Application Administrators Handbook

An application administrator installs, updates, optimizes, debugs and otherwise maintains computer applications for an organization. In most cases, these applications have been licensed from a third party, but they may have been developed internally. Examples of application types include enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer resource management (CRM), and point of sale (POS), legal contract management, time tracking, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, SOX compliance tracking, budgeting, forecasting and training. In many cases, the organization is absolutely dependent that these applications be kept running. The importance of application administrators and the level to which organizations depend upon them is easily overlooked.

Application Administrators Handbook provides an overview of every phase of administering an application, from working with the vendor before installation, the installation process itself, importing data into the application, handling upgrades, working with application users to report problems, scheduling backups, automating tasks that need to be done on a repetitive schedule, and finally retiring an application. It provides detailed, hands-on instructions on how to perform many specific tasks that an application administrator must be able to handle.

• Learn how to install, administer and maintain key software applications throughout the product life cycle
• Get detailed, hands-on instructions on steps that should be taken before installing or upgrading an application to ensure continuous operation
• Identify repetitive tasks and find out how they can be automated, thereby saving valuable time
• Understand the latest on government mandates and regulations, such as privacy, SOX, HIPAA, PCI, and FISMA and how to fully comply

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. What does an Application Administrator do?
Chapter 2. Design of Systems
Chapter 3. Architecture
Chapter 4. Features Common to Many Applications
Chapter 5. Application Specifics
Chapter 6. Configuration Management
Chapter 7. Change Control
Chapter 8. Installing Software
Chapter 9. Software support
Chapter 10. Updates and Patches
Chapter 11. Supporting Existing Applications
Chapter 12. Handling Problems with Applications
Chapter 13. Repetitive Applications
Chapter 14. Security
Chapter 15. The Server
Chapter 16. Tuning Applications
Chapter 17. The Network
Chapter 18. The Organization
Chapter 19. The Users Viewpoint
Chapter 20. The Vendors
Chapter 21. The Consultants
Chapter 22. The Government Gets Involved
Chapter 23. Common Systems Tools
Chapter 24. Systems Tools Microsoft
Chapter 25. Systems Tools UNIX/Linux
Chapter 26. Tools you Should Develop
Chapter 27. Third Party Tools
Chapter 28. Troubleshooting Tips
Chapter 29. Things to Advance that Payoff
Chapter 30. Things That Will Happen That You Don’t Want to Think About
Chapter 31. The End of Days: Decommissioning an Application
Chapter 32. What Every Application Administrator should know
Chapter 33. Education
Chapter 34. Parting Advice: Advice Unsolicited