INLS 183: Distributed Systems and Analysis

Class Syllabus

Class Overview: All aspects of configuring and managing an Internet-based server with the Unix/Linux operating system. Software configuration, installation, upkeep and management; user management and issues; security and data integrity. Class sessions consist mostly of presentation and demonstration of the installation of a wide variety of software. Class assignments focus on hands-on experience with server administration.

Catalog description: Distributed and client/server-based computing. Includes operating system basics, security concerns, and issues and trends in network administration.

Class Goals:

1. To gain hands-on experience with Linux administration of a PC-based system;
2. To understand administrative tasks, topics and concerns;
3. To critically evaluate new systems, products or services related to server administration or use; and
4. To develop good habits for effective administration and for keeping informed of emerging issues.

Pre-requisite knowledge: INLS 181 or comparable experience with the Internet. Basic Unix/Linux skills are assumed. The ability to author Web pages using HTML is assumed.

Computing resources: The class will make use of a small "lab" of PCs. Each student will be assigned to a small group that will share a PC throughout the semester. The PCs will be configured to run RedHat Linux version 6.2. Students with administrator (root) access to an alternate Unix or Linux server may choose to that server instead of the lab PCs. Most students will find that remote network access to the PCs is sufficient for nearly all purposes. Physical access to the PC is available when the SILS library is open (hours are posted online) and when the S5 networking room is not reserved (the reservation system is available online).

Texts: Two texts are "recommended." Depending on your prior experience with Unix/Linux and your preferred style of reading, you might choose to employ an alternate text or none at all. In many cases, weekly readings will consist of online materials that can replace or supplement readings from the texts. You should complete readings before the class they are assigned for, then review afterwards as needed. The recommended texts are:

Shah, Steve. 2000. Linux Administration: A Beginner's Guide. Reading, Massachusetts: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 0-0721-2229-3. (Errata are online

Wells, Nicholas. 2000. Guide to Linux Installation and Administration. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Course Technology. ISBN: 0-619-00097-X.

Evaluation: Students must complete all assigned work in order to receive a passing grade in INLS 183. Required work for the class consists of 10 systems administration exercises. For each exercise, students will choose some software to install or another systems administration task. There are 11 due dates for exercises during the semester, meaning that one weekly due date may be skipped.

• Presentation and layout (1 point)
• Introduction (1 point)
• Narrative (3 points)
• Instructions for use (3 points)
• Functionality (2 points)

Late assignments are downgraded at the rate of 1 point per day.

Although the choice of what software to install or other systems administration task to perform is up to the individual, some basic criteria must be met:

1. Assignments must be progressively harder
2. Each assignment write-up must identify at least one problem, challenge or unexpected occurrence
3. Each assignment will include a link to an online script file or other log of the installation process
4. By the end of the semester, each of these must be accomplished at least once:
   • Perform an installation using RPM
   • Write a shell script or other small program
   • Modify /etc/rc.d/rc.local or another system configuration file
   • Install one or more of: ssh, tripwire, ftpd, popd, imapd or sendmail
   • Install an X-Windows client program

Group work is permitted but not required. If you want to work with someone else for an assignment, these guidelines apply:

• Each person must write a portion of the assignment. Indicate within the assignment who wrote which portion.
• All people who work together on an assignment will get the same grade for that assignment.
• More work is expected of more people - the assignments should involve harder software, more writing, more problems solved, or otherwise go beyond what an individual would do alone.

Grading:

Class grading is based 95% on the systems administration exercises, and 5% on class preparation, preparedness and participation.

Letter grades for graduate and undergraduate students are as follows. Note that graduate +/- grading is used internally by SILS, but only the full letter grade (H, P, L or F) will appear on transcripts.

%	Grad	Ugrad
95+	H	A
92-94	H-	A-
88-91	P+	B+
83-87	P	B
80-82	P-	B-
70-81	L
78-81		C+
73-77		C
70-72		C-
65-69		D
0-64	F	F