Gwybodaeth Modiwlau
Module Identifier
CS35320
Module Title
System and Network Services Administration
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Reading List
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 8 Online quizzes in labs (best 6 out of 8) | 40% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours Written Examination | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Written report on lab sessions Resubmission of failed/nonsubmitted coursework and practical components or ones of equivalent value. | 40% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Written Examination | 60% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Select appropriate hardware and systems software for desktop and server deployment.
2. Configure commonly used system and network services.
3. Utilise specialised skills in the area of system and network services administration.
4. Critically evaluate problems in this topic area and exercise significant judgement in the choice of responses over a range of situations.
5. Critically review the professional needs of ICT providers and be able to justify the circumstances when the systematic application of proven formal methodologies is the best way to meet those needs.
Brief description
This module is intended to introduce both professional and technical issues associated with the correct and proper management and administration of computer and network based systems and services. The module will also introduce "methodologies" for IT Service Management.
Aims
This module is intended to introduce both professional and technical issues associated with the correct and proper management and administration of computer and network based systems and services. We believe that it is both important and valuable for our students to gain skill in this area before they go out on Industrial Experience years.
Content
1. Introduction to the Module - 1 Lecture
A general introduction to the module and the topics it will cover.
2. Management Policy Definition - 2 Lectures
Requirements for management policy; establishment of policies; user account management.
3. User Account Management - 2 Practicals
Account management on common operating systems. The creation of user accounts and associated permissions, capabilities and rights, together with filestore associations.
4. System Startup/Shutdown and Process Management - 3 Lectures
The loading of an operating system onto a machine; the requirement for procedures and mechanisms to support the orderly startup and shutdown of systems; the techniques and facilities in common operating systems to support startup and shutdown.
5. System Startup/Shutdown and Process Management Activities - 2 Practicals
Practical experience of starting up and shutting down systems using a variety of common operating systems. Process management on such systems.
6. File Services Administration and File Access Services - 2 Lectures
Local file management. File backup and restoration. The difference between transfer and access; services that provide transfer facilities such as the FTP protocol and its servers and clients; services that provide access facilities, in particular Sun's NFS and ZFS and Microsoft's SMB services; the practical management of FTP, NFS, ZFS and SMB.
7. Naming and Directory Services - 2 Lectures
The requirements and facilities of naming and directory services; actual services such as DNS, LDAP, NIS, finger, whois; the practical management of such services.
8. Management of Naming and Directory Services - 2 Practicals
Practical management of naming and directory services on a range of common operating systems.
9. Firewalls and Network Security - 2 Lectures
The requirements for network security; the role of firewalls and their typical capabilities; network address translation; the practical management of such services.
10. Hardware and System Software Selection - 2 Lectures
The selection of appropriate hardware resources for both server and desktop systems. This will consider such issues as processor selection, memory requirements, network requirements and disk requirements.
11. The role of IT Service Management Methodologies - 2 Lectures
An introduction to the role of service management methodologies such as ITIL.
12. Web server operation and management (2 lectures)
The issues involved in web server management; facilities creation and management; web site protection, restricted access; web caches and proxies; web access and error logs and their analysis; the practical management of such services.
13. Management of web server (1 practicals)
Practical management and administration of typical web servers.
14. Mail service management (2 lectures)
The components of a mail service; mail server administration; mail routing, filtering and re-writing; spam control; supporting protocols such as POP, SMTP, and IMAP; usage logs and their analysis; the practical management of such services.
15. Management of mail services (1 practical)
Practical management of mail services.
16. Server virtualisation (2 lectures)
The growing importance of virtualisation and the capabilities and features of a selection of typical approaches.
17. Project lifecycle simulation (2 lectures)
A project lifecycle simulation using the PRINCE 2 project management methodology with a software/hardware implementation as the worked example.
18. Green IT (1 lecture)
IT and the environment - the need to include an analysis of IT provision in the environmental policy of a corporate organisation.
19. A typical Board Meeting (1 role play exercise)
Simulated presentation to a Board meeting by an IT Director aiming to influence copororate strategy.
20. Emergency planning (1 role play exercise)
Simulated emergency planning meeting DURING a major incident in a corporate environment.
21. Other issues (2 lectures)
A discussion of issues that are currently challenging IT providers.
22. Summary and Conclusions - 1 Lecture
An overall summary of the material covered and a comparison between the facilities provided and their practical use on various products and operating systems.
This may require students to present themselves in Aberystwyth to repeat any missed laboratory practical sessions
A general introduction to the module and the topics it will cover.
2. Management Policy Definition - 2 Lectures
Requirements for management policy; establishment of policies; user account management.
3. User Account Management - 2 Practicals
Account management on common operating systems. The creation of user accounts and associated permissions, capabilities and rights, together with filestore associations.
4. System Startup/Shutdown and Process Management - 3 Lectures
The loading of an operating system onto a machine; the requirement for procedures and mechanisms to support the orderly startup and shutdown of systems; the techniques and facilities in common operating systems to support startup and shutdown.
5. System Startup/Shutdown and Process Management Activities - 2 Practicals
Practical experience of starting up and shutting down systems using a variety of common operating systems. Process management on such systems.
6. File Services Administration and File Access Services - 2 Lectures
Local file management. File backup and restoration. The difference between transfer and access; services that provide transfer facilities such as the FTP protocol and its servers and clients; services that provide access facilities, in particular Sun's NFS and ZFS and Microsoft's SMB services; the practical management of FTP, NFS, ZFS and SMB.
7. Naming and Directory Services - 2 Lectures
The requirements and facilities of naming and directory services; actual services such as DNS, LDAP, NIS, finger, whois; the practical management of such services.
8. Management of Naming and Directory Services - 2 Practicals
Practical management of naming and directory services on a range of common operating systems.
9. Firewalls and Network Security - 2 Lectures
The requirements for network security; the role of firewalls and their typical capabilities; network address translation; the practical management of such services.
10. Hardware and System Software Selection - 2 Lectures
The selection of appropriate hardware resources for both server and desktop systems. This will consider such issues as processor selection, memory requirements, network requirements and disk requirements.
11. The role of IT Service Management Methodologies - 2 Lectures
An introduction to the role of service management methodologies such as ITIL.
12. Web server operation and management (2 lectures)
The issues involved in web server management; facilities creation and management; web site protection, restricted access; web caches and proxies; web access and error logs and their analysis; the practical management of such services.
13. Management of web server (1 practicals)
Practical management and administration of typical web servers.
14. Mail service management (2 lectures)
The components of a mail service; mail server administration; mail routing, filtering and re-writing; spam control; supporting protocols such as POP, SMTP, and IMAP; usage logs and their analysis; the practical management of such services.
15. Management of mail services (1 practical)
Practical management of mail services.
16. Server virtualisation (2 lectures)
The growing importance of virtualisation and the capabilities and features of a selection of typical approaches.
17. Project lifecycle simulation (2 lectures)
A project lifecycle simulation using the PRINCE 2 project management methodology with a software/hardware implementation as the worked example.
18. Green IT (1 lecture)
IT and the environment - the need to include an analysis of IT provision in the environmental policy of a corporate organisation.
19. A typical Board Meeting (1 role play exercise)
Simulated presentation to a Board meeting by an IT Director aiming to influence copororate strategy.
20. Emergency planning (1 role play exercise)
Simulated emergency planning meeting DURING a major incident in a corporate environment.
21. Other issues (2 lectures)
A discussion of issues that are currently challenging IT providers.
22. Summary and Conclusions - 1 Lecture
An overall summary of the material covered and a comparison between the facilities provided and their practical use on various products and operating systems.
This may require students to present themselves in Aberystwyth to repeat any missed laboratory practical sessions
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | The application of number is important in this area of information technology. |
| Communication | Written communication will be developed through the writing of the laboratory workbooks. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | The coursework will encourage and help students to develop and improve their individual learning skills. |
| Information Technology | Information technology is central to this module. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | The skills gained in this module should directly help students to prepare for many areas of the computing industry at both practical and managerial levels. |
| Problem solving | Thinking through tasks in laboratory practicals. |
| Research skills | Background study. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Technical skills in the selection and configuration of system and network services. Professional management of ICT services. |
| Team work | Role play sessions and practical activity. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6