Automation
Automation dramatically decreases the amount of work each of us IT guys can handle. Repetitive tasks calls for the need for automation. In an ideal situation we as System Admins should automate whatever we can. Once processes are automated our jobs should be to troubleshoot what broke on the automation and or to modify the automation process versus doing all the leg work the automation process takes care of. If a process cannot be automated what I like to do is to automate as much of the process I can and leave some manual work. This method is still better as it still cuts lots of time.
Benefits of automation include:
1. Less mistakes.
It’s easy to make mistakes. We are only humans, most issues in the technology world is human error. Taking human’s manual process helps to limit the mistakes being made. Yes we can mess up on the automation process and screw things up but that’s why we test automation in a testing environment prior to pushing the process to production.
2. Better use of time.
If we take the time to automate and streamline processes we can use our precious time to do other things, perhaps more important. If the process we automate takes 30 minutes to do manually and we automate 5 things, that’s 2.5 hours we can spend our time doing other things.
3. It’s fun.
I have to admit the process of creating automation is fun. Trying to figure out the requirements, the tasks, the tools used and putting it all together is fun. The feeling after you complete the process is also great! I love challenges!
Automation Tools:
These are only some of the tools I use, everyone will have their own methods to the madness.
1. Powershell Scripts
2. Batch Scripts
3. PHP Scripts
4. AutoIT – Visit Site
5. Telerik
6. Cronjobs/Scheduled tasks
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