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

Application Administrators, Computer and Network Systems Managers

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