Started as a tech at a computer shop back in uni, doing diagnostics and assembly for custom PC builds. After I got my bachelor, I started as an IT guy in a factory, and for the next ~20 years worked as a sys admin at a bunch of different companies. Over the last 5 years or so I moved more and more towards Linux, automation, IaC, ansible, docker, k8s, terraform… and now I work as a devops engineer. I work for a small company, so I double as a backup sysadmin/user support guy, because I’m the one that “knows what active directory even is”. 🤷
Tinker, play, break, fix. Start with docker, a couple virtual machines, use the terminal, even switch to linux. Start automating/scripting mundane or repetitive tasks. For me, this is fun, I actually enjoy the work I do. I have a homelab, a few mini-pcs that I play with, and that I’m not afraid to break. I use ansible and terraform to manage them. Completely overkill for just a few apps and services I run for me and my family, but that’s how I learned a bunch of things.
Getting a job in devops might need a few years of experience as either a sysadmin or a developer, but it’s in high demand.
DevOps / Linux sys admin / user support / “it has buttons and plugs into a wall socket” support guy
Holy dang man! All of that sounds big brained to me.
How did you get started?
Started as a tech at a computer shop back in uni, doing diagnostics and assembly for custom PC builds. After I got my bachelor, I started as an IT guy in a factory, and for the next ~20 years worked as a sys admin at a bunch of different companies. Over the last 5 years or so I moved more and more towards Linux, automation, IaC, ansible, docker, k8s, terraform… and now I work as a devops engineer. I work for a small company, so I double as a backup sysadmin/user support guy, because I’m the one that “knows what active directory even is”. 🤷
Holy moly. That’s got to be one heck of a full resume you’ve got.
What would you say to someone who wants to get into DevOps?
Tinker, play, break, fix. Start with docker, a couple virtual machines, use the terminal, even switch to linux. Start automating/scripting mundane or repetitive tasks. For me, this is fun, I actually enjoy the work I do. I have a homelab, a few mini-pcs that I play with, and that I’m not afraid to break. I use ansible and terraform to manage them. Completely overkill for just a few apps and services I run for me and my family, but that’s how I learned a bunch of things.
Getting a job in devops might need a few years of experience as either a sysadmin or a developer, but it’s in high demand.