Perfect Technology Essay: Network Operating Systems, Server Specifications, Security Requirements, And Project Management.

Business problem

1. What are the Network operating systems available currently? Describe three key features of two network operating systems (NOS) in your own words. 

2. List resources or tools that can help you determine whether (i) whether particular hardware is compatible with Windows Server 2012; and (ii) whether an application will run on Windows Server 2012.

3. Briefly discuss the roles of the following services in a computer network
• Domain name system (DNS) –
• Dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)
• File transfer protocol (FTP)
• Mail
• Network time protocol (NTP)
• Proxy
• Server messages block (SMB)
• Web

4. Describe the commands you would use to perform the following network service management configuration tasks: (not more than 50 words for each item)
• Start – how to start a service under Windows Server
• Stop – how to stop a service under Windows Server
• Restart – how to restart a service under Windows Server
• Start on boot – how to configure a network service to start on boot

5. What are two security features of server firewall configuration? Describe in your own words. 

6. What are two tools and techniques used in troubleshooting? Describe network diagnostic utilities briefly in your own words. (Not more than 100 words for each item).

7. Describe the common operating system installation and operation issues of the following as they apply to Windows Server installations: (Not more than 50 words for each item).

• Installation media – list three different installation media/types supported by Windows 2012
• Boot process and diagnosing boot failures – give an example of the type of error I could encounter when booting a server
• Operating system rescue environment – describe how I could recover from a boot error on Windows
• Operating system help and support utilities – list two utilities that could help me troubleshoot Windows problems
• Performance monitoring tools and tuning options – list one utility I can use to monitor hardware performance under Windows
• High availability options for servers – list two features that I could deploy to increase my server availability
• File and print management – list the name of the protocol that I use to share file and printers in a Windows server environment

8. Describe the following data security and storage measures required on a networked server
• User authentication and directory services – name the feature that provides these capabilities under Windows 2012 server

• Best practice procedures for implementing backup and recovery – list two best practices that I should apply when implementing a backup and recovery solution
• Error and event logging and reporting. List three types of logs I can consult on a Windows 2012 Server
• Storage options, including file systems and disk partitioning schemes – list two file systems supported by Windows, and list the name of the utility I can use to repartition disks

9. Describe the following process of managing a project
• Documentation skills required for networks – list two items that I should include in the documentation of a network
• Process or task management – List the name of the utility under Windows that allows me to view running tasks and processes

• Task scheduling utilities – list the name of the utility I can use to set up scheduled tasks in Windows

Perfect Technology is a network consulting and engineering firm which provides services to customers such as network design, security implementation, network installation and general network maintenance.  Our team consist of three personnel which have expertise in the field of information technology and they are able to deliver a solution to any customer. We have deep analysis and customer relations which have proofed by our success with other customer. The team members involves.

Head of Network Implementation

• Name

Customer Relation Manager

• Name

Head of Network Security

• Name

First Couriers Pty Ltd management are opening new branches at Werribee and Thomastown. They need the following solutions to be provided in their new branches.

• Windows Server 2012 installation.
• Migration of Old Windows Server 2008 Data to new Server (Windows Server 2012).
• Installation of Workstations and Printers in the network
• Installation of Microsoft SQL Server 2012 to the new Server

Perfect Technology has done analysis on the customer’s requirements, so the company has come up with the following solution to address our client’s needs.

1. Setting up a new server on the network by installing a Windows Server 2012 that will provide the following services to the entire network:

• Network Authentication and Permission
• File Sharing among Staffs
• Email Services
• Network Security
• Schedule Data Backup
• Network printers installation
• Automatic IP addressing to the clients’ computers
• Setting up new domain

The above solution shall be implemented, tested and handed over to the Mr. Jones to test with their staffs.

Since the server will be handling several tasks while providing network services, the following are the requirements that must be met by the new server:

• Processor Intel Xeon Scalable processors 16 cores
• RAM 16GB
• Storage Disk 2 TB
• 4 Network Interface cards

Hardware, such as CPU, RAM, Disk and Network interface should be specified here

The following are the services that need to be configured in the network:

• Installation of DHCP Server
• Installation of DNS Server
• Installation of File Server
• Installation of Active Directory to Manage Network Users.
• Security implementation using firewall
• Network Printers
• Schedule Backup
• SMTP Relays

The following are the applications that will be running on the server.

• Microsoft SQL Server 2012
• Enterprise Resource Planning System Microsoft Dynamic Navision 2013
• Microsoft Exchange 2013 for email services

Identify the application software that is required to run on the server

• Windows Server 2012 Supports Microsoft Exchange 2013. https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb691354(v=exchg.150)
• Microsoft Dynamic Navision 2013.

Active Directory Services will be configured in the new server. All the First Couriers Pty Ltd computers will authenticate to the Active Directory Service. Any computer in the network that need to access shared resources such as printers, files, or internet must be a member of Active Directory Groups.  All the users in the network will be group according to the departmental and administrative positions. Also files access will be based on the common interest and position that users possess in the organization. Some of the ports will be made accessible through internal network for example port 1045 which will be used in the internal network.

Fail over cluster will need to be implemented to ensure high availability of the service in case of hardware failures. The following are the requirements that need to be implemented so that redundancies is achieved:

• ISCSI SAN

I choose the above device because our server has 4 dedicated NIC. Also this device is faster and reliable since it uses serial port for cluster node and it is ISCSI connection is very fast, it is above 1.4 GHz. The ISCSI is supported by several vendors. ISCSI supports also live migrations. Considering its cost it is inexpensive.

Installation check list.

Required third-party applications

• Kaspersky Endpoint Antivirus for cooperate
• Cisco Firewall for DMZ
• Microsoft Office Package
• Adobe PDF
• Chrome Browser

The server installation will be done during out of office hours for example over the weekend. This will ensure there is minimum interruptions of activities in the company. Also during cables layout we expect a lot of noise and dust from the ceiling board which may not be convenience to the staff.

In the Windows Server 2012 that is the destination Server for data, we will enable migration tools. There are several features that will be migrated for example Group Policies, Active Directory Users, Back up roles. Microsoft ships with migration tools therefore each tool will be applied accordingly to the services.

Server specifications

Shared files which does not required a complex tool to copy will be shared over the network and copy using XCOPY or Robocopy commands.

Each component will be installed. After installation the component will be tested three times by different experts. Each test will be recorded if it has passed the test. In case of failure the service will be troubleshoot before moving to another service. The name of the person who will do test will be recorder and its test results. All the test will be approve by Mr. Jones who also will be part of the test.

Performance Monitoring that is inbuilt applications will be used. This utility stores the server performances. The data that will be stored will be analyses before and after the employee have use the services. The purpose of doing this test is to ensure that services are sharing resources efficiently. In case of abnormal service behavior a solution will be provided by either migrating a service to its own server or server tune will be done.

Our company offering solution have working standard layout of rules which ensures that our employees and clients participating in the installation process must meet the required standards such as:

• Each employee who is involve in installation must wear protective gears while working on side.
• First Aid toolkits must be carried by our staff so that in case of any injury proper handling of patient will be done.
• Ensuring that our employee are complying with any direction given by management for health and safety
• Report any accident in the job immediately.
• Report the known hazards by the management or any risk that the staff might encounter when delivering services.
• Do not misuse health care and safety tools

The email will be send to a customer asking for agreement to sign off. If the client agrees then he will be taken through business requirements forms. Client will go through each before verifying. Client must be shown physically and in practical the requirements for each was met. Client will approve each business requirement in a form and make a recommendation. After the client has gone through all the business requirements and have ensure that every requirements were met a circulation list will be given out to other stakeholders to ensure client’s recommendations are up to the standard.

• Circulation List to be signed by other stakeholders.
• Consent form
• Sign-off Check List

If all the stakeholders have signed that all the requirements were met then handover will be done. Before handover basic training will be done to ensure client is in control of the network.

Windows Server have in inbuilt feature called Server Backup Utility. It is very reliant and this feature will be enabled as a service in the feature.  The backup will be save in the shared network folder. Schedule backup will be created so that the service will run overnight when the server is not being used by the employee. The backup utility provides logs after every successful or failed backup. The email will be send to Mr. Jones which consist of backup logs. Restore strategy will only be done if the hardware or files are corrupted by the malicious malwares or hardware failures such as Hardisk.

An email will be send to the human resource manager requesting access to a specific site. An email will contain details of what will be done, details of the person who will be doing service and the company name requesting. Also service that will be disrupted will be listed in the detail form. Then human resource manager will consult the departments such as security and ICT department. Security will authorize while the ICT department are the one to determine the best time for the service.

The new server will be connected through WAN network therefore other workstations will be able to connect through the server to the company network.

Conclusion

In conclusion, First Couriers Pty Ltd management will be able to access all the services with high availability and its security implementation which ensures that everyone in the network is safe from any attack.