COMM3D

Network Administration and

Management

Module leader: Dr Chris Stokoe
Ext: 3277 Room: 224F
Chris.Stokoe@sunderland.ac.uk

http://osiris.sunderland.ac.uk/~cs0cst/
COMM3D
Network Administration and
Management

Lecture 1:
Module Introduction
and
Administration vs. Management
COMM3D An Introduction
Objectives:
To provide students with an appreciation of the design and
implementation of fault tolerant networks by exploring the
principles, practices and technologies used when
managing network systems and services.
Themes:
Two key elements:
(1) Network Administration The design, implementation and
administration of network systems and services.
(2) Network Management The strategies typically used to
proactively ensure the availability and optimality of network
systems and services.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:
(a) Critical knowledge of SNMP and its use in network management.
(b) In depth understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of selected software
packages that use SNMP to provide network monitoring and control services
(c ) Critical understanding of the current approaches to management OSI/TMN
and SNMP and the interpolation between these approaches and the use of stand
alone tools such as protocol analyzers.
(d) Critical understanding of the design and installation issues of different types of
networks to implement effective management strategies to maintain optimum
performance and adequate network security.
Abilities
(e) Analyze and implement the latest protocol information and troubleshooting
strategies to improve network performance.
(f) Use a protocol analyzer to identify bottlenecks in networks and determine server
and client response times.
(g) Critically analyze network requirements and implement appropriate technology
and techniques for ease of network management while maintaining an optimal
performance.



Abilities
To be able to identify appropriate products for building web
sites based on a user's specification.
To be able to design solutions to user web sites
specifications, including identifying relevant skills for
separable sub-problems.
To be able to work in a collaborative, responsibility-sharing,
web design team.

Module Delivery
Lectures 10 taught sessions which introduce themes aimed
at addressing the learning outcomes. There may be periodic
revision sessions depending on progress.

Tutorials 6 supervised sessions where students can
undertake practical work in the Network Labs using state of
the art equipment. Additional tutorials may take place
depending upon progression.

Formal tutorials will start next week Students will attend one
two hour lab every two weeks. This module uses Virtual PC to
provide a persistent learning environment for students.
Therefore, students must only attend the labs that they are
assigned to!
Module Assessment
Assignment 1: (3
rd
November - 7
th
December )
An individual assignment requiring students to write a 3000
word paper addressing various aspects of Network
Administration and Security.
Assignment 2: (14
th
December 1st February)
An individual assignment requiring students to design and
critically analyse a Network Management solution for an
Enterprise Network (3000 word equivalence).
Assignment 3: (April)
Group assignment where students must work together to
produce a 20/25 minute presentation on a topic related to the
module content.


COMM3D Key Text Books
Key Text (1):
J Richard Burke: Network Management Concepts and
Practice: A Hands-on Approach, Pearson Education 2004,
ISBN 0-13-032950-9
Key Text (2):
William Stallings: SNMP, SNMPv2, SNMPv3 and RMON 1
and 23rd Ed. Addison Wesley 1999 ISBN 0-201-485349
Lecture Notes:
Available ONLINE @
http://osiris.sund.ac.uk/~cs0cst/comm3d/
To access them log on using your U. of Sunderland ID.
General Guidance
How do I pass?
Attend the lectures and the labs when requested.
Submit all assessments on time late submissions get 0%
Act with the highest academic integrity Plagiarists get 0%
If you dont understand something then ASK!
Do try to read the course text books.
If you miss a lecture then borrow someone elses notes.
Dont leave assignments to the last minute.

COMM3D
Network Administration and
Management

Lecture 1: Administration vs.
Management
Objectives
In todays lecture:
Introduce Network Administration
Introduce Network Management

Learning outcomes:

Students should understand the difference between
administration and management.
Students should be able to identify the various tasks
associated with Administration and Management
Administration vs. Management
Computer Networks: Underpin almost every aspect of modern
business therefore it is essential that they are reliable and
operate at their optimum efficiency.
Network Administration: The job of designing, building and
maintaining a computer network falls to the systems
administrator.
Question: What is the difference between administration and
management?

What is Administration?
Network Design and Implementation
Installing / replacing / upgrading hardware
Installing / replacing / upgrading Software
Maintenance (chkdsk, Virus Scan)
Backups Protecting Data
Upgrading / reinstalling O/S
Cabling

For home PC users this is DIY stuff!

So what do they do?
Systems Admin - job description:
- Creation / maintenance of user accounts, groups
- Maintenance of filing systems
- Maintenance of Services (Software and Hardware)
- Automation of systems (through cron, etc.)
- Disaster recovery planning (Backups, Redundancy)
- Operating System - Installation and maintenance
- Business application - Installation and maintenance
- Management
Security
Performance monitoring
Predictive Maintenance

Typical Jobs
Adhoc Jobs
Typical Administration Tasks
With 400 software packages on the system, there will be constant changes and
updates required. How can we arrange for 300 machines to always have the same
up-to-date version?
In a network of several hundred machines, there will nearly always be at least one
machine which is down. How can we be sure that this doesn't always disrupt
hundreds of other machines on the network?
How can we ensure that valid users have easy access to information on the
network, while still keeping this information secure against unauthorised access?
If it takes one person to install and maintain a single machine, how can we avoid
requiring 300 people to install and maintain 300 machines?
How can we arrange for a user to log on to any one of hundreds of machines and
still have access to the same files and programs?
How can we design the network so that tens of extra machines can be easily
added without overloading, or requiring a major re-configuration, of existing
systems?
Internal Liaisons
External Liaisons
Key Skills
Technical Skills:
Experience with a range of architectures and operating
systems
Interpersonal Skills:
The job requires a lot of interaction both internally and
externally
Time Management:
Good in a crisis Manage several tasks at the same time
Research Skills:
New technology, new legislation
What is Management
Baselining Network Performance
Performance Analysis
Logging
Documentation
Planning
Security Management
Monitoring Tools (RMON)
Management Tools (SNMP)
Predicative Maintenance

So what do they do?
Network Manager - job description:
- Measure throughput and latency
- Develop monitoring systems
- Perform predictive maintenance
- Capacity planning
- Quality of Service (QOS)
- Fault tolerance
- Security Management (proactive not reactive)

Summary
Administration: Activities centre around installation and
maintenance of the network both hardware and software
tend to be reactive in nature.

Management: Proactive activities centre around logging ,
planning , supporting the network so that problems are
identified before they become critical.