Syllabus for CMPTR 262 UNIX Administration

Winter, 2008 (Revised 1/1/08)

Prerequisites:

• CMPTR 261 - Operating Systems/UNIX
• or Permission from the Instructor

Course Description:

This course is designed to introduce advanced LAN management, the planning, design, security and implementation of networking services, and the integration of Linux/UNIX with other operating systems using Redhat Enterprise Linux version 5 (RHEL5) and the freely available Fedora Core 3 operating system.  This practice-based course is designed to prepare users to administer UNIX-based systems in a secure, networked, client-server environment and maps to the second exam of the LPI/LCA certification. 

This hands-on course has also been designed to help prepare you for the CompTIA Linux+ certification exam. Lectures, projects and exercises reinforce skills as they are learned. You will have access to additional computer-based training and testing materials, from the vendor TestOut!, while you are working in the T-213 computer lab.  The TestOut! (Linux+ - LabSim Manual [ISBN 1-932837-03-5]) materials are provided free of charge as a supplement to your other course materials in order to help you pass the applicable certification exam(s) once you’ve completed this course. 

Specific topics covered include: Networking Fundamentals, Configuring Basic Networking, Configuring Client Services, Using Simple Network Services, Configuring File-sharing Services, Configuring Major Network Services, Security, Ethics, and Privacy, File Security, User Security, Cryptography, Network Security Fundamentals, and Security Tools.
 

Course Objectives: Linux is the fastest growing operating system today. As the number of companies implementing Linux increases, so too does the rapidly-developing need for skilled users, developers and administrators. Advanced Guide to Linux Networking and Security was especially designed for individuals who want to move beyond just the basics of Linux installation and administration into a broader study of the many security issues surrounding this operating system.  Note that the text maps to the objectives for the second exam in the LPI/LCA certification.

Course Outcomes:

• Build upon the skills obtained in the previous introductory course on the UNIX operating system
• Use team collaboration to complete a project involving the integration of the open-source Linux/UNIX operating system with another  proprietary operating system that is popular in most of today’s business environments
• Identify and analyze the need for common networking services and design solutions that meet with those needs
• Work with the Linux firewall service, public key infrastructure, and other security tools in order to deploy services that are secure, as well as functional, high-performance, available, and scalable
• Prepare for the applicable Linux+ and LPI/LCA certification examination(s)

Course Materials:

Course Outline

This course will consist of 14 units covering the following topics:

Unit 1: Networking Fundamentals

Unit 2: Configuring Basic Networking

Unit 3: Configuring Client Services

Unit 4: Using Simple Network Services

Unit 5: Configuring File-sharing Services

Unit 6: Configuring Major Network Services

Unit 7: Security, Ethics, and Privacy

Unit 8: File Security

Unit 9: User Security

Unit 10: Cryptography

Unit 11: Network Security Fundamentals

Unit 12: Security Tools

Course Schedule:

Week 1: Unit 1: Networking Fundamentals

Week 2: Unit 2: Configuring Basic Networking

Week 3: Unit 3: Configuring Client Services

Week 4: Unit 4 and Unit 6: Using Simple Network Services and Configuring Major Network Services

Week 5: Unit 5: Configuring File-sharing Services

Week 6: Unit 7: Security, Ethics, and Privacy

Week 7: Unit 8: File Security

Week 8: Unit 9: User Security

Week 9: Unit 10: Cryptography

Week 10: Unit 11 and Unit 12: Network Security Fundamentals and Security Tools

Discussion Board & Chat Sessions

Discussion is a very important component of this course. Just like in a traditional class, you will be expected to participate in discussions with your instructor and fellow students about course Unit and Learning Event topics.

Discussion Board

Discussion Board topics are tied to specific course Learning Events for each week of the ten-week session, and comprise a substantial part of your grade for this course.. Discussion board participation is required and evaluated qualitatively by the Instructor. You are required to post original material for each Discussion Board (DB) assignment.  Additionally, you will be graded upon your participation in responding to your classmates’ DB posts.  Initial DB posts are due by Wednesday of the week in which they are assigned, in order to avoid a 10 point penalty (with the exception of week 1).  Up to 5 points per response will be assigned to your responses to your classmates DB posts, up to a maximum of 10 total response points.  Your initial DB post will be graded in accordance with the following rubric. Your responses to your classmates’ DB posts must be substantive and will be graded using the following rubric in a similar manner.

Lecture Schedule: CMPTR 262 meets 3 - 4 hours per week, 2 hours in class and 1 – 2 hours online. Each week I will use the on-ground classroom time, on-line classroom time, and the time spent on the discussion board to introduce or review local area network administration topics. Additional online time will be needed for research and study activities, group or partner work, submission of assignments, and assessments.

Ground-based Sessions

The Instructor delivers two clock hours of traditional classroom lecture time scheduled during the week.  Classroom attendance is not mandatory and your participation in the classroom is not graded and will not be included in the course grade.  Nevertheless, you are encouraged to attend as many of the classroom sessions as your schedule will allow. For those who cannot attend the ground-based classroom session, an alternative would be to attend the online classroom session in the virtual classroom.  This chat session will serve as an alternative forum for presenting course materials and will give the student an opportunity to ask any questions that might come up during the week.

• Tuesday 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM (T-213 Classroom)
• Thursdays 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM (T-213 Classroom)

Virtual Classroom Sessions and Chat Sessions

The Instructor is available for real-time chat scheduled by arrangement to accommodate diverse schedules. You are not required to attend the online, real-time chats or virtual classroom sessions. The real-time chats, when scheduled, will focus on the Unit topic for each week of the ten-week session and are archived, so you can review the discussion on your own schedule. Real-time chats are not included in the course grade, but serve as a valuable resource for your learning experience. Recordings on the online [virtual] classroom sessions and the office hours sessions will be available weekly (immediately after the session has completed) on WAOL.  Look under <Communication> and then <Collaboration> and select the <Recordings> button for either the Lecture Hall [Virtual Classroom] or Office Hours [Chat], depending upon your interest.

Tentative Online Chat Schedule

• Tuesdays  8:00 PM to 9:00 PM (online – Virtual Classroom in WAOL)
• (Optionally) Thursdays  8:00 PM to 9:00 PM (online – Virtual Classroom in WAOL)

Other Course Components

ExamView

Online Testing will conducted via the ExamView website - http://www.evtestcenter.com/

File naming standards for CMPTR 262 – The following naming standards must be used when submitting assignments by electronic mail or via the “Digital Dropbox” within WAOL.

Discussion Board Assignment – Course name, followed by the Unit Number, Last Name, First Name, abbreviation for the Assignment type and Assignment number

Example: CMPTR262_U10_Blackwell_Kevin_DB1.doc

Group Project – Course name, followed by the Unit Number, Last Name, First Name, abbreviation for the Assignment type and Assignment number

Example: CMPTR262_U10_Blackwell_Kevin_GP1.doc

Lab – Course name, followed by the Unit Number, Last Name, First Name, abbreviation for the Assignment type and Assignment number

Example: CMPTR262_U10_Blackwell_Kevin_LAB1.doc

E-mail Etiquette – The following guidelines should be adhered to in order to assure a fast, accurate and meaningful response from e-mail sent by the student to the instructor.  Remember, the instructor has many students in many classes.  Incorrectly formatted e-mail may hinder/delay a response back from your instructor.

Use only the e-mail address at the bottom of the syllabus for corresponding with your instructor.

Example:

kblackwell@oc.ctc.edu

The subject line should always include your course number and the student’s name.  Cryptic e-mail addresses are too hard to correlate with “real” student names.  If you don’t put an appropriate subject line on your e-mail

Example:

Subject Line: CMPTR_262, Blackwell, Kevin – This is what I need help with

Course Evaluation

Graded Learning Events

Every Unit has from 3 to 5 Learning Events (known traditionally as assignments). Instructions for each Learning Event are provided within the Unit topic identified for each week. Each Learning Event concludes with one or more deliverable product. Deliverable products may range from a discussion board post, a research paper, the results of a “hands on” lab, a group project, to the results of an online quiz or a short examination. These deliverable products are evaluated using the course evaluation methods.

Student Assessment

A Student Assessment is included for every Unit of instruction. When two Units are covered during one week, a single assessment will be used to cover both units.  The course platform’s testing feature is utilized for this Student Self-Assessment. True/False, Multiple Choice, Yes/No, or Matching are used for students to evaluate their own knowledge acquisition for each Unit’s identified course outcomes.

Assignment Weighting:

Course Evaluation Grading Scale

Policies

Student Conduct:

Everyone deserves to have a good learning environment. I will follow the rules of the college in the classroom. Please see the Student Handbook for the Student Conduct Code. All forms of dishonesty will be subject to immediate disciplinary action (see the section below on Academic Honesty). Classroom disruptions such as tardiness, talking during lecture and cell phone use are not acceptable. Repeated infractions will be referred to the Vice President of Student Services. Please turn off your cell phone before entering the classroom.

Academic Honesty

At Olympic College, students are expected to demonstrate academic integrity by completing their own work assignments and assessments. Effective planning and progress must be accomplished for students to be successful in their degree program of study. Submission of work from another person, whether it is from printed sources or someone other than the student, previously graded papers, papers submitted without proper source citation, or submitting the same paper to multiple courses without the knowledge of all instructors involved can result in a failing grade or be reported to the Olympic College Vice Principle of Student Services for appropriate sanctions or disciplinary actions. All students are expected to adhere to the standards as set forth in the Student Code of Conduct and Statement on Academic Honesty.

The administration, faculty, and student government of Olympic College believe strongly in the concept of an honor system. This belief is based on the knowledge that in competitive professional environments, greater emphasis is placed on originality and integrity of ideas and work. All members of the Olympic College academic community, including faculty, students, and administration, are expected to assist in maintaining the integrity of the College, which includes reporting incidents that violate the Statement on Academic Honesty.

For Olympic College course work, please note that learning events are to be that of the student’s own work, and group projects are collaborative efforts.

Course Participation

Online students are required to participate in their online courses in an academically-related activity comparable to the minimum of one contact hour of instruction in a seven-day calendar week (Sunday to Saturday) for each week of a 10-week quarter. This participation is captured and recorded as the Last Date of Attendance in the student records system and updated with each consecutive login. This provides a dynamic update to the LDA in the student’s academic record for real-time monitoring of course participation throughout a quarter. In the event of a student-initiated or administrative withdrawal, the LDA is used as the official date of withdrawal.

Homework Policy:

You are responsible for doing all online assignments, reviewing the online materials for that week, participating in the group activity for the week, and turning in all assignments on time. You will also have a weekly reading assignment, which will support that week's learning objectives, and which you are encouraged to complete ahead of time. Post any questions that you may have to either the common area of your class, where the questions may be answered by any students, or post them directly to me. Please bring your questions that cannot be answered online to class each Thursday.

Writing Lab

Students are encouraged to make use of the Olympic College Writing Center.  The Writing Center is located in Humanities 115, open from 9 – 5 M & Tu, and 9 – 2 W – F.  Students are encouraged to make appointments, but may also drop in.  The phone # is 475-7318.

If you are struggling with the research papers [Group Projects] or with the requirement for strict APA Style formatting, a tutor in the writing center will be able to provide you with assistance for this course requirement.

Special Accommodations:

If you have a disability and will need special services, please call or visit Access Services as soon as possible. They are in Humanities Building, room 114 (360) 475-7540.

Can I Help?

I want you to do well in this class and in college. If you have a problem or situation that is affecting your schoolwork, please let me know. Olympic College has many services to help students be successful. You can contact me by e-mail, voice mail, or talk to me right before or after class.

Instructor Information

Name: Kevin Blackwell
E-mail: kblackwell@oc.ctc.edu

Phone: (W) 360-475-7379

Instructor Office Hours:

Monday through Thursday, 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M. (T-215)