Technical Infrastructure and Operational Practices

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Technical Infrastructure and Operational Practices

• 13 26 questions

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CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS

• MAINFRAME
• MINICOMPUTER
• PERSONAL COMPUTER (PC)
• WORKSTATION
• SUPERCOMPUTER

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MAINFRAME
MIPS Millions of Instructions per second

• LARGEST ENTERPRISE COMPUTER
• 5O MEGABYTES TO OVER ONE GIGABYTE RAM
• COMMERCIAL, SCIENTIFIC, MILITARY APPLICATIONS
• MASSIVE DATA
• COMPLICATED COMPUTATIONS

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MINICOMPUTER

• MIDDLE-RANGE
• 10 MEGABYTES TO OVER ONE GIGABYTE RAM
• UNIVERSITIES, FACTORIES, LABS
• USED AS FRONT-END PROCESSOR FOR MAINFRAME

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MICROCOMPUTER

• DESKTOP OR PORTABLE
• 64 KILOBYTES TO OVER 128 MEGABYTES RAM
• PERSONAL OR BUSINESS COMPUTERS
• AFFORDABLE
• MANY AVAILABLE COMPONENTS
• CAN BE NETWORKED

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WORKSTATION

• DESKTOP COMPUTER
• POWERFUL GRAPHICS
• EXTENSIVE MATH CAPABILITIES
• MULTI-TASKING
• USUALLY CONFIGURED TO SPECIAL FUNCTION (e.g.
  CAD, ENGINEERING, GRAPHICS)

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COMPUTER COMPONENTS
BUSES
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Hardware or Software Acquisition
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Invitation To Tender (ITT)
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H/W or S/W Acquisition

• Why Purchase?
• Immediate system availability
• High quality
• Low price
• Available support

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H/W or S/W Acquisition

• Steps
• Identifying the problem
• Identifying potential vendors
• Soliciting vendor information
• Defining system requirements
• Requesting vendor proposals

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Steps

• Reviewing proposals and screening vendors
• Visiting sites
• Selecting the vendor
• Benchmarking
• Negotiating a contract
• Implementing the new system
• Managing post-implementation support

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Steps

• Benchmarking
• Codified comparison of performance measures
  between systems
• Ensures adopted application satisfies the
  organization's minimum requirements
• Learning from Experience

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Information System Software
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Software Overview

• Computer program sequences of instructions for
  the computer.
• Documentation describes program functions to help
  people use it
• Systems software coordinates the activities of
  hardware programs.
• Applications software helps users solve
  particular problems.

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Operating Systems Activities

• Perform common hardware functions
• Provide a user interface
• Provide hardware independence
• Manage system memory
• Manage processing
• Control access to system resources
• Manage files

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Operating Systems Activities

• Perform common hardware functions
• Accept keyboard input
• Store data on disks
• Send data to output devices
• Provide a user interface
• Command-based interfaces
• Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)

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Operating Systems Activities

• Manage processing
• Multitasking more than one program can run at a
  time using a single processor
• Time sharing multiple users simultaneously using
  the resources of a single processor
• Scalability easy adaptation to more users or
  tasks
• Manage files
• Physical storage location
• File permissions
• File access
• Control access to system resources
• Protection against unauthorized access
• Logins and passwords

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Other Operating Systems

• Network OS
• Netware
• Windows NT Server 4.0
• Windows 2000 Server
• Enterprise Operating Systems
• IBMs OS/390
• HPs MPE/iX (Multiprogramming Executive with
  integrated POSIX)
• Consumer appliances OSs
• Windows CE
• Mobil Linux

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Utility Programs

• Virus scanner
• File compressor
• Screen saver

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Database Management Systems
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Database Models

• The Hierarchical Model
• Records are related hierarchically -- each
  category is a subcategory of the next level up
• Disadvantages of hierarchical databases
• To retrieve a record, a user must start at the
  root and navigate the hierarchy.
• If a link is broken, the entire branch is lost.
• Requires considerable data redundancy because
  child records can have only one parent

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Database Models

• The Network Model
• Allows a record to be linked to more than one
  parent
• Supports many-to-many (NM) relationships
• Advantage of the network model
• Reduced data redundancy
• Disadvantages of the network model
• Complicated to build and maintain
• Difficult to navigate

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Database Models

• The Relational Model
• Consists of tables links among entities are
  maintained with foreign keys
• Advantages of relational databases
• Same advantages of a network database without the
  complications.
• Easier to conceptualize and maintain.
• Virtually all DBMSs offered for microcomputers
  accommodate the relational model.

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Database Management Systems (DBMSs)

• Normally employs relational data model
• Provide a user view
• Provide tools to create modify the database
• Store retrieve data
• Manipulate data
• Produce reports

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Overview of Telecommunications Systems
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Overview

• Communication Flow
• Synchronous communication
• Asynchronous communication
• Data Transmission Speeds
• Measured in bits per second (bps)
• Kilobits per second (kbps)
• Megabits per second (Mbps)
• Gigabits per second (Gbps)

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Computer Networks

• Telecommunications media
• Telecommunications devices
• Software
• Hardware devices

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Types of Media

• Guided media
• Twisted Pair
• Coaxial Cable
• Fiber-Optic Cable
• Microwave Transmission
• Unguided media
• Infrared Transmission
• Line of sight
• Short distances
• Microwave

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Types of Devices

• Modem
• Analog signals continuous
• Digital signals discrete
• Modulation translating digital data to analog
• Demodulation translating analog data to digital
• Modems modulate demodulate data

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Carriers

• Common carriers
• Long distance carriers
• Value-added carriers
• Special purpose carriers
• Additional services

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Services

• Line types
• Switched
• Dedicated
• Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
• Digital subscriber lines (DSL)
• Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
• T1 Carrier

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Network Concepts Considerations

• Network topology
• Star
• Bus
• Ring
• Network types
• Local Area Networks
• Wide Area Networks

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Network Topologies
STAR
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Network Topologies
BUS
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Network Topologies
RING
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Network Types

• Logical Area Network (LAN)
• Limited geographical area
• Any topology possible
• Network Interface Card (NIC)
• Designs
• Peer-to-peer
• Client-server
• Wide Area Network (WAN)

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Communications Software

• Error checking
• Message formatting
• Security
• Network Operating System (NOS)
• Network Management Software

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7 layers of OSI/RM Model
Please Do Not Touch Susans Pretty A!!!
Application
Application
Presentation
Presentation
Session
Session
Transport
Transport
Network
Network
Data Link
Data Link
Physical
Physical
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Use and Functioning of the Internet

• Interconnected networks
• NO control
• NO management
• NO charge
• NO laws
• NO ownership
• NO

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How the Internet Works

• Hosts
• Routers forward packets to other networks
• Internet Protocol Stack (TCP/IP)
• Internet Protocol (IP)
• Transport Control Protocol (TCP)
• Backbones

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How the Internet Works

• Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
• http//www.whitehouse.gov

World Wide Web
Domain category
Hypertext transfer protocol
Host Network Name
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Internet Services

• E-mail (Electronic mail)
• Can include images, attachments, or HTML
• Routed by gateways and routers
• Telnet remote login
• FTP file transfer
• Chat rooms allow interactive conversations
• Instant Messaging online, real-time
  communication over the Internet
• Videoconferencing
• Internet phone

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The World Wide Web

• An application running on the Internet
• Allow multimedia presentation of information
• Allow point and click
• Allow graphical interface
• Make the Internet much more user friendly

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Web Software

• Web browsers
• Search engines
• Keyword indexes fast broad
• Subject indexes focused searches
• Tools
• Word processors
• HTML editor
• HTML Template
• Text editor
• View your page
• Add effects judiciously

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Net Issues

• Service bottlenecks
• Firewalls
• Privacy security
• Cookies
• Cryptography
• Encryption
• Digital signature

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Auditing Infrastructure and Operations
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Hardware Reviews

• Review h/w acquisition plan
• See if aligns with IS plan to identify any
  deficiencies
• See if documentation for h/w and s/w
  specifications adequate
• Review PC acquisition criteria to determine
• Written policy statements exists and have been
  communicated
• Criteria, procedures and forms developed
• Request supported by cost/benefit analysis

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Hardware Reviews

• Review change management controls
• Verify IS mgmt developed and enforced change
  schedules
• Verify operator documentation appropriately
  revise before implementation
• Select sample of h/w changes that affected
  scheduling of IP and see if plans work
• Assure h/w changes communicated to all

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Operating System Reviews

• Interview technical personnel
• Review and approval process of option selection
• Test procedures for s/w implementation
• Review and approval procedures for test results
• Documentation requirements
• Review system s/w selection procedures
• Address both IS and biz plans
• Include IS processing and control requirements
• Include overview of capabilities of s/w and
  control options

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Operating System Reviews

• Review feasibility study and selection process to
  determine
• Proposed system objectives and purposes
  consistent with request/proposal
• Same selection criteria applied to all proposals
• Review cost/benefit analysis of system s/w
  procedures
• Total cost of ownership
• h/w requirements and capacity
• Training and support requirements
• Financial stability of vendor

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Operating System Reviews

• Review controls over installation of changed
  system s/w
• Changes scheduled with least impact
• Written plan developed for testing changes
• Problems arising from testing resolved and
  re-tested
• Test procedures adequate
• Fallback or restoration in place

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Operating System Reviews

• Review system s/w change controls
• Access to libraries limited to relevant people
• Changes adequately documented and tested
• S/w authorized to move from test to production
  environment

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Database Reviews

• Design
• Primary key exists
• Administration
• Access rights
• Interfaces
• Secure interface with other systems
• Portability
• SQL is used whenever possible

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LAN Reviews

• Check
• Topology and design
• LAN components
• Functions performed by Administrator
• Wiring
• File server if secure
• NOT properly secured LAN manuals

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LAN Reviews

• Logical security controls
• Unique passwords and forced to change regularly
• Access based on need-to-know basis
• Workstation disabled after period of inactivity
• Remote access as supervisor prohibited
• Log-on attempts logged

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Network Operating Control Reviews

• All sensitive files identified and requirements
  for security identified
• Adequate restart and recovery mechanisms in place
• Individuals have access ONLY to authorized
  applications
• Encryption used for sensitive data

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IS Operations Reviews

• Computer operations
• Restrict operator access capabilities
• Scheduling
• Exception-processing procedures
• Execute re-run handling
• Librarian access capabilities
• Contents and location of off-line storage
• Data entry control
• Authorization of input documents
• Segregation of duties

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IS Operations Reviews

• Lights out operations
• Remote access to master console granted to
  stand-by operators for contingency purposes
• Contingency plan must be in place and followed
• Ensure all errors result in operator notification
• Problem management reporting reviews
• Review reporting procedures
• Review reasons for delays
• Determine significant and recurring problems
  resolved

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H/W Availability and Utilization Reviews

• Review preventative maintenance schedule to see
  if vendor-recommended maintenance frequency
  observed
• Review h/w availability and utilization reports
  to see if workload requirements met
• Determine if IS resources are available for those
  resource-demanding programs
• Review problem log to see if h/w malfunctions
  reviewed by top management

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Scheduling Reviews

• Review console log to see if scheduled jobs
  completed as scheduled
• See if processing priorities established
• See if critical applications receive high
  priorities
• See if no. of personnel in each shift enough

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Technical Infrastructure and Operational Practices

• End