How much would you pay for a server admin available to you 24/7 for all your server admin needs. I'm asking because we have a need for a server admin available 24/7. I just to know what I should expect to pay. The following is covered:

Installation/support/monitoring for hosting automation software
Server configuration, optimization and tuning services
Server monitoring/administration
Software updates
Repair services
Custom security measures and server side firewall solutions
Control panel installation and support
Custom add-on modules for control panels, which automate routine tasks like user registration, accounting traffic management etc.
Bandwidth throttling utility
Installation of cgi scripts.


Thanks!

If you seriously want them to be there 24/7 then you have to hire more than one. No matter what anyone says no one can be there 24/7 all year. For just a normal system admin (a professional) I would say no less than $4000 a month.

Wow... seems a little high. Any other input from other user would be great. I'm trying to get a general consensus.
Thanks!

Originally posted by Montage Inc
Wow... seems a little high. Any other input from other user would be great. I'm trying to get a general consensus.
Thanks!

$4000 a month is $48000 a year. They need health benefits, dental benefits, things like that, vacations. Hiring someone to work for you costs a lot more than just their salary. And than to give them a cell phone ($30 a month) and tell them that no matter what time it is, they need to drop everything and come running?

you really have top think about it -- i do co-location and the data center charge me 100.00 a hour to fix a problem that i can't do remote -- so just imagine 8 hour shift is 800.00 a day -

so do the math 100.00 a hour -times 40 hours a week

4000 a week so i believe the other user was under the price by sayin 4,000 a month just my opion for what your asking -- you asking for 24//7 sys admin and installation and all the good stuff lol --- hope your capital is stable :o

you can almost make 4000 a month as a secretary, or phone support. now if you want them to be on call for 24 hours a day, have a brain, and have benifits like someone said. 4000 would be a smokin deal.

Originally posted by Montage Inc
How much would you pay for a server admin available to you 24/7 for all your server admin needs.

Depends entirely on where they're located.

I forgot the most important factor> The 24/7 server admin will be remote basis only.
Thanks

Originally posted by Montage Inc
The following is covered:

Installation/support/monitoring for hosting automation software
Server configuration, optimization and tuning services
Server monitoring/administration
Software updates
Repair services
Custom security measures and server side firewall solutions
Control panel installation and support
Custom add-on modules for control panels, which automate routine tasks like user registration, accounting traffic management etc.
Bandwidth throttling utility
Installation of cgi scripts.


Thanks! seems like you want a system admin and swebmaster all in one not too many system admin install cgi scripts

Wow... seems a little high. Any other input from other user would be great. I'm trying to get a general consensus.

Not really. The key factor is, you will require this person to be avaliable 24 hours a day.. 7 days a week. Now let's say the person does their job and the server is stable and nothing is wrong, with the detailed description you gave. You would still be calling them and asking them to do stuff, that really isn't a server admin's job.

I'm sure you could find a kid that isn't there for you 24 hours a day, and get them for alot cheaper. They also wouldn't probley know everything.

You could find a person in a forigen country, but they might not speak good English. Might be harder to go after legally, if they screw you over. Tons of problems here.

Your best bet might be hiring a team of people to do this, that specalizes in providing these services. You might get a cheaper deal.

Originally posted by Montage Inc
I forgot the most important factor> The 24/7 server admin will be remote basis only.
Thanks

If they're remote, you might want to look in to hiring someone from India. You'll find highly skilled sysadmins there with much lower rates than Americans.

Hmmm... Full time server admin, on call 24/7. It takes alot to be on call 24/7. What if you're at a movie and the phone rings? What if you're wife's having a baby? What if you want to go camping for the weekend... I think $4000 a month for a server admin working 9-5 is a steal. (I think average is about $65K) You'd have to be over $120K a year before anyone I know would even give you the time of day.

Aaron

Your best bet would a firm that deals in providing outsourced system administration.

I think you will get the most bang for your buck if you spread out there services to different people / organizations.

It seems like you're looking for 3 or 4 different "skill sets / service offerings"

1 - 24/7 Server Monitoring & Response, Control Panel Support, Initial Setup Configuration, Firewall configuration etc - all of these tasks can likely be handled by a managed dedicated server provider.

2 - Server Optimziation / Tuning - your managed hosting provider will likely be able to provide you with these services, as well for an additional fee. Their expertise in the matter will likely be worth any price premium you might pay.

3 - Custom Control Panel Modules - It sounds like you're looking for a 3rd-party to write scripts here that will extend that capablities of your CP. You will need an experienced developer here, and I might be going out on a limb here, but you might even be able to contract for these services with the company who makes your control panel.

4 - CGI Script Installation - Most companies that offer CGI scripts also offer installation services. Let them do the installation for whatever fee they charge! They will be most knowledgeable about how their script should be setup. They will likely do the best job in the least amount of time for a reasonable about of money.

If you hire 1 person for all of these tasks, you will end up shelling out a LOT of money. You're basically looking for someone who is extremely knowledgeable and competant with a very wide spectrum of technologies. Server Configuration. Performance Tuning. Security Auditing. Firewall Configuration / Management. CGI Script Installation. Software Development. 24/7 Availablilty.

What is 24/7? If you really, truely want your tech there 24/7 it will cost you a bundle. I am assuming you just want them to frequently check up and try to crawl to the server when a problem comes.

Just from reading what you wrote, I am assuming you co-located yourself. It sounds like you haven't had an employee before, so I am assuming you are co-locating, thus you might check out what the company you are co-locating through has to offer. I am sure they have some package deals where they can offer you some monitoring or installation services.

Originally posted by tribby


If they're remote, you might want to look in to hiring someone from India. You'll find highly skilled sysadmins there with much lower rates than Americans.

this is not entirely true. Its very hard to find a person who can do all stuff for you. You have to take interviews fix terms and all sort of stuff.

Also generally new admins who know NT and Linux don't have sufficient knowledge about web hosting servers and how to actually manage it.

As someone suggest what you can do if he screwed your server?

It will be best for him to go with his dedicated provider and let them provide him managed services and distribute the work through different companies as suggested by Jay Suds.

also I haven't seen any human who is 24/7 ;)

i agree, no one is 24/7. the only outsourced administration and support i'd look into would be one provided by a company that has the personnel to be able to provide such services around the clock.

being on-call is another matter, even then i'd expect to pay a premium to the consultant. because he is on-call and being paid as such, he could be trusted enough to solve your problems, or his job would be on the line.

going for freelancer's is something that make or break what you're doing. someone who knows how to do all those things would probably be running a hosting company of their own.

anantatman
going for freelancer's is something that make or break what you're doing. someone who knows how to do all those things would probably be running a hosting company of their own.


well said :agree:

Yes, I plan to hire 2 remote server admin in shifts of 12 hours which will cover 24/7. What should I expect to pay each. I don't want to get overcharged and I don't want ro underpay either.
Thanks!

Have you thought about using a third party company like www.bobcares.com?

Originally posted by Montage Inc
Yes, I plan to hire 2 remote server admin in shifts of 12 hours which will cover 24/7. What should I expect to pay each. I don't want to get overcharged and I don't want ro underpay either.
Thanks!

It depends of the countries they are from, I don't think it's possible to give you an exact amount. Besides, it also depends on a person's experience and skills.
In general, a server admin in the US will expect a lot more money than one in India..
Just an idea, but maybe you can ask them what they want to earn and then see if that is within your budget?

Do you think $1000/ month for 24/7 remote server admin is priced right?
Thanks!

$1000/month isn't enough for a server admin in my country (which is Belgium), and neither for one in the US, but I assume that it's more than enough for people in some other countries...

Make a job offer in the Job Offers and Requests forum, then you'll know if people are interested.

I as a sysadmin wouldn't work full 12 hour shifts, unless I was getting atleast 20/hour...

Really 3 people working 3 shifts would be best, because there is alot of downtime in being a sysadmin..

And like said above, prolly split the job, you can get a less experinced person for the script installs..

You might outsource to a server admin company, they can afford to pay a team for 24/7 on call...

You really don't need one person full time.. And your asking for work of 5+ people outa one of two people....


Don't expect 1000/month is gonna get you much :D

Why is being a serveradmin such a well paid job? I mean how long does it really take to learn how to administrate servers?

Originally posted by SplashHost.com
Why is being a serveradmin such a well paid job? I mean how long does it really take to learn how to administrate servers?

A real sysadmin will know more things that are taught in books...

I've read a few linux books, and I know 5 better ways of doing things differntly in them... It comes with experince...

Besides, would you give up half of your life for 1000/month?

12 hours a day, 7 days a week is alot...

I'm saying, break the stuff down into differnt jobs...

The script installs can be done by someone not as qualified...

People want EVERYTHING for nothing. WHT is good for that. : )

yeah, i need about 4 techs, all SAIR linux and MCSE certified, with 10 years experience, and i'm only ready to pay $19.99 per month!!

I really don't know if it is right to post over here or not but we do provide 24/7 sysadmin services by making 3 people working in shifts for you and we charge $2500 per month for that( with no healthcare benefits etc to worry about). We are located in Ohio and we are good at it. ;)


Just to add we also offer programming services in similar way and offer full time programmers on monthly basis to work for you remotely. I'm not advertising my company as I don't have any link in post or in my profile so I guess it is fine to post it over here.

Just get a managed server from rackspace or dialtone.

i love my dialtone server :D

Originally posted by Montage Inc

Installation/support/monitoring for hosting automation software
Server configuration, optimization and tuning services
Server monitoring/administration
Software updates
Repair services
Custom security measures and server side firewall solutions
Control panel installation and support
Custom add-on modules for control panels, which automate routine tasks like user registration, accounting traffic management etc.
Bandwidth throttling utility
Installation of cgi scripts.


Thanks!

I think bobcares.com does the basics for free (monitoring, and minimal administration)... this is all you need done 24/7, then you could get someone (a developer - and there are a lot more developers than sys admins out there) part-time, or even freelance to do the rest!

hey man $4000 a month isnt bad for a server admin and web master (the cgi-script istaller)... i remember 2 years ago a person like thins made 300k working for a isp. and a server admin alone made aatleast 120k a year.... and you will want to pay him salery... dont do hourly wages on a job like this.. for 1) you could get ripped off cuz the person wont be working as fast or as hard to get the server back up. and the server being up all the time is vital to buisness.... especily hosting. 2) when your server is up and stable.. he might try to knock it down so he can get paid money... (you may think that is funny and might not belive me but it has happened)..... 3) just pay him salery ok?

I suppose it depends on the level of server admin you need. An 18-19 year old with 1-2 years experience could probably do most things needed and i doubt you would still pay him $4k/month.

I think the OP is looking for a per incident type of deal. Not someone to work exclusively for him on salary. If you have only a few servers you're not going to pay a staff of three 4k a month each when those few servers only require about five or ten admin type tasks a month, just as the person who needs a doctor doesn't typically hire one full time.

I've been working with Unix for the past 6 years and I make under $4k/month. I took a job that provided me A LOT of freedom (working from home, make my own hours essentially) in return for a smaller paycheck. This lets me enjoy my personal life much more, and it allows me to work when I feel the most motivated (I *enjoy* my work).

I think most people are like me... unless you're offering some sort of beneficial situation to the employee, then they won't take your $1000/month (at least not where i am from).

Unlike an education/research non-profit company, you are a FOR-profit company, we all know what our hard work is doing... lining your pockets.

Originally posted by clockwork
Unlike an education/research non-profit company, you are a FOR-profit company, we all know what our hard work is doing... lining your pockets.
Maybe you should run your own business and have your own employees. You'd discover that an employee is hardly "lining your pockets". An employee is a part of the delicate balance of income verses expenditure. They deliver a service and a benefit to the business model. When times are tough and competition is high, pressures are placed on the revenue model and subsequently the overall cashflow.

It's simply wrong for you to state that all employees are lining their boss's pockets.

Originally posted by Aussie Bob

Maybe you should run your own business and have your own employees. You'd discover that an employee is hardly "lining your pockets". An employee is a part of the delicate balance of income verses expenditure. They deliver a service and a benefit to the business model. When times are tough and competition is high, pressures are placed on the revenue model and subsequently the overall cashflow.

It's simply wrong for you to state that all employees are lining their boss's pockets.

What's the point of a for-profit company?
Unless my ideas are flawed, it is to make a profit - that is the goal.

Originally posted by clockwork
What's the point of a for-profit company?
Unless my ideas are flawed, it is to make a profit - that is the goal.
It's just your notion that all employees are lining their bosses pockets is far from reality. How many employees do you have? You'll find that reality is a little different from your preconceived perceptions. :)

Originally posted by Aussie Bob

It's just your notion that all employees are lining their bosses pockets is far from reality. How many employees do you have? You'll find that reality is a little different from your preconceived perceptions. :)

You're missing my point, you are looking at an employee in terms of business. That is my entire point.

Originally posted by clockwork
You're missing my point, you are looking at an employee in terms of business. That is my entire point.
And you think that that employee will be profitable for you? This is not necessarily the case.

Originally posted by Aussie Bob

And you think that that employee will be profitable for you? This is not necessarily the case.

You stated "They deliver a service and a benefit to the business model" - Exactly. A business. There to make money.

If that's the case, I would EXPECT reasonable wages to be offered. I am saying that certain situations merit lower wages, such as working for a company that has a goal other than to generate revenue for themselves.

I guess money isn't high on my list for motivating factors when taking a job, so I am in the minority it seems(?)

My squabble wasn't with you Bob, rather the guy wondering if $1000/month to work and be on-call 24/7 is fair.

Originally posted by clockwork
My squabble wasn't with you Bob, rather the guy wondering if $1000/month to work and be on-call 24/7 is fair.
:) No squabbles here :D just discussions that might get a bit "lively". :D

I'm sure there's a huge market out there for outsourced sys admins that work their own hours and when required etc. It all comes down to how the sys admin fits into the business cashflow and model of the host they're working for...