Assignment: System Management Project
Purpose: The goal of this project is to show that you can demonstrate communication skills in the business and professional environment; apply research methods and tools to solve problems; demonstrate foundational IT literacy and competencies; apply industry standards to networking solutions; evaluate technical aspects of systems software, hardware, services and design, configure, and deliver network systems.
Deliverables
o Network Schematic
o Server Configuration
o Network Infrastructure Configuration
o Client Configuration
o Active Directory Schema
o This schematic should include the contents, attributes, classes, and structure of the Active Directory.
o Example items to include are: forest, domain, containers, OUs, etc.
o Network Infrastructure Schematic
o This document should be constructed in Visio and detail each piece of equipment with its name and a list of any major characteristics (e.g., Active Directory Server, Exchange, etc.), IP addresses, and how it's interconnected to other devices.
o Server Configuration
o This documentation is specific as to how the server is built and configured, along with challenges and solutions.
o Items to include consist of, but are not limited to: domain name, IP Address, Active Directory Schema, User accounts, Passwords, Service Pack, Services, Group Policy settings, Security settings, Shared Folders, etc. Essentially, if the server needed to be rebuilt from scratch, how would another person complete this task and configure it for the same network?
o Client Configuration
o This documentation is specific as to how the server is built and configured, along with challenges and solutions.
o Items to include consist of, but are not limited to: IP Addresses, Local User Accounts, Administrative and Local accounts/passwords, how to connect to printers, etc.
o Essentially, if the client needed to be rebuilt from scratch, how would another person complete this task and configure it for the same network?
Choose one scenario Project Scenario I
Orange Creek, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, has moved into Lexington and is requesting bids for implementing a network infrastructure for their banking software company. The primary function of the new building is to provide office space for software development and testing of their homegrown banking software. Both levels of the building are dedicated to development, test, on-site IT staff, management, and administration.
Location:
- Single structure consisting of two levels
- Each level has 75-100 employees, with enough real estate to seat 180 employees.
- 80% of employees reside between two lab rooms (development/test), and 20% have offices.
- Each lab consists of cubicles for each employee with associated VoIP telephones.
- Tiled floors and drop ceilings
Infrastructure Requirements:
- Each floor requires five "servers" for development and test. One floor must contain two additional "servers" to serve as a QA environment.
- The corporate backbone must have a robust email server, along with LDAP authentication and Active Directory permission for intranet sites.
- The network must be speedy enough to accommodate large spikes of Web traffic.
Success Criteria:
- The project is completed in a timely manner-as always, ASAP.
- The implementation is cost-effective-as always, as cheap as possible while meeting needs.
- Use quality hardware. Be prepared to explain why choices were made.
- All deliverables (Orange Creek and the instructor's needs) are met, and the end result meets the required needs.
- The project binder consists of all deliverables listed above.
Things to Consider:
- Data recovery hardware and software
- Network latency
- Hardware and software theft
- Security (workstations and infrastructure)
- Hardware implementation vs. employee needs
- Growth expectations
- Electricity costs and cooling costs
- Orange Creek's required overhead to manage system
Project Scenario II
Greenway Bank, a new St. Louis company, has secured venture capital to take over four failed bank branches in four different cities. The new owners have decided to dismantle/discontinue use of all existing hardware and software in the failed branches, as most of it is outdated. Their plan is to install state-of-the- art/compatible systems. The demolition involved has been contracted out and is outside the scope of this proposal.
The four branches are located in New York, Seattle, Orlando, and Los Angeles.
The revenue stream for Greenway Bank will consist of: savings, checking accounts, loans, mortgages, Money Market accounts, Certificates of Deposit, and wire transfers (both domestic and international).
The St. Louis headquarters also will house the corporate offices and a new inbound customer service call center to handle customer communications (questions, issues, and complaints). The office will house a local area network (LAN) in the building. The design should ensure sufficient system capability and capacity to provide a centralized solution for data storage and management for the new venture among all five locations. In addition, it should meet the information and communications needs associated with the distributed nature of the company. The St. Louis office will be the central office that handles all the data communications for the entire business. Client information and services, such as statements, loan approvals, etc., will be hosted in this location for access by all sites.
Growth Expectations:
The company's expectation is to grow. Although your proposal should not include additional branches, your design should allow for expansion.
Branch personnel: one administrator, two to four loan officers, four to five tellers (including drive-through) Headquarters personnel: president, officers, receptionist Number of agents in call center: 20 agents, one to two supervisors
The principals have concerns and are in need of guidance regarding technology, maintenance, upgrades, and warranties. They are expecting the winning technology consulting firm to provide a solution that can address their needs as well as a plan for additional branches as business allows.
Your design should include:
- A backup and recovery plan for each computer/server, including off-site storage, if necessary, for the backups or replicated systems
- A business continuity plan to address and reduce physical, electronic, and other risks and provide continuity of operations across anticipated events.
Network Infrastructure Scope:
The scope is to design an infrastructure that connects each branch to headquarters and will meet all stated requirements for the integrity, storage, and movement of related data; the applications that process such data; and the networking and communications infrastructure that supports such applications, covering all desired functions in security, redundancy and operability, etc. The new company also is seeking professional guidance and procedures on whether it makes sense to hire a full-time staff to manage the networking/telecommunications infrastructure and related services, or if leaving such services to an external consulting firm will be more effective and efficient.
Each branch will have its own local area network (LAN), with an operating speed that will permit data transfer at high speeds with a minimum chance of bottlenecks. The principals need to know if it would be best to have the data accessed by all branches be on each branch's own LAN. They also request suggestions on data sharing among workstations and high-speed Internet access.
Each branch will have the following:
- One file/print server
- Two high-speed network printers/copiers/scanners
- Fax machine
- Voice messaging with beeping services
- Ten workstations at each location
- Network devices that support the LAN and WAN connection-router, firewall, switch
- PBX phone service
The corporate headquarters will have the following:
- An application server hosting banking software installed to track all clients, demographics, accounts, and statement information
- A separate server that hosts business management applications, such as accounting, HR, and other asset-management tools
- A separate server that provides necessary network services, such as Active Directory, DNS, and DHCP
- A Web server(s) for the business
- Network connection-router, firewall, switch
- Email service provided by an external provider and accessible via email client software and/or Web access
- One file/print server
- Three network printers/copiers/scanners
- PBX phone service
Software per Workstation:
- Office Applications
- Email client software
- Web browser
- Network connectivity to centralized client information, ATMs, and the Internet
Project Scenario III
The Technology Director for a local school system wishes to implement three fully functional labs for various groups of high school students within a district. This infrastructure will be critical in supporting the education of the students. This infrastructure will require email capability on both client and mobile devices, as well as secure authentication. Because this lab will be used by various students and various instructors, a user guide Web page will be necessary.
Infrastructure Requirements:
- Hardware
o Server
o Clients
o Various Mobile Devices
o Wi-Fi
- Functionality
o Login for three specific groups
- General Student
- Instructors
- Guests
o Mail
- Mail for students and instructors
- Mobile Mail for both students and instructors
o Login
- LDAP authentication
- Home Web Page
o Documentation appropriate for the three sets of users utilizing this network
- Software, tools, programs specific to the three groups, including, but not limited to:
o VM Player
o ESX
o Office
o Printing
- Network Infrastructure
o Routing/switching capability between multiple test labs across the county
Objective:
Create and present a fully functional beta network infrastructure.
Deliverables:
Each binder must contain the following items:
- Active Directory Schema
- Physical Network Diagram
- Logical Network Diagram
- Disaster Recovery Plan
- Security and Maintenance Plan
- Detailed and priced list of infrastructure hardware with explanation
- Test Plan
- Change Management Plan
- Notes: meeting minutes, project status reports, change management forms, issues, etc.
Success Criteria:
- The project is completed in a timely manner.
- The implementation is cost-effective-as always, as cheap as possible while meeting needs.
- Use quality hardware. Be prepared to explain why choices were made.
- All deliverables are met, and the end result meets the required needs.
- The project binder consists of all deliverables listed above.
Things to Consider:
- Data recovery hardware and software
- Network latency
- Hardware and software theft
- Security (workstations and infrastructure)
- Hardware implementation vs. student needs
- Growth expectations
- Electricity costs and cooling costs (Green IT)
- Overhead to manage system
- Warranty
- Virtual Machines.