Overview

Indicative content includes:

• Understand the concepts and theories for system administration and the professional roles and responsibilities of different users / administrators.
• Understanding the need for, adding, removing, and managing user accounts.
• A practical use of Linux shell commands for system administration.
• Server administration including general management, network configuration, firewalls, database servers, file shares, web servers, DNS, and system monitoring.
• Backing up and restoring data.
• Practical understanding of process lists and resources. Understanding resources (filesystem, CPU). Monitoring users on server. Knowing when a system requires maintenance.
• Maintenance contracts. Deployment. Ethics. Understanding risks of performing an action. Automating routine tasks. Applying service packs and patches. System logs.
• Introduction to data protection and information security relating to system administration.

Assessment Strategy

Threshold - Equivalent to 40%: Uses key areas of theory or knowledge to meet the Learning Outcomes of the module. Is able to formulate an appropriate solution to accurately solve tasks and questions. Can identify individual aspects, but lacks an awareness of links between them and the wider contexts. Outputs can be understood, but lack structure and/or coherence.

Good - Equivalent to the range 60%-69%: Is able to analyse a task or problem to decide which aspects of theory and knowledge to apply. Solutions are of a workable quality, demonstrating understanding of underlying principles. Major themes can be linked appropriately but may not be able to extend this to individual aspects. Outputs are readily understood, with an appropriate structure but may lack sophistication.

Excellent - Equivalent to the range 70%+: Assemble critically evaluated, relevant areas of knowledge and theory to constuct professional-level solutions to tasks and questions presented. Is able to cross-link themes and aspects to draw considered conclusions. Presents outputs in a cohesive, accurate, and efficient manner.

Learning Outcomes

• Configure, manage, and maintain a multi-user *nix-like system and environment.

• Employ foundational skills to efficiently utilise a *nix-style OS, including scripting for automation.

• Understand clients and their respective servers, and support usage of them.

• Understand the importance of good security, and data protection, apply this to a systems administration role.

• Understand the roles and responsibilities and the main processes of system administration.