10 Must-Have System Admin Tools

 

How Top 10 tools were selected

We enlisted the expertise of seasoned system administrators and IT professionals to assess a wide array of tools based on several criteria. These criteria included ease of use, functionality, compatibility with various systems, and the tool’s ability to address common challenges faced by system administrators. Additionally, we considered community feedback and the Google web admin tool‘s popularity within the IT community to ensure that our recommendations are not only effective but also trusted by professionals in the field.

 

Our goal is to provide system administrators with a toolkit that enhances their efficiency, security, and ability to scale operations. Whether you’re managing a sprawling network, securing sensitive data, or automating routine tasks, our list encompasses tools that have been rigorously tested and highly recommended by industry veterans. From network analysis and configuration management to secure password storage and effective communication, these tools are essential for any system administrator looking to streamline their workflows and bolster their system’s reliability.

 

This curated selection is your compass in the vast sea of system administration tools, guiding you to the solutions that have been proven to deliver results. Let’s dive into the tools that make the cut and explore how they can transform your approach to system administration.

 

 

Top Free System Admin Tools

1. CloneZilla

CloneZilla is the Ultimate Disk Imaging & Cloning Solution for SysAdmins. With its ability to clone entire hard drives or individual partitions, CloneZilla allows sysadmins to quickly and easily create backup copies of essential data and systems. Additionally, its support for a variety of file systems, including NTFS and EXT, makes it a versatile tool that can be used on a wide range of systems. 

What businesses is it for? Can be used by businesses of all sizes and industries.

Pricing: Free

Where to get: Clonezilla

 

2. WireShark

WireShark is an indispensable tool for system administrators, offering the capability to inspect network traffic with unparalleled precision across a range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Unix. 

What businesses is it for? Can be used by businesses of all sizes and industries to analyze and troubleshoot network issues.

Pricing: Free

Where to get: WireShark

 

3. Fiddler

Fiddler is user-friendly, customizable with advanced features such as custom scripting and extensions, and is essential for anyone working with web applications and services. It provides complete visibility into the communication between systems and the web, enabling sys admins to identify any performance bottlenecks. 

What businesses is it for? It’s universal!

Pricing: Pro Plan starts with $12 (billed annually), Enterprise plan starts with $35 per user. 

Where to get: Fiddler

 

4. Notepad++

Notepad++ is highly customizable, with options for customizing hotkeys, menus, and plug-ins, making it an ideal tool for sysadmins who value a tailored editing experience. With its powerful capabilities, Notepad++ is a must-have tool for any sysadmin who spends significant time editing and analyzing code.

What businesses is it for? Works for all business types.

Pricing: As on April 2024, Notepad++ is still completely free to use. 

Where to get: Notepad++ 

 

5. 7-Zip

7-Zip has a high compression ratio, which means it can significantly reduce the size of large files, making it easier and faster to transfer or store data. It is also highly secure, with the option to encrypt archives with a password, providing an extra layer of protection for sensitive data. 

What businesses is it for? There are no limitations on who can benefit from it.

Pricing: Free

Where to get: 7-Zip Download

A popular alternative to 7-Zip is WinRAR. Here’s a quick comparison chart between these two apps.

 

7-Zip	WinRAR
Windows, Linux, and macOS	Windows only
Compresses in 7z, GZIP, XZ, BZIP2, WIM, ZIP, and TAR, and can unpack a wide range of formats	Compresses in RAR or ZIP only and can unpack RAR, ARJ, LZH, GZip, UUE, CAB, TAR, ISO, Z, 7-Zip, and BZIP2
Open source, free	$29.99 plus $4.35 for maintenance package – lifetime; offers a 40-day free trial
Compresses up to 40% of the original file in 7z format. Uses archiving to compress.	Compresses up to 40% of the original file in the RAR format. Uses archiving.
256-bit AES password enabled encryption	256-bit password encryption

As you can see, choosing an open source free 7-Zip app to cover your system administrator’s daily tasks of compressing files makes total sense.

 

6. Nagios

Nagios is a powerful monitoring tool that allows system administrators to identify and resolve IT infrastructure problems before they affect critical business processes. It provides monitoring of network services (SMTP, POP3, HTTP, NNTP, ICMP, SNMP, FTP, SSH), host resources (processor load, disk usage, system logs) among others in real-time, ensuring that system performance is maintained and downtime minimized.

What businesses is it for? Works great for all team sizes.

Pricing: Nagios has a Free plan that includes 7 nodes or 100 services (whichever is reached first). Standard plan starts with $2,495 for 100 nodes

Where to get: Nagios

 

7. Slack

Slack’s ability to seamlessly integrate with various tools and its capability to format code within chat messages makes it valuable for facilitating collaborative workflows and efficient team communication. This versatility is what has propelled its popularity and established it as one of the favorite team collaboration software.

What businesses is it for? Works great for all businesses, while offering some special enterprise features.

Pricing: Slack is available for free. However, if you need more advanced features beyond personal use, it might make sense to go for a Pro plan. 

 

Slack Free plan	Slack Paid Plan
Messages stored for 90 days	Unlimited storage history
Audio and video conversations with screen sharing are for 1:1 huddles only	Audio and video conversations with screen sharing are available for all huddles
1:1 messages to outside organisations	Slack Connect
Integrations to other tools are limited to 10	Unlimited integrations with other tools
No automations available	Workflow builder

Where to Get: Slack