UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Can someone tell me what all is involved with being a Unix admin? What I am looking for is advice as far as what skills are needed. Obviously you must know Unix but does a Unix admin also need to know routers and switches and firewalls. I have been looking at jobs for Network Engineers and it seems that you should not only have Windows/Unix experience but also routers switches and firewalls. Obviously the more you know the better but can you get a job knowing Unix and not be a network engineer? It seems a lot of times job postings want you to know everything but I guess I am wondering if there is a difference between a Unix admin and a Network Admin? I know this is a broad question but I am just looking for answers from folks who are employed as a Unix admin and what there duties and responsibilities are for their position. Any help is appreciated.

What you're seeing is a desire to consolidate all skills into the least amount of physical bodies. It helps to know everything.

A lot of "System Administration" jobs now are actually not so much "System Administration" but "Application Administration" targeting specific pieces of software. So, it's also important to learn as much about commonly used enterprise level applications as well. At least with the ability to install and configure them (arguably a System Administration skill), but even to the point of knowing how to use the application as well if possible, at least in a rudimentary way.

I've seen jobs so specific as to say (for example) Site Minder Administrator. There they are just wanting a System Admin with heavy Site Minder application experience.

So, anymore, you have to be a bit more than a Unix Sys Admin, a bit more than even a mere Generalist, you have to be all of the above PLUS some specifics in order to land a job. I'm sure there are still some Unix/Generalist Sys Admin positions out there... but people are getting more focused and looking for operators of pre-packaged solutions rather than thinking outside of the box.

Just saying...