System Administrator Tools

Tools for remote administration, monitoring, logs, backup, storage, automation and security.

Who this toolkit is for

For system administrators who look after servers and fleets of computers.

Operating system:Windows macOS Linux

Distribution (optional)Ubuntu Debian Linux Mint Fedora Arch Linux Manjaro openSUSE Kali Linux Other / Not sure

Essential (4)

Core tools that are broadly useful.

Remote Administration

OpenSSH
Open Source
Why you may need this: Administer servers securely.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install openssh-client
```
Details

System Monitoring

htop
Open Source
Why you may need this: See processes and resource use on Linux servers.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install htop
```
Details

Automation

PowerShell 7
Open Source
Why you may need this: Automate Windows administration with scripts and modules.
View official installation instructions
Details

Terminal

tmux
Open Source
Why you may need this: Keep sessions running after you disconnect.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install tmux
```
Details

Recommended (5)

Useful for particular parts of the work or course.

Logs

lnav
Open Source
Why you may need this: Search and navigate Linux log files.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install lnav
```
Details

Backup

restic
Open Source
Why you may need this: Encrypted, deduplicated backups to local or cloud storage.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install restic
```
Details

Virtualisation

Virtual Machine Manager
Open Source
Why you may need this: Manage KVM virtual machines on Linux.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install virt-manager
```
Details

Automation

Ansible
Open Source
Why you may need this: Configure many Linux servers consistently.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install ansible
```
Details

File Transfer

rsync
Open Source
Why you may need this: Copy and mirror files efficiently over SSH.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install rsync
```
Details

Specialist / Optional · Show specialist tools (11)

Consider these for particular modules, tasks or environments.

Remote Administration

PuTTY
Open Source
Why you may need this: Graphical SSH client for Windows.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install putty
```
Details See alternatives

System Monitoring

btop
Open Source
Why you may need this: Detailed resource monitor for Linux.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install btop
```
Details
Glances
Open Source
Why you may need this: Overview of a whole system, also through a browser.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install glances
```
Details

Networking

MTR
Open Source
Why you may need this: Trace loss and latency to a host.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install mtr
```
Details
Nmap
Open Source
Why you may need this: Check which services are reachable on hosts you manage.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install nmap
```
Details See alternatives

Backup

BorgBackup
Open Source
Why you may need this: Deduplicated, encrypted archives over SSH.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install borgbackup
```
Details
Timeshift
Open Source
Why you may need this: System snapshots before updates.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install timeshift
```
Details

Storage

GParted
Open Source
Why you may need this: Partition management on Linux.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install gparted
```
Details

Virtualisation

VirtualBox
Open Source
Why you may need this: Cross-platform desktop virtualisation.
View official installation instructions
Details

Security

Lynis
Open Source
Why you may need this: Audit Linux server hardening.
APT (verified)
```
sudo apt install lynis
```
Details
Sysmon
Free
Why you may need this: Log detailed Windows activity.
View official installation instructions
Details

Build your System Administrator setup

Build My Setup lets you add or remove apps, combine roles, see why each app is included, and get a single install command where verified packages exist. Nothing is installed automatically.

Build my System Administrator setup on Linux

System Administrator Tools

Who this toolkit is for

Essential (4)

Remote Administration

System Monitoring

Automation

Terminal

Recommended (5)

Logs

Backup

Virtualisation

Automation

File Transfer

Remote Administration

System Monitoring

Networking

Backup

Storage

Virtualisation

Security

Build your System Administrator setup

Related