Csed 430, Technical Administration of a PC Cluster, Fall 2007
Peter Dordal, Loyola University Chicago Dept of Computer Science.
Monday, 7:00-9:30, LT-412
Text: Hands-On Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Administration, (2003),
Dan DiNicolo, Thomson Course Technology, ISBN 0-619-18611-9
My general
course groundrules are here.
There will be a midterm and a final exam.
Exams will count
for between 70% to 80% of your grade, with homework and programs making
up the rest.
Spring 2022:
I am generally in my office on Mondays from noon to a little before 4:00.
Sometimes I have meetings or come in late, so check first.
I am also available other times via Zoom, by appointment. Contact me via email for the Zoom meeting ID.
Course notes
Assignment 1: Computer parts list
Assignment 2: Goals and implementation
Assignment 3: Lab-management tools
Study guides and materials (may need updating)
The final exam is Monday, December 10.
Here is a
preliminary study guide
for it.
Here is the midterm study guide
and answers. The midterm is Monday, Oct 29.
Here are some Active Directory demo settings,
that will probably be used on the exam.
Here's the Microsoft Windows XP Resource Kit, which is basically an online reference book.
Rights and Privileges are discussed in an appendix.
Here's a Microsoft link summarizing the (fine-grained, or "special")
NTFS file permissions
Here's the Windows Server 2003 home page at MicroSoft.
Here's a Microsoft link on Group Policy.
MS Intro to Group Policy (downloadable word document)
Common Scenarios document,
describing some security scenarios with varying levels of lockdown,
and how to implement them with Group Policy Objects. (word)
Guide to managing Active Directory, 2003 version
Group Policy Common Scenarios installer
Group Policy MMC installer
Some related links:
MS "Using Software Restriction Policies ...."
MS Shared Computer Toolkit
Our theme song? Here's Reinstalling Windows by Les Barker:
mp3 (Swanee version) and
lyrics.
Summary of Learning Objectives
After taking this course, students should be
familiar with the following concepts:
- Basic network configuration
- Network firewall configuration
- OS installation in "secure" mode (ie with limited ability
of users to make persistent
changes)
- Virus prevention and
detection
- Software installation
- Distributed software
installation
- User account management
- Technical criteria in
software selection
- Troubleshooting the PC lab
- Lab management software:
OS and networks
- Configuration of disks
and backup devices
- Implementing a link from
a school LAN to the Internet
- Implementing Network Address Translation
The following Knowledge Indicators
come from the
State of Illinois criteria for Technology Specialists in the public
school
system [27.470]. CSED
430 will cover
these topics as listed. The student should be able to:
- 2A.
understand
how to select, install, manage, and maintain the infrastructure of
technology
in the classroom setting.
- 2B.
develop
plans to configure computer/technology systems and related peripherals
in
laboratory, classroom cluster, and other appropriate instructional
arrangements
(covered in further detail in CSED 431).
- 2G.
identify
strategies for troubleshooting and maintaining various
hardware/software
configurations.
- 2H. identify
and describes network software packages used to operate a computer
network system.
- 2I.
configure
a computer system and one or more software packages.
- 5E. install,
configure, and use local mass storage devices and media to store and
retrieve
information and resources.
- 6A. understand
how to install, customize, and configure the operating systems of
computers and
computer networks in school settings.
- 6C.
identify
and manipulates preferences, defaults, and other selectable features of
operating systems commonly found in P-12 schools.
- 6D.
use
and manipulate networking software to effectively manage the operation
of a
Local Area network.
- 12F. document
and assesses experiences in implementing a P-12 building-based LAN with
Internet connectivity.
Hypothetical week-by-week coverage
We almost certainly won't follow this in order, but we will try to
cover
most of the topics listed here. Reading references are to the Windows
XP Resource Kit [RK],
above.
- Installation of Windows. RK chapter 1, chapter 2
- Installation options;
locked-down configuration. RK chapters 16, 17
- Domain setup and user accounts
and profiles. RK chapter 5, 16, 17
- Software installation and
distributed installation. RK: chapters 2, 4, 5, 15
- continued
- Lab management software; the
Windows Registry. RK: misc references to the registry
throughout the text
- continued
- Midterm
- Network firewalls. RK chapter 19, 22, 23
- Connecting to the internet. RK: chapter 22, 23
- Virus detection, prevention, and elimination
- backup and restore options;
configuration and use of RAID disk volumes. RK: chapters 12, 13, 14
- non-Windows alternatives
(Macintosh and Linux). Readings: online materials
on linux
- misc.