Overview
This unit gives you a practical introduction to system and network service management and administration. You are provided with the skills necessary to configure and manage secure server environments and deliver network services. You will cover topics such as managing computer systems and users, managing network services, configuring and managing system and network software, computer security mechanisms and ethics, and developing administrative policies and procedures. You will use a Linux operating system as a practical platform to apply and demonstrate knowledge.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: COIT12206 OR COIT13147
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from student feedback
Perhaps some more feedback on assessment, having marks back before the next assignment is due helps to know what to improve on.
Teaching staff to be instructed and better resourced to provide marks and feedback in a timely manner.
Feedback from student feedback
The information given on how to write scripts is very poor. As a person who doesn't understand how to write code of any sort, this area needs a lot more explanation.
Staff will identify and introduce more Moodle links to external resources capable of providing basic or beginner level scripting to help bring students up to speed who require this extra scaffolding.
- Use administration commands and utilities to manage and secure computer systems
- Configure and deploy common system and network services
- Demonstrate the ability to perform user management and maintenance tasks
- Describe how elements of relevant codes of ethics inform professional practice
- Develop, deploy and evaluate security policies and rules.
Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is in use in over 100 countries and provides a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles.
ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile at https://www.acs.org.au/professionalrecognition/mysfia-b2c.html
This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA. The SFIA code is included:
- Network Support (NTAS)
- Problem Management (PBMG)
- Data Analysis (DTAN)
- System Design (DESN)
- Service Desk and Incident Management (USUP)
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 15% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 25% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 60% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 15% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 60% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook (5e)
Edition: Fifth (2018)
Authors: Evi Nemeth, Garth Snyder, Trent R. Hein, Ben Whaley, Dan Mackin
Addison-Wesley Professional
Upper Saddle River Upper Saddle River , NJ , United States of America
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Copies can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- VirtualBox
- You should bring your own laptop to classes for setting up systems activities and saving your lab work
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.howah@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Linux and Virtualisation
Chapter
Chapter 1 Where to Start
Chapter 2 Booting and System Management Daemons
Chapter 9 Cloud Computing
Chapter 24 Virtualization
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Using Linux Applications
Chapter
Chapter 6 Software Installation and Management
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Linux Command Line Basics
Chapter
Chapter 5 The Filesystem
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Processes and Scripting
Chapter
Chapter 4 Process Control
Chapter 7 Scripting and the Shell
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Users and Permissions
Chapter
Chapter 3 Access Control and Rootly Powers
Chapter 8 User Management
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Networking Basics
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Internet Servers
Chapter
Chapter 18 Electronic Mail
Chapter 19 Web Hosting
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Services, Logs and Backups
Chapter
Chapter 10 Logging
Chapter 20 Storage
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Hardening Linux Systems
Chapter
Chapter 27 Security
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
System and Network Monitoring
Chapter
Chapter 28 Monitoring
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Putting it Together: Building a Small Business Network
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Project Completion
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Working with your team members, wrap up the project this week, tidy up any loose ends, ensure all components completed and submit the project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Each week (week 1 through 5) you will perform hands-on system administration activities, including setting up a Linux system, using Linux command line and basic scripting to perform filesystem and user management, and implementing security policies (e.g. file access control). You are required to report on these activities by answering questions about the tasks performed, and demonstrating that you have performed them by submitting evidence such as screenshots, logs, configuration files or other as required. The tasks and questions will be provided each week in Moodle, with all answers and required evidences to be submitted in your Linux System Administration Activity Report.
Vacation Week Tuesday (14 Apr 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Takes account of the Easter holiday period
Week 7 Friday (1 May 2020)
Late submissions will be returned 2 weeks after the submission date
Your Activity Report will be marked on the correctness and clarity of your answers. Evidence of tasks that are submitted (e.g. files, screenshots) will be marked on the correctness and depth of information shown. Detailed marking criteria and expected format of Activity Reports are available in Moodle.
- Use administration commands and utilities to manage and secure computer systems
- Demonstrate the ability to perform user management and maintenance tasks
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
During weeks 6 through 9, you will perform hands-on network administration activities such as diagramming your network, producing digital certificates, doing cron entries and implementing security policies like firewalls. You are required to report on these activities by answering questions about the tasks performed, and demonstrating that you have performed them by submitting evidence such as screenshots, logs, configuration files or other as required. The tasks and questions will be provided each week in Moodle, with all answers and required evidences to be submitted in your Linux System Administration Activity Report.
Week 10 Friday (22 May 2020) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2020)
Late submissions will be returned 2 weeks after the submission date
Your Activity Report will be marked on the correctness and clarity of your answers. Evidence of tasks that are submitted (e.g. files, screenshots) will be marked on the correctness and depth of information shown. Detailed marking criteria and expected format of Activity Reports are available in Moodle.
- Configure and deploy common system and network services
- Develop, deploy and evaluate security policies and rules.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
Within a team environment, using the knowledge, skills and facilities developed over the term, you will develop a complete system typical of real, small business networks, with multiple computers configured in a network and running common services and applications. To do this you will design the IP-based network, select the services to run (e.g. web server, file server), and configure each computer to meet given security and user requirements. The system will be deployed in a virtual environment. You will produce and submit relevant documentation (e.g. installation guides, usage guides) as well as evidence that your system meets the requirements (e.g. configuration files, logs, screenshots). Details of this project, including team setup, the case study, security requirements, user requirements, and detailed marking criteria, are available in Moodle.
Review/Exam Week Friday (12 June 2020) 11:55 pm AEST
Project feedback and summary results will be returned on Certification Date
The system documentation (including submitted files) that you produce will be assessed using detailed assessment criteria that includes:
- Relevant material is included, while irrelevant or repetitive material is omitted;
- Sufficient depth is provided so that it can be used and understood by the intended audience;
- Sufficient breadth is provided, demonstrating all requirements of the system are met;
- Presentation and layout of the documentation such that it is clear and easy to follow;
- All requested files are submitted in the correct format.
Detailed marking criteria are available in Moodle.
- Use administration commands and utilities to manage and secure computer systems
- Configure and deploy common system and network services
- Demonstrate the ability to perform user management and maintenance tasks
- Describe how elements of relevant codes of ethics inform professional practice
- Develop, deploy and evaluate security policies and rules.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
