System Administrtion as a User Interface: An Extended Metaphor

Many people have spent many hours searching for the right user interface. Many people have spent many hours searching for the definition of the right user interface. Many people have spent many hours decrying the wrong user interface (whatever that may be). One user interface which is often overlooked is the System Administrator.

What are the qualities of a good user interface? Some of the features most often mentioned are:

• User-friendly
• Extensible, adaptable to the user's skill level
• Gives useful error messages
• Hides underlying system's gore
• Offers easy access to helpful information
• A terrific look-and-feel

This paper will discuss each of these features with regard to the interface between the user and the system administrator.