{"id":376,"date":"2025-04-25T23:55:56","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T23:55:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/zavier-basnight\/?page_id=376"},"modified":"2025-04-29T02:35:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T02:35:17","slug":"skill-page","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/zavier-basnight\/skill-page\/","title":{"rendered":"Skills Page"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Skill 1: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) & Automation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By leveraging automation tools such as Terraform and Ansible, I was able to provision infrastructure and do at scale and manage configuration. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) enables repeatable, reliable and collaborative workflows in DevOps pipelines. Using Terraform, I wrote declarative code to define infrastructure resources such as virtual machines, networking and storage and used Ansible to automate configuration management and deployments. My use of these tools developed my knowledge of version control, idempotency, modularity, and scalability and prepared me for a career in DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artifact 1: Terraform Script for VM Provisioning on Proxmox VE<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Description:<\/strong> A Terraform configuration file used to automate the provisioning of virtual machines in Proxmox VE. The script defines VM parameters such as CPU, RAM, disk size, and ISO source, ensuring consistency across deployments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This artifact demonstrates my ability to use Infrastructure as Code to manage resources in a declarative way. With this Terraform script, I provision multiple VMs quickly and consistently, a key skill in DevOps environments focused on scalability and automation.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Artifact 2: Ansible Playbook for VM Configuration<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Description:<\/strong> An Ansible playbook that automates post-deployment configuration of VMs, installing required packages, setting users, and applying baseline security settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This artifact highlights my automation skills using Ansible to perform server setup tasks efficiently. It’s a demonstration of how DevOps engineers can enforce configuration standards and reduce human error through automation.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Artifact 3: IaC Deployment Workflow Documentation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Description:<\/strong> A step-by-step workflow document that outlines the complete process of provisioning and configuring VMs using both Terraform and Ansible, showing how they integrate into a seamless automation pipeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This artifact shows how I combine tools such as Terraform and Ansible into an efficient DevOps pipeline. It reflects my understanding of end-to-end automation \u2014 from infrastructure provisioning to configuration \u2014 which is critical in modern cloud and hybrid environments.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Skill 2: System Administration & Server Management<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The end goal of a solid skill-set for the DevOps Engineer is to produce system administration manuals, or troubleshooting documentation that improves operational function and knowledge transition by being resonably clear enough to accomplish the goals of the DevOps Engineer, and ensure that the operational function is fast and available and can, likewise, deploy pipelines constitute that same smoothness of operational command. Technical troubleshooting, documenting configurations, dashboarding, and resolving solutions should certainly produce value by providing clarity and-by repetition-and by tangibility. The best documentation saves money and time every time something was able to be referenced. At the end of the day, documentation ensure communication and collaboration possibilities between developers, engineers, and support people. Every piece of documentation is a critical piece in goal of reducing downtime along with increasing automation, and equally, a necessary evil in the world of fast-paced DevOps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artifact 1: Server Configuration & Maintenance Guide
<\/strong>Description: A detailed document outlining the setup and configuration of a Linux server (or multiple servers), including the installation of necessary software, system security, and troubleshooting procedures. This document will serve as a comprehensive guide to ensuring the server is secure, efficient, and properly configured for long-term use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This artifact demonstrates my ability to systematically configure and maintain Linux-based servers. It includes step-by-step instructions for setting up the server, ensuring security best practices, and maintaining the server’s health through regular updates and checks.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Artifact 2: Automated Server Deployment Using Ansible
<\/strong>Description: An Ansible playbook or set of scripts used to automate the deployment of servers or server configurations. This artifact will show your expertise in automating repetitive tasks, such as configuring users, installing software packages, or applying security settings across multiple machines in a scalable way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This artifact represents my ability to use automation tools such as Ansible to simplify server management. The playbook automates key administrative tasks, reducing manual effort and minimizing human error, which is crucial in a DevOps environment.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Artifact 3: Proxmox VE VM Management & Deployment Workflow
<\/strong>Description: A workflow document or step-by-step guide for deploying and managing virtual machines (VMs) using Proxmox VE. This could include creating VMs, configuring resources, and managing virtualized environments. It should highlight your understanding of virtualization concepts and your ability to efficiently manage and scale systems using Proxmox VE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This diagram illustrates the automated process of provisioning the virtual machines using Terraform and configuring it using Ansible. Terraform takes care of the infrastructure provisioning and Ansible manages the configurations after the initial setup. They can be combined together to develop a streamlined and repeatable DevOps pipeline.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Skill 3: Monitoring & Logging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a DevOps environment, maintaining system reliability requires proactive monitoring and detailed logging. I\u2019ve utilized tools such as the Elastic Stack (ELK), systemd, and journalctl to track system performance, identify anomalies, and troubleshoot issues across multiple servers. Understanding how to collect, parse, and visualize logs is critical for keeping infrastructure healthy and secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artifact 1: Elastic Stack Log Monitoring Setup
<\/strong>Description: A document or screenshot-based guide showing how you set up Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana to collect and visualize logs from your servers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This artifact demonstrates my ability to implement centralized log monitoring. By configuring the ELK Stack, I enabled real-time log analysis and visualization for more effective troubleshooting and system insights.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Artifact 2: System Resource & Uptime Monitoring Script
<\/strong>Description: A Bash or Python script that monitors CPU usage, memory, disk space, or system uptime, with automated alerting or logging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This artifact showcases my scripting skills in building lightweight system monitoring tools, useful for tracking performance and spotting issues before they escalate.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Artifact 3: Journalctl & Systemd Troubleshooting Logs
<\/strong>Description: A real or sample set of troubleshooting steps using journalctl or systemctl commands, showing how you diagnosed and resolved an issue (e.g., service crash or system boot failure).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This artifact reflects my ability to work with Linux system logs and services, which is essential for diagnosing issues in production environments.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Skill 1: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) & Automation By leveraging automation tools such as Terraform and Ansible, I was able to provision infrastructure and do at scale and manage configuration. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) enables repeatable, reliable and collaborative workflows in DevOps pipelines. Using Terraform, I wrote declarative code to define infrastructure resources such as… <\/p>\n

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