Matt Rideout

Linux Systems Administrator

Results-oriented Linux systems administrator with 17 years of proven experience managing heterogeneous networks. Background includes being the lead systems administration and InfoSec team lead for a software company. Before that, I administered a major university’s Linux cluster, where custom modifications were made to optimize load balancing, and reduce disk usage by 97%. I also have experience running a technology consultancy, which has improved my ability to see technology from a business’s perspective and be self-directed.

Work Experience

DRH Internet Inc.

Schneider, IN
Lead System Administrator
2010 - Present

I head up the systems administration and InfoSec teams for this email software company:

  • Set up and maintained the systems required to extend the company's on-premises email software offering into a SaaS offering. This included configuring KVM hosts, establishing backup and restoration procedures, and automating steps of the service provisioning process.
  • Developed the company's high availability cluster offering, which utilizes a combination of DRBD, PostgreSQL streaming replication, and in-house software to provide an active/passive cluster running email, web and database services.
  • Wrote most of the company's customer-facing technical documentation and a number of the company's blog posts.
  • Built and tuned Linux email servers that are each capable of sending millions of emails per hour.
  • InfoSec Team Lead: responsibilities in this area include advising the CEO on the company security policy, implementing the security policy, training employees and performing periodic vulnerability assessments.

Wind Serve, LLC

Epworth, GA
IT Consultant
2002 - Present

I run this technology consulting business that works with Linux systems administration, web development, and related technologies:

  • Technical lead on a Linux, Solaris and FreeBSD server migration project for the world’s largest automotive wholesaler.
  • Implemented disaster recovery and capacity overflow solutions for customers’ Linux servers using the Amazon EC2 cloud.
  • Developed DNS Check - a service that monitors DNS records for changes, and provides troubleshooting and change request tools. This is mostly a Rails application.
  • Web development is primarily in Ruby on Rails, but also includes work with the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Python/Perl) stack.
  • Web hosting business.
  • Wireless ISP from 2002 to 2003. Designed and construct a wireless mesh network using off the shelf 802.11b and proprietary 900MHz hardware. Phased out to focus on consulting.

University of South Florida

Lakeland, FL
Linux System Administrator
2006 - 2009

Worked on USF's Beowulf Linux cluster (SOFTICE):

  • Configured the cluster to generate networking labs made up of virtualized Linux routers, switches and servers. These were used to teach students about computer networking.
  • Wrote a patch for MLN (Manage Large Networks) software which reduced the disk usage of each virtual host by approximately 97%.
  • Collaborated with IT Program Director to maintain the cluster.

MCC Life Brokerage

Tampa, FL
System Administrator
2000 - 2010
  • Sole IT employee for most of this period. Managed a heterogeneous network of Linux, Windows, FreeBSD and Mac OS X based systems.
  • Worked with IT staff following a merger to integrate the voice and data networks across sites. Became the company-wide Linux systems administrator following the merger.

Lakeland High School

Lakeland, FL
Sysadmin's Assistant
1999 - 2000
  • Assisted systems administrator in the day-to-day operations of the campus network.
  • Assisted electronics teacher with repairing and building PCs and building a classroom LAN.

Professional Skills

Systems Administration

Linux systems administration is my strongest skill. I'm at home in Red Hat and Debian based distros. I'm also comfortable with FreeBSD, Solaris, and macOS. I'm strong on virtualization, including KVM, and common network services like Apache, BIND, Postfix, Dovecot, PureFTPd, NFS, OpenSSH, and OpenVPN. I have experience automating tasks with Puppet, Cobbler, and Kickstart.

Security

Experience includes system hardening, firewall and IPS configuration, encrypting storage and communications, using secure coding practices, performing vulnerability assessments, working with management to create and update security policies, and training users.

High Availability Computing

I'm experienced with configuring high availability services, including DRBD, pacemaker, various load balancers, HSRP, VRRP, and CARP. I'm also experienced with configuring monitoring and notification systems including Nagios, Xymon, and PagerDuty.

Networking

I'm a networking geek at heart. I'm familiar with Cisco router and switch configuration, abusing Linux routing tables in interesting ways, configuring VPNs, setting up Linux and pfSense firewalls, and using low levels tools like packet sniffers and netcat to troubleshoot issues. I'm also experienced with long range wireless networking using both 802.11x and proprietary equipment and am a licensed amateur radio extra.

Development

Most of my development experience revolves around Ruby on Rails applications and automating systems administration tasks with Ruby and bash scripts. I'm also familiar with PHP, Perl, JavaScript, CSS and a little bit of C.

Database Administration

I'm experienced with using, administering and tuning PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite (in that order of competency). This includes PostgreSQL and MySQL replication. I have limited experience with Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and Sybase.

Education

BS in Information Technology

University of South Florida
2004 - 2006
Recruited by the professor of an Operating Systems class I took in my senior year to work on the SOFTICE cluster described in Work Experience.

AS in Computer Network Engineering Technology

Polk State College
2000 - 2002
Included Cisco Networking Academy semesters 1-4 as part of core coursework and 5-7 as electives.

Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

(ISC)²
2017 - Present

CCNA Routing and Switching

Cisco
2000 - Present

Security+

CompTIA
2016 - Present

Linux+

CompTIA
2009 - Present

Microsoft Certified Professional

Microsoft
2001 - Present

Certified Novell Administrator

Novell
2001 - Present

Network+ Certified Professional

CompTIA
2000 - Present

A+ Certified Service Technician

CompTIA
1999 - Present