Designing an Effective Server Installation and Configuration Solution

The assignment requires students to analyze and propose a server installation for a business scenario. Students will select an appropriate machine from a retailer, discuss its specifications, and weigh the strengths and weaknesses of various upgrade paths. A detailed proposal for the server's installation, configuration, and management is also required, including discussions on virtualization, server operating systems, database systems, and client installations.

Faculty of Computing,
Engineering and
Sciences
Assignment Brief
2015-16
Module Title: Introduction to Computer and
Network Architectures (WBL)
Computer Architectures
Module Code: COCS40663
Level: 4
Credits: 30
School: Computing
)
Module Learning Outcomes Map to Programme
Learning Outcomes
1) DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF
THE COMPONENTS WHICH ARE COMMONLY USED IN
CONTEMPORARY ICT/TELECOMMS SYSTEMS AND THE WAY THEY
ARE CONFIGURED TO SERVE A NUMBER OF PURPOSES AND
HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES RELEVANT TO ICT SYSTEMS.
Application
Knowledge &
Understanding
2) DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE FUNCTIONALITY AND
CAPACITY OF AN ICT SYSTEM AND HOW CHANGES TO THE
CONFIGURATION WILL AFFECT THE SYSTEM'S OVERALL
PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES.
Analysis
Knowledge &
Understanding
Learning
3) EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS AND ROUTES TO SATISFY
THE REQUIREMENTS OF AN ICT SYSTEM AND PRESENT OBJECTIVE
DATA TO CONTRIBUTE TO DECISION MAKING.
Analysis
Communication
Learning
Problem Solving
1

Assignment Description
A PORTFOLIO weighted at 50% of the overall module mark addressing learning outcomes 1-3
(shown above).
The portfolio will include exercises - some theory based and some requiring reflection of use and
applicability of theoretical concepts in the work environment of the learner (circa 3000 words)
Task Percentage of
overall mark
Assessed Learning
Outcome
Task 1 – A multiple choice assessment on the
components within a computer system along
with their configuration
The test will be arranged to take place at a
suitable time.
20% 1
Task 2 - A Hardware case study Part 1:
Proposal for client machines. 40% 1,2,3
Task 3 – A Hardware case study, Part 2:
Proposal for server and installation. 40% 1,2,3
Hand-in Deadline: See Tutor for guidance
Case Study Scenario
Your company Network Integration Corp (NIC) has been commissioned by an organisation, Training
Needs Today, to provide an integrated solution for their new midlands training centres. This will
utilise client/server architecture with a shared database hosted on an entry level server and web
based application for course/customer/HR/finance management. The training centre offers courses
in a range of popular application software, database design and development and web application
development. Client platforms with delegate interfaces at each centre shown below.
Site Code Site Name Users Training Rooms BYOD
Functionality?
TNT_001 Walsall 175 4 Yes
TNT_002 Stoke-on-Trent 78 2 Yes
TNT_003 Nottingham 40 1 No
TNT_004 Evesham 40 1 No
TNT_005 Leicester 120 3 No
NOTE: DEFINITION of BYOD: Bring Your Own Device
2

Task 2 – Proposal for client machines - (Weighted at 40%)
Currently the client machines are of the following specification:
 Processor: Celeron 1.2GHz single core
 Motherboard: Asus P5QL-VM DO
 X24 CD-ROM
 400W non-modular PSU
 RAM: 1GB 667MHz
 HD drive: IDE 320GB 7200rpm
 Graphics and sound: on board
 OS: Windows XP service pack 1
 20” CRT Monitors
The current server hardware specifications:
Custom made server with AMD Athlon XP 2400+ processor, 2000MHz, 2GB RAM, 1x500GB HDD
Software:
Red Hat 9 (released on 2002) running the following services:
MySQL version 3.23
PhP version 4.2.2
Apache web server version 2.0
The company is currently using a web based application to manage customers information.
Staff members and delegates have complained that the client machines are very slow and often
crash. The organisation has requested that you submit a formal proposal for the
improvement/replacement of the client machines. Managers are considering the upgrade of their
current server architecture (software/hardware) to a modern architecture to support more
integrated software modules such as, course management system, customer relationship
management (CRM) and accounting system. The proposal should comprise the following sections:
1 Provide a detailed assessment of the functionality and capacity of the existing client
machines
2 Provide a detailed assessment of the capacity of the existing server with the consideration
of the new requirements (as mentioned above)
3 Provide a sound justification for the choice of components to be used in the
upgrade/replacment based on suitability, compatibility, cost and performance improvement.
NOTE: The following components should be considered but this is not an exhaustive list.
Client machines considerations:
 Types of RAM (e.g. DDR, DDR2, DDR3, etc)
 Types of Processor or available (e.g. Dual, Quad, etc)
 Hard drives
 Optical drives
 Graphics cards
 Operating Systems
 Peripherals required
Server software/architecture considerations:
 The current application uses 80% of the resources
 The current database/application has some security flows
 The processor temperature
 Operating system and software support
 Memory capacity
 HDD type (i.e. SSD) and capacity
 Backup solution
 Redundancy (i.e. RAID solution or ...)
3

4 The organisation has been successful in a bid for finance from an external body to improve
their ICT infrastructure and could potentially provide a budget for the replacement of each
client machine and server side (though there are other ways that they could invest this
money). Present a detailed proposal for off-the-shelf client machines and server detailing
the expected improvements in performance along with the cost per machine.
5 Provide a clear and detailed evaluation of the upgrade versus replacement options provided
above with a recommendation. Include any assumptions you have made.
Your report should be presented as a formal proposal with introduction, main body
(contents) and recommendations; and have a minimum of 2000 words (excluding
referencing and other appendices)
4

Distinction 70%+ Merit 60%-69% Pass 40%-59% Mark
1 – Current
system
Merit with
Detailed discussion to highlight the
most bottlenecked areas and criticism of
current systems
Students will demonstrate an understanding
of hardware by identifying the ‘main culprits’
and the easiest bottlenecks to resolve along
with any criticism of limitations that may still
exist in the IT systems due to other factors
Pass with
A thorough explanation of the issues
and the impacts
Students will expand on the discussion to
identify and explain the impact of identified
issues to clearly demonstrating an
understanding of hardware functions and
the impact of the current system spec.
Main issues and notable information is
identified and discussed
Students will
pick out main
points from the
scenario and
discuss what
the issue is and
why it
happening
/10
2 – Client
components
Merit with
Fully justified and evaluated discussion
of choices with criticism of systems
chosen.
Students may recommend potential future
upgrades or evidence consideration for
scalability.
Pass with
A thorough explanation is provided
with discussion
Extra tips:
Students will build on the overview of the
systems to be built to justify the use of
components and the OS.
Students will demonstrate a solid
understanding of technologies by
justifying hardware selected respectively to
the issues identified scenario.
Identify basic operating system and
specification with requirements and
some general discussion.
Extra tips:
Students may give a broad overview of
the spec of components used in the
machine as well as the version of OS to
be used. Components will be compatible
and meet the min. Requirements of the
operating system.
/10
3 –
Replacement
machines
Merit with evaluation of the chosen
system and criticism of any
shortcomings and potential
workarounds.
Students may choose multiple systems to
show the short listing process with a
justification of their final machine to clearly
demonstrate research for the best viable
options.
Pass with a detailed explanation of the
machines capabilities and potential
upgrades
Students will select an appropriate
machine from a business retailer with
discussion of how the spec meets
requirements
/10
4 – Upgrade
vs New
Merit with holistic consideration
Students will weigh in the strengths and
weaknesses with clear links to the scenario as
well as giving consideration for how the
system will integrate into the current
infrastructure and any room for future
upgrades
Pass with critical evaluation
Students will give direct comparisons of
systems, clearly identifying the strengths
and weaknesses of each upgrade path with
some criticism of modular components.
Students will compare basic features of
both systems.
Each system may be review individually
giving discussion for each upgrade path’s
merits and demerits
/10
5

Task 3 –Proposal for server and installation - (Weighted at 40%)
Using the case study scenario, write a detailed proposal for the server including the details of your
plans for the installation of the server and clients and the management of the server configuration
and user accounts. The proposal should comprise the following sections:
1. Provide proposal for a suitable specification of server and database system with software
and hardware requirements and manufacturers. Include a discussion of the pros and cons of
virtualisation in this scenario.
2. Provide explanations (supported with Screenshots/images/diagrams and/or detailed
explanation/diagrams where appropriate) of
a. How you would install the operating system on the server.
b. How you could automate the installation of the client operating systems
c. How you would the manage server configuration and user accounts – for example
using group policies or similar tools.
Your report should be presented as a formal proposal with front cover, contents etc.
and have a minimum of 2000 words (excluding referencing and other appendices
6

Task Distinction 70%+ Merit 60%-69% Pass 40%-59% Mark
1 - Proposal Merit with
Virtualisation and emerging
technologies are thoroughly discussed
Extra Tips:
Students will show research into the
advantages of emerging technologies and
give a thorough discussion for the viability of
technologies in the scenario weighted
against the budget and any potential future
proofing and show consideration for
scalability and durability.
There will be a well-reasoned discussion of
the pros and cons of virtualisation in this
scenario.
Pass with
A thorough explanation is provided with
discussion
Extra tips:
Students will build on the overview of the systems
to be built to justify the use of components
and the server OS. They may give examples of
storage technologies to offer backup solutions.
Students will demonstrate a solid
understanding of technologies and may
evidence this through discussion of other
technologies that could have been used
There will be a reasoned discussion of the pros
and cons of virtualisation in this scenario.
All explanations should link to the scenario to link
a justification of a solution to a requirement or
identified problem
Identify basic server operating
system and specification with
requirements and some
general discussion.
Extra tips:
Students may give a broad
overview of the spec of
components used in the machine
as well as the version of OS to be
used. Components will be
compatible and meet the min.
Requirements of the operating
system.
Virtualisation will be discussed as
a concept with some attempt to
apply it to this scenario
/10
2a – Server
Install
Merit with advanced configuration and
thorough discussion
Extra tips:
Screenshots/images/diagrams and/or
detailed explanation will show each stage
of installation and any post server install
configuration after domain config.
Pass with Thorough explanations
Extra Tips:
Screenshots/images/diagrams and/or detailed
annotations will explain the steps giving
justification of selected options and entered
values
Clear
Screenshots/images/diagrams
and/or detailed explanation
Extra tips:
Screenshots/images/diagrams
and/or detailed explanation will
demonstrate the notable points
of server installation and give
annotations to comment or
discuss options the installation
wizard presents
/10
2b - Auto
install of
clients
Merit with
Advanced configuration and thorough
discussion
Students will discuss the options for
preparation of client builds and any options
for the implementation of client roll out.
Pass with Thorough explanations
As above with a justification of options as well a
justification for the chosen method/tool
Clear
Screenshots/images/diagrams
and/or detailed explanation
As above with a description of
the chosen method/tool
/10
7

2c–
Configurati
on
Merit with
Evaluation of other configurations and
possible issues
Extra tips:
Students will show consideration for the
impacts of selected configuration tools giving
credit for other possible control methods as
well as potential issues and solutions for
potential issues.
Ideas for management of server configuration and
user accounts are with good explanation
Extra tips:
Selected group policies will be described and
justified for the scenario, detailing its necessity
for the scenario.
Ideas for management of
server configuration and user
accounts are discussed
Extra tips:
Selected configuration tools will be
described with the impact on the
scenario
/10
8