Installation - Configuration?

[Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>]

Edina Monsoon wondered: <<What are the basic differences between 
*installation*, *configuration*, and *system administration*? In my 
opinion, there is a very thin line between the first two.>>

No, there really is a significant difference between them. Compare the 
root verbs (install and configure) and you'll see why.

An installation places software on your computer or a physical product 
in some physical location. Configuration means either the customization 
that you do once something has been installed, or the instructions you 
provide to the installer (software or human) about which installation 
options to use. In the latter case, configuration steps may be part of 
the overall installation procedure, but they're still separate things: 
install means "put somewhere", whereas configure means "how to put it 
there or why".

Last but not least, administration means "to administer": to babysit 
and sweet-talk and thwack and threaten and fine-tune the thing you just 
installed. This may involve additional installations (modules, patches) 
and additional configuration (changing settings that didn't work 
right).

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Geoff Hart   ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca
(try geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com if you don't get a reply)
www.geoff-hart.com
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