CS3451 - Computer Systems Administration

Fall 2012

Instructor Information

Instructor: Ruihong Zhang, Senior Lecturer

Office: Rekhi 302 
Office Hours:  T,TH 11:00 AM – noon or by appointment
e-mail: ruihong at mtu.edu

Course Identification

Course Number: 83186

Course Name: Computer Systems Administration

Course Location: 215 Rekhi Hall

Class time: T,TH 2:05-3:20

Prerequisites: CS3411(C)

Course Description:

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Computer systems administration introduces the students to the basic concepts in system administration. A foundation of knowledge is laid upon which a further education in systems administration can be based upon. This class introduces the students to the issues and problems that a systems administrator will face. Topics include OS installation, boot-up and shutdown, process management, account management, file systems, storage technology, backup and restore, printing system, security, basic TCP/IP networking.

Course Resources

· Required Text Book: Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook, 4th edition, by Evi Nemeth, Garth Snyder, Trent R. Hein, Ben Whaley

· Additional online Resource

Grading Policy

Grades will be based on the following:

Class participation and attendance	5%
Labs/Homework	45%
Lab quizzes (about 4)	20%
Midterm Exam	15%
Final Project	15%

All assignments are due before class starts. The score will be deducted 20% for one calendar day late submission. 

Late submission for more than one day will not be accepted.

Tentative Course Schedule

	Topics	Reading Assignment	Lab Assignment	Lab Quiz
Week 1	Course Introduction Introduction of personnel Introduction of the lab environment OS Installation Ch1: Introduction of System Administration Unix/Linux Introduction	Chapter 1 Fedora 15 Installation Guide	Lab1
Week 2	Rootly powers and Access Control Essential Administrative Tools	Chapter 4 Chapter 2 page 33-36	Lab2
Week 3	The filesystem	Chapter 6	Lab3
Week 4	Controlling processes	Chapter 5	Lab4 Final Project	Quiz 1
Week 5	User account management PAM	Chapter 7	Lab 5
Week 6	Scripting (1/2) Scripting (2/2)	Chapter 2	Lab 6
Week 7	Startup and shutdown	Chapter 3	Lab 7	Quiz 2
Week 8	Adding a Disk Periodic Processes	Chapter 8 Chapter 9	Lab 8
Week 9	Backup and Restore	Chapter 10	Lab 9
Week 10	Syslog and Log files Drivers and Kernel	Chapter11 Chapter 13	Lab 10
Week 11	Software Package Management	Chapter 12	Lab 11	Quiz 3
Week 12	Performance mornitoring and tuning In-class Exam TCP/IP introduction	Chapter 29 Chapter 14
Thanksgiving Break
Week 13	Security Printing Data Center Basics	chapter 22 chapter 26 chapter 27
Week 14	Management, Policy and Politics Final project presentation	Chapter 32		Quiz 4
NO FINAL EXAM The exam time will be your last chance to do the final project demo