Network Design & AdministrationITEC20231Dr Jon Robinson (CIB 308)

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Summary of Module

• Second year module – 20 credits• Pre-requisite: ITEC10241 Introduction to

Networks• Part of Computer Systems Programmes

• Security and Forensics• Networks• Engineering

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Aim of Module

• “To enable you to plan, configure and manage networking solutions to support business needs”

• Must understand business aspects and technical facilities available to achieve the business goals – within the constraints of cost and practically.

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Learning Outcomes

• You should be able to:• Analyse a straightforward need and suggest /

evaluate possible solutions.• Fulfil the legal obligations of a network

administrator.• Setup and manage a server.• Configure appropriate security technology.• Use network / server administration

software.• Interpret technical information.

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Teaching Methods

• Lectures (whole year: 24/25 )• Seminars (approx. 5/6) – requiring groups to

study cases and provide solutions. • 2 hour lab sessions (approx. 10) – carry out

exercises setting up and testing small networks (virtual ones!)

• Additional labs in term 3 on client/server technology (using thin clients and dedicated HP server), forensic technology and (hopefully!) network intrusion / defence.

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Resources

• VLE – Lectures, seminar sheets & lab sheets• MSDN & TechNet• Books:

• “The practice of Systems and Network Administration”, 2nd Edition, T. Limoncelli (ISBN: 0-321-49266-8)

• “Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook”, 4th Edition, E. Nemeth, (ISBN: 978-0-13-148005-6)

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Assessment Methods

• Exam (50%) – testing knowledge of network admin principles and skills at design and evaluation.

• Coursework (50%) – assessing your practical and evaluative abilities, partly from a log book (20%) but mostly from a lab phase test (80%).

• Success requires attendance and interaction at all elements of the module! 7

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Contents

• Similar to parts of Microsoft MCP exams and some Linux content.

• You need to go into much more detail if you wish to take MCP exams – knowing detailed specifics of tools and their limitations.

• Module will use Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Linux to allow exercises to be carried out. 8

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Course Contents• Network Admin – legal requirements and relevant ISO

standards• Monitoring and administering network elements• Powershell scripting and cmdlets• Different server roles• Domains• Users, computers and groups• ACL’s and other aspects of control/monitoring• Backup/recovery• Security and reliability (a bit on encryption!)• Organisation, process and documentation• Cloud Computing & Virtualisation

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Networks – a reminder

• What is it?“A group of interconnected computers” (Wikipedia)

• Why?• In business terms, what do computers do? [1]

• Enhance inter-human communication• Speed up routine tasks• Improve human decision making

• Networks enhance this even further10

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Essentials of a Network

• These days we tend to the Client / Server model with the following elements:• Client – a PC with a GUI to run programs• Server – a more powerful PC providing

services e.g. databases and other applications

• Physical Network – LAN or WAN• Logical Connection – “glue” to connect

client to service 11

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Client/Server Computing

Server

Clients

Router or Gateway

Other networks

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Assumed Network Infrastructure• Physical components – cabling, routers,

gateways, hubs, switched, even free space (wireless).

• Already covered in ITEC10241 and further covered during Communications Technology module.

• We will assume that the technology required is present and (mostly) working. Labs and discussions will concentrate on access control and data structure.

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The One Inviolable Rule

“It is always a compromise”• Any network you build / configure / maintain will

be a compromise…

Features çè Cost

Convenience çè Security

Reliability çèSpeed / Cost14

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Next Time…

• Servers & Services

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References

[1] Network Security. Pardoe & Snyder

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