This document discusses network and system administration. It defines network administration as controlling corporate network assets and complexity while improving service and reducing downtime. The roles of a network administrator include tasks like security management, fault management, user management and supporting networked applications. Network administration aims to design logical networks, provide services needed by users, and keep systems running smoothly despite problems. Effective administration requires both reactive firefighting of issues and proactive preventative management through monitoring.

1. Network Administration
Definition, Scope & Goals
Roles, Practice

2. CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept 2
Question?
1. Define NW/SYS Administration?
2. What are the role of NW administrator?
3. How does Network Administration work in
Practice?
4. List some tasks of NW administrator
5. What are Goals of System/Network
Administration?
6. What are the Challenges of System/Network
Administration?

3. 3
Role of Network Administrator
some Definitions ???
 Controlling corporate strategic assets
 Controlling complexity
 Improving service
 Balancing various needs
 Reducing downtime
 Controlling costs
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

4. 4
OSI Management
Functional Areas
“F C A P S”
 Fault Management
 Configuration & Name Management
 Account Management
 Performance Management
 Security Management
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

5. 5
OSI open Systems Interconnection - Fault
management
The facilities that enable the
 detection,
 isolation, and
 correction
of abnormal operation of the OSI
environment.
 It is essential that the system be able to detect, report and recover from
failures as quickly as possible
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

6. 6
OSI - Configuration and Name
Management
• The ability to configure a system to be
able to operate in a desired manner
• This could include
 manual creation of static routing tables in
routers, etc.
N:B configuration management is best
performed at a central site
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

7. 7
OSI - Account Management
The facilities that enable
 charges to be established for the use of
managed objects and
 costs to be identified for the use of those
managed objects.
 the ability to account for the resources
consumed in a system
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

8. 8
OSI - Performance
Management
 The Facilities needed to evaluate
 the means by which a system's
performance may be monitored
 Behaviour of managed objects
 Effectiveness of communication activities
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

9. 9
OSI - Security Management
Address those aspects of OSI security
essential to:
 operate OSI network management correctly and
 to protect managed objects
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

10. Definitions??
How does Network Administration
work in Practice?
Let’s look at how Network
Management is Organised…

11. 11
Network
Hardware
Applications
Division of Labour
Structure of Systems and
Network Management
Organisation
Def. responsible for the
maintenance of computer hardware
and software that comprises a
computer network.
-This normally includes the
deployment, configuration,
maintenance and monitoring of
active network equipment. ...
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

12. CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept 12
Corporate Networked
Environments
 Have team(s) of specialists in various areas
 Well defined tasks
 job descriptions
 In small networks usually one person
 multi-skilled and multi-tasked
 In reality – often somewhere in between….

13. Network Administrator
Tasks

14. 14
Tasks of a
Network Administrator
 Security Management
 Performance Management
 Planning for Growth
 Fault Management and Recovery
 Account/User Management
 Networked Application Support
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

15. 15
Security Management
 Firewalls
 Usernames
 Password control
 Resource Access Control
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

16. 16
Performance Management
 Availability
 Response Time
 Accuracy
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

17. 17
Planning for Growth
 A Network (or any organisation) is not static
 Growth means increased load on a
network. This must be planned for….
 Systems eventually need replacement.
This must be planned for – in advance…
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

18. 18
Fault Management and
Recovery
 Monitoring
 Reporting status
 Testing
 Fixes and Patches
 Updates
 Repairs
 Change Management
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

19. 19
Account / User Management
 Communication Facilities
 Connection - Rental - Charges
 Hardware Usage
 Lease - Rent - Hire
 Consumables Usage
 Power, Paper, Media (Diskettes, CDs…)
 Software Usage
 Licensing,
 Application usage
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

20. 20
Account / User Management
 Accounts are Managed for:
 Intrusion detection / prevention
 Charging for Services
 Legal protection of the Organisation
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

21. 21
Networked Application Support
 Client / Server systems support
 Internet support
 Server support
 Applications and Hardware
 Helpdesk
 Printing
 eMail
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

22. Network Support
Another way to think about what a
Network Administrator does is to
look at the network structure

23. 23
Network Infrastructure
Users
WAN
Routers
Switches
Cables
Users Users Users
LAN LAN LAN LAN
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

24. 24
Networking Support - WAN
Core Infrastructure Management
Media......WAN ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES.ppt
 Fibre
 Microwave
 Leased circuits (eg. ISDN-Integrated
Services Digital Network)
 Copper based
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

25. 25
Networking Support - WAN
 ATM-Asynchronous Transfer Mode/FDDI Fibre Distributed Data Interface
core
 Security
 Performance
 Configurations
 Load-balancing
 IP and other routable protocol issues
 Routing (strategies, protocols)
 Higher-level networking services (e.g. DNS)
 Equipment management
 Security
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

26. 26
Networking Support - LAN
The edge/user networks management
 Media
 Cable-based (eg. CAT 5)
 LAN related
 Ethernet and other LAN related protocols
• MAC issues (eg. registrations)
• Desktop and server related fault management
• Load-balancing (topology and infrastructure
items eg. hubs and switches)
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

27. 27
Networking Support - LAN
 Equipment management
 Standardisation
 Cataloguing for inventory control
 Troubleshooting
 The methodologies
(planned procedures for known problems)
 Security
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

28. 28
Network Application Support
 Application Analysis
 Response time requirements
 Timing requirements
 Availability requirements (mission critical?)
 Security requirements
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

29. 29
The Server support
 Analysis of new Server hardware
 Network interface speed
 The number of interface
 Sustained network output and inputs
 Network availability requirements
 Network security requirements
 Backup related requirements
 Disk size
 Rate of change of data
 Backup policies
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

30. OK…
That is what an network
Administrator does…
So…..
How do we learn Network or
Systems Administration?

31. 31
How to be a Sys/Net Admin
(yet another Job Description…)
 Learn Operating System basics eg Unix
 Learn shell utilities and script programming
 Learn how to Install and Configure OS
 Learn DNS
 Learn TCP/IP networking
 Learn NFS and NIS- Network Information Service(DB) (or
equivalent…)
 Learn about system tuning and accounting
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

32. 32
Goals of System/Network
Administration
 Put together a network of computers
 Get them running
 Keep them running (despite Users….)
 Provide a Service to Users
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

33. Challenges of
System/Network Administration
Systems or Network Administration is more
than just installing computers or networks.
It is about planning and designing an
efficient community of computers that allow
users to get their jobs done.

34. 34
Challenges of Administration
 Design Logical, Efficient networks
 Easily deploy & update many machines
 Decide what services are needed
 know the business tasks & customers
 Plan and implement adequate security
 Provide comfortable User environment
 Be able to fix errors and problems
 Keep track of & be able to use knowledge
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

35. Style of
Network Administration

36. 36
Comparison of System/Network
Management Styles
 Fire-Fighting
 Managing by responding to situations when
they happen (Reactive)
 Preventative management
 Monitor network and make repairs and
changes before problems appear (Proactive)
 These are two opposite extremes.
Most real managers combine both.
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

37. 37
Fire-Fighting
 Investigate the Fault or Problem
 Isolate the problem and identify/define it
 Use tests and tools to diagnose the problem
 Solve the problem and document the solution
 Prioritize multiple problems
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

38. 38
Preventative Management
 The Good Circle management cycle
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept

39. Assignment 10%
 Distinguish between System Administration
and Network Administration.
 Write about the basic difference in WSU
ICTD work description of System and
Network Administration.
 Briefed discussion about ATM, FDDI, Frame
Relay, HDLC, DSL/ADSL, Token Ring,
Ethernet & ETC
CS3063 (Sys & Net Admin)
WSU CS Dept 39

40. (END)
Thank you!