Network Operating System Implementation for Hi-Gradetoys

This assignment focuses on designing a solution for Hi-Gradetoys to effectively install and manage their network operating system (NOS). It involves choosing an appropriate NOS considering the existing infrastructure, configuring security measures like RAID 1+0 for data protection, and implementing a backup strategy using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) for automated updates. The assignment also includes a step-by-step guide on configuring Active Directory for user management and authorization, along with diagrams and screenshots to illustrate the proposed solutions.

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Student's Name:
Instructor's Name:
Date:

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Analyze the current operating systems installation issues of Hi-gradetoys facing within
their network and propose a solution accordingly.
The proposed system wishes to expand Hi-grade toys to facilitate 50-new computers. However,
the organization is facing serious “performance” issues1. The current network is extremely slow.
Existing employees are finding it difficult to install and maintain their operating system2. With
the installation of 50 new computers in the network, things can become harder and slower3.
Also, the installation and re-configuration of machines is a time-consuming process. If the basic
network functions at a very slow speed, it can be very difficult to install and configure the
machines manually. This is why the installation and configuration of network operating systems
should be automated. Manual installation and resource maintenance is a resource-consuming and
a time-consuming task. Each of the current client computers consume a lot of bandwidth to
accomplish the process4. This is a major problem that has to be tackled before new client systems
are introduced into the network5. The present network has to be upgraded before the new client
1 Ousterhout, J.K., Cherenson, A.R., Douglis, F., Nelson, M.N. & Welch, B.B. (1988).
The sprite network operating system. IEEE Computer 21(2) Hill, M. et al. (1986).
Design decisions in SPUR. Computer, 19(10), 8-22.
2 Hill, M. et al. (1986). Design decisions in SPUR. Computer, 19(10), 8-22.
3 Leach, P (1983). The architecture of an integrated local network. IEEE Trans. Selected Areas
in Comm., 842-857
4 Nelson, M., Welch, B., & Ousterhout, J. (1988). Caching in the Sprite Network File System.
ACM Trans. Computer Syst.
5 Nelson, M. (1986). Virtual Memory for the Sprite Operating System. Retrieved from
https://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/1987/6104.html

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machines are installed. Also, the entire process has to be automated. This way, bandwidth
consumption can be regulated and the client machines can be used without any hassles.
Proposed solution
1. Identify the topology
Initially, the overall network topology has to be analyzed. The first step would be the place the
server computers in the network within the topology. Then, the network operating system has to
be installed. The installation of network operating systems doesn’t depend on the network
servers. But, the performance of network operating systems depends on the topology. That is
because topology has a direct impact on the bandwidth. In return, the speed of installation and
configuration are affected.
Installation of operating system on all machines has to be done manually or directed from a
centralized server. If Hi-Grade toys is prepared to choose a ring or star topology, the installation
can be initiated from a centralized hub. It is possible to install the operating system from another
computer’s shared drive. This server computer must be public and accessible across the network.
A shred CD-ROM drive is sufficient to copy contents into the hard disk. Then, the hard disk has
to be shared across the machines. Of course, the server machine should have network access for
this strategy to work. If the server has a pre-installed network operating system, it can be
accessed across the network. If the server doesn’t have a pre-installed network operating system,
it has to be booted from a CD-ROM or floppy. At all times, the server should have primitive
network support.

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2. Shared solution
Hi-Grade Toys can install the network operating system on several servers by copying the
distribution software to a shared hard disk location. The hard disks work faster than CD-ROM
drives. Even if Hi-Grade can afford a 10Mbps network, with hard disk accessibility, the network
operating system installation would be faster.
3. Automate the installation script
Hi-Grade Toys can also use automated setups to kick start the entire process and streamline
tasks. Automated setups should be written in a single machine. This is setup script that takes care
of the installation program. With a working script, the installation would be completely
automated. It doesn’t require any manual help. In fact, the automated script can be executed from
a different location. This method makes sense only because Hi-Grade wants to install and
configure its network operating system in 50 new machines, while improving the performance of
50-existing machines. With automation, Hi-Grade can rely on “Remote Installation Services”.
This is a quick way of installing network operating systems without using a server computer.
Since the company wishes to install the operating system in client machines, Remote Installation
Services alias (RIS) is a smart choice.
On the basis of the solution proposed in task 1, recommend different scenarios for the
installation of OS.
Hi-Grade Toys will need to install a network operating system in four different scenarios.

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1) When the company decides to buy new client machines, the network operating system
has to be installed in the new client devices. The installation can be handled using the
automated script. When the client machines are connected to the physical network, the
automated script has to be executed. If the network is managed from a remote destination,
the script has to be executed from the RIS services. The script would install and configure
the entire machine. It would take care of the internal stats, permissions and
configurations.
2) The network operating system should be re-installed when the company wants to upgrade
to a newer version. The upgrade scenarios are quite common. For example, the client
machines may run on Windows 7 now. In the next few years, they must upgrade to
Windows 10 or a better version. The upgrade process works while retaining user data,
settings and applications in the computer. The upgrade can be initiated by an automated
script. That is because there won’t be any external dependencies. For example, the
upgrade process doesn’t depend on Windows ADK. So, the automated script would be
more resilient and faster than manual deployments.
3) When an individual client machine has to be refreshed with a new Windows version, the
proposed system would be extremely useful. That is because, the automated script has to
be executed on the specific machine. The settings can be migrated and re-configured in
the client machine after installation. When compared against manual methods, the
automated solution is much more reliable and quick!
4) When a new network operating system has to be installed on bare metal. This is a picture
of the current scenario. When Hi-Grade wants to install a fresh operating system on their

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network machines, without any user data migration or settings migration, the automated
script would be extremely handy. The script can be fine-tuned to replace an existing
operating system version or even transfer settings between two network machines. For
these migrations, the automated script should be customized. Luckily, it is easy to write
automated scripts in languages like “PowerShell”. With the help of PowerShell, user data
and settings can be migrated from the old network machine to a new one easily.
Analyze the Windows update problems Hi-Gradetoys is currently having. Suggest solution
to manage Windows updates within their network.
The best way to handle Windows Updates at Hi-Grade toys is with Windows Server Updates
Services6. Windows Server Updates Services is a program that helps in administrating and
managing the distribution of hotfixes and updates in networks. The services download updates
from Microsoft’s update site and install them in client network machines7. WSUS plays an
important role in the windows server.
Since, Hi-Gradetoys intends to use automated scripts, it must define group policies in WSUS8.
The group policies help in update several client machines simultaneously. With a single script,
WSUS can update a huge number of client machines. To use group policy in WSUS, the active
directory has to be setup. The active directory helps in configuring several computers in the
6 Howard, J. (1988). Scale and Performance in a Distributed File System. ACM Trans.
Computer Syst.
7 Taylor, A. ( n.d.). Windows Server Update Services. Retrieved from
http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/4/F/34F1F24F-4A0F-4D41-BC05-
084D10BA6A48/WSUS30SP2OpsGuide.pdf
8 Ottman, T.V., Sheehan, K.S. & Flagg, D. T. (1992). Method for loading an operating system
through a network. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/patents/US5142680

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network. The configurations can be done simultaneously. This includes the Group Policy object
too. The Group Policy Object is configured for a specific organizational unit. Each
organizational unit can have different settings. To make use of the Group Policy Object offered
by the Windows Server Update Services, the client machines must be connected to the server
with WSUS. The download activities would happen based on the WSUS configuration. By
default, the updates are installed every 22 hours. But, Hi-Gradetoys has the freedom to re-set this
duration. They can approve the right time for various updates like detection, removal and
installation of programs in the client computer. However, WSUS provides network
administrators a better level of security. They have the freedom to decide when an update must
be scheduled. The schedule depends on various factors like security threats and client re-
configuration.
Here are few policies Hi-Gradetoys can use while upgrading their network operating
systems:
1) Configure automatic updates – this setting allows the client machines to receive
automatic updates. All machines in a group will receive the automatic updates. The
network administrator is responsible for choosing the settings. They can choose one of
the following settings:
a. Notify before downloading updates
b. Download updates automatically and install them immediately.
c. Download updates automatically and install them according to a specified
schedule.

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d. Local network administrators should select the installation and configurations
mode that should follow the automatic updates. They should be notified before
any update is installed in the new/existing client machines.
2) After an update, the machines can restart automatically. The restart mode has to be
scheduled. Automatic updates often wait for the network client machines to restart for the
changes to be applied. With the help of automated scripts, the computers can be restarted
automatically.
3) The Window Server Update Services is capable of detecting automatic updates. The
frequency at which updates are detected must be configured. It is up to the network
administrator to decide when the updates must be applied. The exact time for automatic
updates to be detected and installed is mentioned in hours. For example, a policy can be
applied in a 20-hour contact frequency. All client computers would search for updates
between 16 and 20 hours. If the policy is not defined or disabled, the client machines
would check for updates at default 22 hour intervals.
Windows operating system updates take a considerable amount of time to take effect. If the
number of configured machines are more, the duration would be “greater”. In most cases, it takes
between 20 and 30 minutes for the policy changes to reflect.
Hi-Gradetoys should schedule the updates, installations and configurations when there would be
little chance for loss in performance and productivity. They must update the servers and client
machines efficiently. The updates must be deployed with a specific deadline in mind. The
configurations must not expect the client machines to restart at all times.

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Considering the current infrastructure of Hi-gradetoys, provide a plan to implement your
proposed solutions. Provide diagrams or charts accordingly.
1. Choosing NOS
Since Hi-gradetoys has adopted to the use of Windows network operating systems, the difficult
in choosing a NOS is eradicated9. The organization has already taken into consideration the
availability, cost, security and maintainability of the network operating system10.
2. Choosing a security and backup setup
Next the business continuity planning and disaster recovery plan should be identified. Here
RAID 1+0 is proposed for Hi-Gradetoys11. RAID refers to Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disk.
This is an arrangement of disks to improve storage and access mechanisms. RAID 1+0 takes care
of mirroring and striping. This RAID architecture is designed to survive multiple disk failures12.
Even if the installation in one of the client machines fails, the other client machines will not be
affected13. And, if the installation image in one of the servers is lost, a backup image will be used
to continue installation.
3. Hardware requirements
9 Metz, E. C., Hudson, H. G. & Darr, J.W. (1997). Downloading operating system software
through a broadcast channel. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/patents/US5666293
10 Installation and configuration guide for Windows and Linux (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.vmware.com/pdf/vcops-standalone-56-install-guide.pdf
11 Patterson, D. A., Gibson, G. & Katz, R.H. A case for redundant arrays of inexpensive disks
(RAID). Retrieved from https://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/1987/CSD-87-391.pdf
12 Gibson, G. A. (1990). Redundant disk arrays: reliable, parallel secondary storage. Retrieved
from https://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/1991/6373.html
13 Thurrott, P. & Yan., Y. (2005). Windows Server Update Services "Windows & Net Magazine:
International Chinese Edition

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To ensure installation and re-configuration happens properly, server hardware equipment must
be chosen carefully. The proposed server hardware are:
1) HP DL380p Gen8 8-SFF CTO Server
2) Two HP DL380p Gen 8 Intel Xeon R5-2660vc FIO processor
4. Diagrammatic representation
Present a comprehensive experimental section with screen shots of the configuration and
implementation process of proposed solution

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Hi-gradetoys can initiate a remote installation process14. The remote installation service would
take several minutes and when the process is complete15, the following window will appear16.
The following steps in installing the windows operating system should be carried out.
14 Installation and configuration guide for Windows and Linux (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.vmware.com/pdf/vcops-standalone-56-install-guide.pdf
15 Securing active directory administrative groups and accounts (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc700835.aspx
16 Installing and configuring servers (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://dinhhanh.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/01_installing-and-configuring-servers1.pdf

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With the above screen, installation of the windows network operating system is done.
2. Active Directory Settings
Since 50 new clients are introduced into the network, the active directories should be setup. The
active directory would have a domain administrator (root domain) and the domain controller

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(member of the domain). All authorization and configuration would happen from the active
directory.
From the active directory, user permissions are set and other WSUS services can be configured.
This would take care of bulk installation. Below is a screenshot of the automated script written in
PowerShell to trigger installation.

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Conclusion
With the proposed solution, Hi-Gradetoys will not have any problems installing the network
operating system on several machines. Even as they expand to more client workstations, the
automated script would take care of the installations. Likewise, the Windows Server Update
Services would take care of the periodic updates. These are simple but effective solutions to help
the company with their installation, re-configuration and re-installation processes.