System Administration: Data Storage, Backup, and Network Design

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of data storage options, backup strategies, and network infrastructure for Rouge Construction Company. It evaluates cloud, offline, network-attached, and direct-attached storage solutions, recommending a combination of network-attached storage (NAS) and cloud-based storage. The report also details incremental, differential, and full backup methods, advising a weekly full backup and daily incremental backups. Furthermore, it proposes a hierarchical network model with firewalls, routers, and manageable switches, emphasizing modularity and scalability. The proposal includes a Windows Server Essentials setup for user management and access, highlighting its support, integration, and remote access capabilities.

Running head: SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION
WEEK 1: SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION
(Student’s Name)
(Professor’s name)
(Course)
(Date)

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Introduction
The organization which in this case is Rouge Construction Company. The company has
four hundred staff members with a record of producing quality work. As a newly hired system
and network manager, I will be setting up their systems and network infrastructure.
Data storage options
Data is one of the most important resources in an organization and this is the reason as to
why most companies are always looking forward to improving their storage options. In addition,
data helps a company in carrying out its daily operations and to remain competitive. Example for
Rouge Construction company it helps the company to monitor their customer details and storing
their order details. There are various data storage options which Rouge Construction company
can take a look into to help them get started.
Cloud data storage option
This is a type of data storage option which is managed by a third party where all the
organization data is kept in a central hub offsite. Third party companies allow an organization to
share and store data using services such as Dropbox, Microsoft Drive, and Google drive. Some
companies opt for this type of data storage option due to its ability to access data when at the
office and at home.
Offline data storage option
This type of data storage option has been there for decades. This a type allows an
organization to store their data using optical disks such as DVDs, and flash-disks. Some
companies opt for this type of storage due to its available in cases of network failure.

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Network attached data storage option
This is a type of data storage option which allows one to store huge amount of data in one
central point that can be accessed by every on the organization network. In here an external hard-
drive that has built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet ports are integrated into the organization network and
stored into one central place for everyone to access the storage device.
Direct attached data storage option
This is a type of data storage option which is directly attached to the user computer. It is
adopted by those organizations who first priority is minimizing storage costs.
The best storage option for Rouge Construction Company
Rouge Construction company need to go for both Network attached and cloud-based data
storage options. With NAS option, the organization will be able to store a large amount of data
that can be accessed by everyone within the organization. For cloud data storage, they can store
small sets of data online that can strain off their NAS data storage option (Gelenbe & Kahane,
2013).
Data types back-up
Rouge Construction company need to note that, protecting data against disasters,
corruption, and loss is one of their topmost priorities. This means that back-up is one of the
organization topmost priority. There different types of backup both in windows and Linux based
as described below
Incremental back-up
This is a type of back-up where an organization only copies data which has been changed
since the last back-up made. For the affected files, this type of back-up modifies time of the
backup files and their size

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Differential back-up
This is a type of back-up which acts like an incremental type of back-up but each time
that back-up is run, it continues to copy all the data from the previous the last full back-up was
done.
Full back-up
This is a type of back-up which makes a copy of all the data to another set of media that
can be an external hard-disk, a DVD, or a flash disk.
Comparison of the three types of back-ups using table 1
Table 1: Different types of backup comparison
Name of back-up Incremental Differential Full
Back-up A - - All data
Back-up B Changes the back-up A
to B
Changes the back-up A to
B
All data
Back-up C Changes the backup B
to C
Changes the back-up A to
C
All data
Back-up D Changes the backup C
to D
Changes the back-up A to
D
All data
For Rouge Construction there need to have Full type of back-up which should be done
on a weekly basis and incremental type of back-up which should be done on daily basis
(Hutchinson & Sawyer, 2003)

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Part 1: Corporate Proposal 1: Base Server and workstation
The current team composes of Rouge Construction Company comprises of the
construction team located in the ground floor, finance department located in the first floor, IT
department third floor, and the executive team located in the branch office of the organization.
For this week, this proposal will be highlighting the data storage options available for Rouge
Construction Company. To deploy this structure, Rouge Construction need to go for a
hierarchical model

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As shown from the network diagram above, developed using Ms. Visio 2013, the
company has one physical firewall which is used to prevent unauthorized access of the
organization network. The first router which is used to route protocols has been assigned IP
address 172.160.0.1 which is connected remotely with branch office router (R2) and has been
assigned IP address 172.160.0.3/24. The organization servers have been assigned IP address
172.160.0.2/24. In addition, each and every work-station has a manageable switch.
Some of the key aspects of the above structure are the access layer, the distribution layer,
and the core layer. The access layer provides user access or work groups. The distribution layer
controls the boundaries of the core and access layers. The core layer is where we find the
manageable switches which provide fast speed connection to the workstation. The reason as to
why Rouge Construction company need to go for the above structure is its modularity; in here
the structure has separated the various functions of departments; each department is located in its
workstation. Lastly, the structure provides the ability to add new services without having to go
through a huge forklift upgrade (Blanc & Cotton, 2013).
Part 2: Group Policy Additions and Restrictions
To start with windows server essentials is ideal for Rouge Construction which currently
has 400 users and a maximum of 500 devices. If the company expands to one hundred users with
about six hundred devices the company can for Windows server 2012 R2. With windows server
essential it will assists in taking advantage of features like PC back-up and remote web access
which are available for the company.
To install windows server essential there are two available options but for this case, the
company needs to go for windows server essentials with experience role enabled. After the
windows welcome page, the server essential wizard is now visible on the desktop, where starts

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by clicking next and setting time based on the organization zone. One then clicks next and enters
the company’s name and in this case will be Rouge Construction and then clicking next and
creating the network admin by typing new admin account name and the password; for the
password, in this case, need to go for xwer0956L?SY. This is followed by clicking configure
where the server will restart several times during the configuration process on the log-on screen.
The process takes around 20 minutes.
Some of the key aspects of how windows are fit for Rouge Construction Company is that
it offers a better support. Even though windows server comes with a cost, it comes with paid
support. Second, windows server integrates better with other products such as printers, Microsoft
databases, and other applications. In addition, windows server offers scripting frameworks like
ASP.Net and ASP which are very easy to manage and install. Lastly, windows offer a remote
desktop access which is very easy to manage (Poggemeyer, 2016).

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References
Blanc, R. P., & Cotton, I. W. (2013). Computer networking (1st ed.). New York: IEEE Press.
Gelenbe, E., & Kahane, J.-P. (2013). Fundamental concepts in computer science. New York:
Cisco Press.
Hutchinson, S. E., & Sawyer, S. C. (2003). Computer essentials by Sara E Hutchinson. Chicago:
John & Wiley Press.
Poggemeyer, L. (2016, March 10th). Install and Configure Windows Server Essentials or
Windows Server Essentials Experience. Retrieved from Microsoft:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-essentials/install/install-and-configure-
windows-server-essentials-or-windows-server-essentials-experience