintain detailed documentation of the migration process, including steps taken, configurations changed, and any issues encountered and resolved.
o System Configuration Records: Update system configuration records post-migration to reflect the new OS and environment. This will be reflected in the CMDB as well as the TRP list.
o Progress Reporting: Provide regular updates and reports to stakeholders on migration status, challenges, and milestones achieved.
1. Collaboration and Coordination:
o Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with other IT teams (e.g., networking, database admins, application owners) to ensure smooth integration of migrated systems.
o Vendor Coordination: Coordinate with third-party vendors or support services as needed, especially for issues related to legacy systems or proprietary software running on older OS versions.
o End-User Communication: Communicate with end-users and stakeholders about any system downtime, changes, or disruptions during the migration process.
1. Training and Knowledge Transfer:
o Documentation for Internal Teams: Create detailed user manuals and internal documentation on managing updated systems.
o Knowledge Sharing: Share insights and lessons learned from the migration process to help other teams with similar future upgrades or transitions.
1. Backup & Disaster Recovery:
o Backup Solutions: Ensure that backup solutions are in place for both Windows and RHEL systems
o Disaster Recovery Planning: Update disaster recovery plans for systems post-migration and test recovery procedures to ensure business continuity.
1. Post-Implementation Review:
o System Audits: Conduct post-migration audits to verify that all systems are fully functional, secure, and compliant.
o Post-Migration Optimization: Identify any post-migration system performance improvements, optimizations, or further enhancements needed.
Skills & Qualifications:
• Experience with RHEL 5/6/7/8/9, and Windows Server (2008-2022).
• Proficiency in system administration for both Linux (RHEL 5/6 and RHEL 7/8/9) and Windows environments.
• Advanced troubleshooting skills for legacy systems (RHEL 5/6 and older Windows versions).
• Experience with in-place upgrades and fresh installs for RHEL and older Windows versions to Windows Server.
• Familiarity with configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible for RHEL, PowerShell, SCCM, for Windows).
• Proficient in system automation and scripting (Bash, PowerShell, Ansible).
• Strong security knowledge, including patch management, system hardening, and vulnerability scanning for both Windows and RHEL systems.
• Experience with backup and recovery solutions for legacy systems.
• Experience with virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware).