Systems Engineer – Skills & Expertise

This list covers technologies I have worked with at varying levels, from deep expertise to practical use.

A role-specific selection of skills can be found in my CV.

Table of Contents

Hardware & Vendors

  • Servers: Dell, HPE, Lenovo
  • Storage: Synology, TrueNAS
  • Network: Ubiquiti, HPE Aruba
  • Security: Fortinet, OPNsense, Ubiquiti, Sophos
  • Endpoints: HP, Dell, Lenovo, Apple
  • Remote management: KVM, iDRAC, iLO, IMM

Operating Systems

  • Linux: Ubuntu, Debian
  • Windows: 2008 / 2012 / 2016 / 2019 / 2022 and clients
  • Other: FreeBSD, macOS
  • Command line: Bash, PowerShell

Virtualization & Cloud

  • Hypervisors: VMware vSphere / ESXi, Hyper-V, KVM/QEMU (Proxmox)
  • Containers: LXC, Docker
  • Cloud platforms: Microsoft Azure (VMs, VNets)

Storage & Databases

  • Filesystems & storage: ZFS (TrueNAS, Proxmox), Btrfs (Synology), ext4, NTFS, RAID, iSCSI, NFS, SMB/CIFS
  • Relational databases (RDBMS): PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, MS SQL Server
  • Database tools: pgAdmin, phpMyAdmin

File Transfer & Backup Protocols

  • ZFS: high availability, snapshots, restore, replication
  • Veeam: Backup & Replication
  • Synology: Hyper Backup, Active Backup for Business, Snapshot Replication, Cloud Sync
  • File transfer protocols: rsync, SCP, (S)FTP(S), WebDAV/HTTPS, rclone

Network Services & Security

  • Core protocols: TCP/IP, HTTP/HTTPS, SMTP, SNMP
  • Name & address services: DNS, DHCP (Windows/Linux/FW)
  • VPN technologies: IPsec, WireGuard, OpenVPN
  • Firewall & traffic: rules, NAT, port forwarding
  • Reverse proxy & load balancing: Nginx Proxy Manager, HAProxy
  • Certificates: TLS/SSL lifecycle management, Let’s Encrypt automation
  • Troubleshooting tools: Wireshark, tcpdump, nmap
  • IDS/IPS: Suricata, Zenarmor
  • Collaborative defense: CrowdSec

Identity & Directory Services

  • Directory services: Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
  • Policy management: Group Policy (GPO)
  • Cloud identity: Microsoft Entra ID, Azure AD Connect / Cloud Sync
  • Authentication protocols: LDAP(S), NTLM

System Design & Deployment

  • Storage design: ZFS pools, datasets, quotas, encryption, replication strategies
  • Virtualization clusters: Proxmox/VMware HA, quorum design, failover automation, live migration, shared storage
  • Network design: VLAN segmentation, firewall zoning, VPN deployment, multi-site connectivity, redundant uplinks
  • Installation & configuration: AD DS, file & print services, RDS (Terminal Services), DHCP/DNS, IIS
  • Identity integration: AD join for Linux/Windows, LDAP(S) integration for services
  • Backup strategies: 3-2-1 design, offsite/cloud backup
  • Migration: assessing, planning and executing migrations (servers, storage, AD / Azure AD, applications)
  • Monitoring design: logging, alerting, escalation workflows
  • Patch & lifecycle management: rolling updates, maintenance windows, test-before-prod workflows
  • System optimization: analyzing existing environments, streamlining processes, improving performance and stability.
  • Documentation & handover: runbooks, architecture diagrams, knowledge transfer

Monitoring, Reliability & Performance

  • Monitoring platforms: PRTG, Checkmk, Grafana, Uptime Kuma
  • Log aggregation: syslog, Graylog
  • Network discovery & inventory: NeDi, NetBox

Web & Application Services

  • Web servers: IIS, Apache, NGINX, OpenLiteSpeed
  • Application runtimes: Node.js, REST APIs
  • Web design: HTML, CSS, PHP, JS

Hosted Applications & Services

  • File sharing & collaboration: Nextcloud, Seafile, Syncthing
  • Office & productivity suites: Collabora Online, OnlyOffice
  • Document management: paperless-ngx
  • Remote access: Apache Guacamole (gateway + VDI)
  • Identity & security: Bitwarden, Vaultwarden
  • Content management & e-commerce: WordPress, Joomla, WooCommerce
  • Source code & DevOps: GitLab
  • Business systems: Microsoft Dynamics 365 (CRM)

Collaboration & Daily Operations

  • Microsoft: Office 365, OneDrive
  • ITSM / ITIL tools: OTRS, Freshdesk
  • Remote access & management: SSH, RDP, MobaXterm, TeamViewer, RustDesk

AI & Productivity Tools

  • AI assistants: responsible use for brainstorming, documentation, and research – always with privacy in mind, never on live systems.
  • Design tools: Adobe Photoshop, draw.io

Soft Skills

  • Problem solving: Analytical troubleshooting & root cause analysis
  • Documentation: Clear documentation & knowledge transfer
  • Prioritization: Managing tasks under pressure and deadlines
  • Reliability: Taking ownership to ensure stable, available systems
  • Adaptability: Fast learner, embracing new technologies