The Evolution of System Administration with NetActuate and TriLUG Elections!

As technology infrastructure evolves, so too does the role of the system administrator. What was once a role defined by hands-on hardware management and server uptime has grown into a dynamic, automation-driven, and highly strategic discipline. In this talk, Craig Jackson from NetActuate explores the transformation of system administration from traditional break-fix and maintenance tasks to modern expectations that include infrastructure as code, cloud orchestration, cybersecurity awareness, observability, and cross-team collaboration. We'll examine how the rise of DevOps culture, containers, and platform engineering has reshaped not just the tools sysadmins use, but also the mindset required to stay effective and relevant. This session is both a retrospective and a call to action: to embrace adaptability, continuous learning, and the shift from "keeping the lights on" to becoming infrastructure architects and enablers of innovation.

A lifelong Linux and Unix enthusiast, Craig got his start as a hobbyist in his adolescence, eventually working in dial-up internet support through the 90s and early 2000s. During college, he interned at a healthcare hosting company, where he deepened his understanding of infrastructure and real-world operations. He later took a career turn into healthcare, stepping away from tech for a time. When he returned to the internet world, he found a landscape transformed—where scripts became pipelines, servers became containers, and sysadmins became automation engineers. Now established in the cloud networking and DevOps world @ NetActuate, he's been on a continual path of rediscovery, bridging old-school fundamentals with modern infrastructure requirements.

On another note, TriLUG elections are upon us! TriLUG needs YOU to help with the week to week operations and steer the direction of TriLUG for the next year (May - May). As described in https://trilug.org/about-steering/, there are 5 positions:
- Chair
- Vice Chair
- Treasurer
- PR Officer
- SysAdmin

Together, the individuals elected to these positions do things like:
- Curate speakers for monthly meetings
- Manage TriLUG infrastructure/services
- Coordinate on various TriLUG concerns

Please fill out the form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeLapExAR8nZy2xpPgJZawPAltqDN7J2sRlLOx5Ti1e8vO_Ww/viewform
to put yourself or another as a nominee on the ballot. During the meeting, we will vote on the top 5 nominees who will then become the new Steering Committee for 2025-2026. There will be a lot of challenges in the upcoming year, but there will be ample opportunity to network with others and grow community organization skills.

As usual, pizza and beverages will be provided and the meeting will be held at the North Carolina College of Textiles, room 2207, 1020 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh NC, 27606 at 7:30 PM.

There is an underground parking deck next to the College at the Monteith Engineering Parking Deck. Parking is free after 5 PM.

Lastly, we are always looking for potential speakers! If you or someone you know would like to present on a topic please let us know. Contact the TriLUG Steering Committee by email at [steering@trilug.org](mailto:steering@trilug.org)