For those who have no idea what I do (i.e. the exgf who thought I did “HTML” for a living) … the site sums it pretty well.

From SysAdminDay.Com:

A
sysadmin
unpacked the server for this website from its box, installed an
operating system, patched it for security, made sure the power and
air conditioning was working in the server room, monitored it for
stability, set up the software, and kept backups in case anything
went wrong. All to serve this webpage.

A
sysadmin
installed the routers, laid the cables, configured the networks, set
up the firewalls, and watched and guided the traffic for each hop of
the network that runs over copper, fiber optic glass, and even the
air itself to bring the Internet to your computer. All to make sure
the webpage found its way from the server to your computer.

Fig. 1 Ted.

A
sysadmin
makes sure your network connection is safe, secure, open, and
working. A sysadmin makes sure your computer is
working in a healthy way on a healthy network. A sysadmin
takes backups to guard against disaster both human and otherwise,
holds the gates against security threats and crackers, and keeps the
printers going no matter how many copies of the tax code someone
from Accounting prints out.

 

A
sysadmin
worries about spam, viruses, spyware, but also power outages, fires
and floods.

When the email server goes down at 2 AM on a Sunday, your

sysadmin is paged, wakes up, and goes to work.

A
sysadmin
is a professional, who plans, worries, hacks, fixes, pushes,
advocates, protects and creates good computer networks, to get you
your data, to help you do work — to bring the potential of
computing ever closer to reality.

So if you can read this, thank your sysadmin — and
know he or she is only one of dozens or possibly hundreds whose work
brings you the email from your aunt on the West Coast, the instant
message from your son at college, the free phone call from the
friend in Australia, and this webpage.

Show your appreciation

Friday, July 25th, 2008, is the 9th
annual System Administrator Appreciation Day.
On this special international day, give your System Administrator
something that shows that you truly appreciate their hard work and
dedication.

Let’s face it,
System Administrators get no respect 364 days a year. This is the
day that all fellow System Administrators across the globe, will be
showered with expensive sports cars and large piles of cash in
appreciation of their diligent work. But seriously, we are asking
for a nice token gift and some public acknowledgement. It’s the
least you could do.

Consider all the
daunting tasks and long hours (weekends too.) Let’s be honest,
sometimes we don’t know our System Administrators as well as they
know us. Remember this is one day to recognize your System
Administrator for their workplace contributions and to promote
professional excellence. Thank them for all the things they do for
you and your business.