This week the focus of the class was on the practices of system management. These practices include hardware management, power management, system performance, and system security. In my studies and personal experiences, I have practiced and utilized many of these techniques on my own personal computers. Hardware management deals with topics such as managing device drivers for operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and OS X. This is usually accomplished using various management tools such as device manager (for Windows). This week put a special emphasis on device driver roll-back and how to deal with incompatible drivers. We also explored the various control panel programs available with the three main operating systems (Windows, Linux, and OS X) and how they are used to manage and configure the system resources. Power management options were also discussed this week. New features such as Advanced Configuration and Power Interface have been added to operating system functionality to help promote green computing standards. Various system performance practices such as system tuning and system monitoring play a large role in the health of personal computers. The operating system provides a variety of tools and snap-ins to help monitor and fine-tune system resources and performance. Perhaps the most important topic discussed this week was system security. This includes disaster recovery, mal-ware protection, and fault tolerance. I learned a great deal of new information about the security aspect of system management including fault-tolerance and backup practices used by many corporations to protect their data. I also learned more about the RAID configurations.
This week the material and homework were not very difficult to understand. In fact, I learned a great deal of new information that will be very useful in the future. The only real challenge was that we had to cover two weeks of content in one week due to the cancellation of class due to the weather.
System management is a very important topic to learn if one wishes to enter the Information Technology field. It is also a good topic to learn for any computer user. There are many malicious threats on the Internet today and users need to learn how to protect themselves from such threats. Data protection and system performance are very important within the corporate world. Business often operates at the speed-of-light which means quick and reliable access to corporate data for decision-making is very essential for the survival of many corporations. As Information Technologists, we are obligated to ensure that this is data is readily available when and where it is needed. These techniques can also be used to manage and protect personal systems which may contain personal information.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Week 10: Registry
This week in class, the Windows registry was introduced and discussed. I have had my run-ins with the Windows registry with varying degrees of success. I generally try to stay away from the registry unless absolutely necessary due to my inexperience using it. I am afraid of messing up my computer and having to reload everything from scratch. This week has helped me gain a better understanding of the Windows registry and how it functions. The registry basics were presented in class this week which include registry structure, registry editors, registry backup and restoration, and registry resources. We also learned how to manipulate, remove, and add keys to the registry that set different configuration options for the system's hardware and software. We learned about the different values that can be stored within the keys such as string and binary values. We learned about the different registry editors available for manipulating the registry and how to use them to do so. Finally, we learned about the security features included to protect the registry from malicious attacks and accidental manipulation.
The content of this week was not difficult to understand. In fact, I learned a great deal of new information about the registry and its functionality. The main problem I encountered this week was my fear of corrupting the registry of my virtual machine rendering it inoperable. This fear is a result of past mistakes I have made in the registry due to my inexperience. The material this week has given me a better understanding of the registry and has eased my fears a bit.
The registry can be a very valuable and powerful tool for system customization and security. The registry is often used to enforce security and business policies within most corporations. Therefore, it is important for Information Technologists to become comfortable using the registry. When given the proper respect, the registry can be an Information Technologist's best friend. Learning how to safely manipulate the registry can also get rid of several annoying Windows quirks or enable some useful features. I can use my new knowledge of the registry to safely improve my own personal computers.
The content of this week was not difficult to understand. In fact, I learned a great deal of new information about the registry and its functionality. The main problem I encountered this week was my fear of corrupting the registry of my virtual machine rendering it inoperable. This fear is a result of past mistakes I have made in the registry due to my inexperience. The material this week has given me a better understanding of the registry and has eased my fears a bit.
The registry can be a very valuable and powerful tool for system customization and security. The registry is often used to enforce security and business policies within most corporations. Therefore, it is important for Information Technologists to become comfortable using the registry. When given the proper respect, the registry can be an Information Technologist's best friend. Learning how to safely manipulate the registry can also get rid of several annoying Windows quirks or enable some useful features. I can use my new knowledge of the registry to safely improve my own personal computers.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Week 8: Application Installation
Application installation was covered in class this week. While this topic is not new to me, there were some new aspects to the topic that I had not been presented before. In particular, I learned a great deal about the architecture of the Windows 7 operating system. We learned about the function of the environment subsystems and the executive services. Aside from operating system architecture, we explored several of the operating system components and tools used to support legacy applications such as DOS, 16-bit, and 32-bit versions. The .NET framework was also discussed. This framework supports many .NET applications which rely on it for operating system services including security, memory management, and exception handling. We learned about several methods for installing/uninstalling software applications including the preferred methods for each. Deployment methods for software applications used by corporations of all sizes were also presented as well as were some of the tools and techniques provided by the operating system developers. We also received a great deal of hands-on experience installing and uninstalling various software applications on our virtual machines.
This week was not as much challenging as it was time-consuming. The homework assignment was to install and uninstall various software applications used within the corporate world on our virtual machines. We also were assigned to locate and install all the updates available for Windows 7 and Office 2010. While this homework was not difficult, it was very time-consuming. One major issue I encountered was when I was almost done with the homework, I realized that I was almost out of disk space. With several large updates still remaining, I realized that I needed to repartition my hard drive in order to allow for all the updates to be installed. This meant I had to essentially start over again on the homework after I re-sized the partitions of my hard drive due to the fact that I had to uninstall all the applications that I had stored on my other partitions. Other than this the week went pretty smoothly. I did have some issues with one of the questions on the quiz.
Application installation and uninstallation is a very important skill to master within the Information Technology field. With all the different versions of hardware and software available for corporations to utilize, it is important to have the knowledge and skills to foresee any compatibility issues that could be encountered by mixing these two. It is also important to expose oneself to the various types and techniques used for application installation and uninstallation. Lastly, it is very important to have good research skills so that if a compatibility issue does arise, the proper resources can be accessed to resolve the issue at hand. Aside, from the corporate aspect, application installation and uninstallation is also used a great deal when working with one's own personal computing devices. I will use much of the information presented this week to help improve the status of my own personal computers.
This week was not as much challenging as it was time-consuming. The homework assignment was to install and uninstall various software applications used within the corporate world on our virtual machines. We also were assigned to locate and install all the updates available for Windows 7 and Office 2010. While this homework was not difficult, it was very time-consuming. One major issue I encountered was when I was almost done with the homework, I realized that I was almost out of disk space. With several large updates still remaining, I realized that I needed to repartition my hard drive in order to allow for all the updates to be installed. This meant I had to essentially start over again on the homework after I re-sized the partitions of my hard drive due to the fact that I had to uninstall all the applications that I had stored on my other partitions. Other than this the week went pretty smoothly. I did have some issues with one of the questions on the quiz.
Application installation and uninstallation is a very important skill to master within the Information Technology field. With all the different versions of hardware and software available for corporations to utilize, it is important to have the knowledge and skills to foresee any compatibility issues that could be encountered by mixing these two. It is also important to expose oneself to the various types and techniques used for application installation and uninstallation. Lastly, it is very important to have good research skills so that if a compatibility issue does arise, the proper resources can be accessed to resolve the issue at hand. Aside, from the corporate aspect, application installation and uninstallation is also used a great deal when working with one's own personal computing devices. I will use much of the information presented this week to help improve the status of my own personal computers.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Week 7: Network Resources
This week in our class, we covered networking and network resources. This is a very challenging subject for me due to my lack of previous knowledge and experience in the field. In my college studies, I have always had an interest in networking and have wanted to take a course in networking. I am currently enrolled for the Networking Essentials course for next quarter. I do have a very basic knowledge of networking and networking resources, but this is mainly limited to small, peer-to-peer personal networks. Therefore, this week I was given a taste of the resources and techniques used in the networking field. Topics covered included many networking fundamentals including network types, configurations, and topology. Many of the hardware components required for constructing a network were also introduced and discussed. We learned about several of the components used for addressing network resources including IP address and MAC address. Network communication protocol such as TCP/IP were introduced and discussed including the different layers included within the OSI model. We explored how to troubleshoot networks using several tools provided by many network operating systems. Many of these tools are available free for download. Our assignment for the week was to research the differences between the Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) and the Domain Name Service (DNS). This activity helped me gain a better understanding of name resolution and what each service does to accomplish this task.
As I stated before, I have had little exposure to networking and its practices. In general, networking can be a difficult subject to understand unless it is put into practice. Therefore, this week was a bit of a struggle for me. There was a lot of information presented this week which made it hard to keep up. I found myself having to reread several sections of the handouts for the week in order to understand the material. The research paper we were assigned helped me clear up some of the confusion I had about DNS and the basic functionality of the internet. The quiz for this week was also more difficult than usual.
Networking is the heart and soul of the Information Technology field. Without it, IT would not have a very large footing within the world. Let's face it, without networking, information sharing in the world would be much more slow and difficult. In other words, networking is critical for corporate success in the modern era. In my professional career, having networking knowledge and experience will be vital for my success. With many corporations relying heavily on networking for information sharing, having this knowledge will help provide job security for me. I can also use much of this week's information in my daily computing practices including troubleshooting and diagnosing network problems.
As I stated before, I have had little exposure to networking and its practices. In general, networking can be a difficult subject to understand unless it is put into practice. Therefore, this week was a bit of a struggle for me. There was a lot of information presented this week which made it hard to keep up. I found myself having to reread several sections of the handouts for the week in order to understand the material. The research paper we were assigned helped me clear up some of the confusion I had about DNS and the basic functionality of the internet. The quiz for this week was also more difficult than usual.
Networking is the heart and soul of the Information Technology field. Without it, IT would not have a very large footing within the world. Let's face it, without networking, information sharing in the world would be much more slow and difficult. In other words, networking is critical for corporate success in the modern era. In my professional career, having networking knowledge and experience will be vital for my success. With many corporations relying heavily on networking for information sharing, having this knowledge will help provide job security for me. I can also use much of this week's information in my daily computing practices including troubleshooting and diagnosing network problems.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Week 6: File Systems
File systems were discussed in class this week. This topic was introduced with Operating Systems I but has been expanded upon in this course. Understanding the basics about file systems and disk architecture is very important for any Information Technologist. Organizing and protecting a corporation's data is critical for the operation and survival of that corporation. With this being said, I did learn quite a few new things about file systems this week. For instance, I am familiar with many of the file systems available for the Windows platform. However, this week we explored as a class several of the file system formats available for other operating systems including Linux and OS X. We also discussed several of the graphical user interface tools available within these operating systems that assist users with file location and organization. I learned more details about disk organization and architecture as well as several methods used for maintaining data disks. Several of the new capabilities available with the Windows New Technology File System (NTFS) were discussed which include Windows Ready-Boast, Bit-Locker Drive Encryption, Encrypting File System, Symbolic Links, and Quotas. These features offer many useful functions especially for enterprise corporations. Finally, I learned about many of the file system maintenance tools available from Microsoft to help maintain and ensure the integrity of the file system.
This week I did not have much trouble with the material presented. Like I mentioned before, this topic was introduced in Operating Systems I and was expanded upon in this course. However, there was some very valuable new information presented in this week's material. Some of the topics discussed were a little difficult to understand at first, but the in-class work and presentation helped clear up a lot of the confusion.
Data is one of an enterprise corporation's most valuable assets. Without the assistance of collected data, many corporations struggle to survive in the cut-throat economy which we experience today. Every year, companies invest vast amounts of their available resources towards data collection, protection, organization, and maintenance. As an Information Technologist, it is very important for me to understand file systems and their functions as to be able to fulfill the data needs of my employer. With this knowledge, I can help be viewed as a very valuable employee who is protecting the assets of the company. I can also use this information to help protect and organize the data on my own personal computers.
This week I did not have much trouble with the material presented. Like I mentioned before, this topic was introduced in Operating Systems I and was expanded upon in this course. However, there was some very valuable new information presented in this week's material. Some of the topics discussed were a little difficult to understand at first, but the in-class work and presentation helped clear up a lot of the confusion.
Data is one of an enterprise corporation's most valuable assets. Without the assistance of collected data, many corporations struggle to survive in the cut-throat economy which we experience today. Every year, companies invest vast amounts of their available resources towards data collection, protection, organization, and maintenance. As an Information Technologist, it is very important for me to understand file systems and their functions as to be able to fulfill the data needs of my employer. With this knowledge, I can help be viewed as a very valuable employee who is protecting the assets of the company. I can also use this information to help protect and organize the data on my own personal computers.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Week 5: Enterprise Management Systems
This week in class the topic of enterprise management was discussed. Enterprise management deals with the installation and management of large corporation infrastructures and the many components that are housed within them. As a continuation from last week, the topic of operating system installation for large corporations was also addressed. As technology continues to progress, the size of computer systems continually decreases. The cost of these systems has also decreased dramatically making more of them readily available for companies to utilize. This has lead to a growing complexity among many corporate infrastructures due to an increase in the number of smaller machines present on their networks. In order to combat the often strenuous task of managing a corporate infrastructure, many tools and techniques have been developed. For example, there is a wide array of Microsoft products available to help companies with every step of the IT management process from start-up to long-term maintenance and monitoring. I knew it was a complicated endeavor managing a corporate infrastructure, but I had no idea just how much effort, planning, and resources went into it. One thing I found especially interesting within this week's material was unattended and distributed share operating system installation. This technique saves corporations a lot of time, effort, and money by stream-lining and standardizing the process of installing an operating system on company machines. In the distribution share technique, the operating system deployment tools as well as an image of the operating system install files are housed on a share server. These files are then uploaded to the client machines and installed. This process can be made completely automated with the use of setup answer files which instruct the setup program of which options to select during the installation process. This week we also learned about the configuration phases of the Windows 7 installation process and the configurations that take place during each phase.
This week the class format was restructured, so we did not have access to the homework or quiz until the day of class. This change kind of threw off my schedule for the week, but it did allow me to spend more time reviewing the material for the week. With the extra review time, I felt that I was able to gain a better understanding of the topics presented this week and explore more of the virtual handouts provided. I do have some confusion still about the configuration phases of the Windows 7 installation. I also found it difficult to keep track of all the Microsoft deployment tools presented and their functions.
The topic this week is a very important skill to have when working within the Information Technology field. Everyday IT professionals are asked to come up with new and innovative ways to save their companies time and money. The material presented this week seems like it would be a good way to gain some savings in this area. New technologies and techniques are being developed constantly, and it is important that IT professionals stay up-to-date on the latest breakthroughs. As an Information Technology student, I am not excluded from this. It is important that I become familiar with such techniques now so that I can utilize them in my future career and be viewed as a valuable asset by my employer.
This week the class format was restructured, so we did not have access to the homework or quiz until the day of class. This change kind of threw off my schedule for the week, but it did allow me to spend more time reviewing the material for the week. With the extra review time, I felt that I was able to gain a better understanding of the topics presented this week and explore more of the virtual handouts provided. I do have some confusion still about the configuration phases of the Windows 7 installation. I also found it difficult to keep track of all the Microsoft deployment tools presented and their functions.
The topic this week is a very important skill to have when working within the Information Technology field. Everyday IT professionals are asked to come up with new and innovative ways to save their companies time and money. The material presented this week seems like it would be a good way to gain some savings in this area. New technologies and techniques are being developed constantly, and it is important that IT professionals stay up-to-date on the latest breakthroughs. As an Information Technology student, I am not excluded from this. It is important that I become familiar with such techniques now so that I can utilize them in my future career and be viewed as a valuable asset by my employer.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Week 4: Operating System Installation
This week in class the topic of operating system installation was covered. Other topics such as upgrading and troubleshooting operating systems were also covered this week. There were three operating systems covered in the material: Windows, Linux, and OS X. In the past, I have worked a good deal with Windows systems. I have built several Windows boxes for friends, family, and my own personal use. I have also experimented with Linux as a dual boot on one of my machines. This means I have some experience with operating system installation and upgrading. However, when it comes to operating system troubleshooting, I have much to learn. This week I learned a great deal about some of the many troubleshooting tools and methods available for Windows, Linux, and even OS X operating systems. Some of these tools allow the user to repair or modify the Master Boot Record which can be helpful when the record is corrupted or overwritten. These can also be used to prevent unwanted or resource-intensive programs from being executed at start up. I also learned a great deal about the computer boot process and the programs that are required to prepare the operating system for use.
With the cancellation of this week's class due to the blizzard, I had to read and understand the material on my own. This was not too difficult since the material this week was fairly straight-forward and well presented. The homework assignment was to create a virtual machine on the vSphere server and install the Windows 7 operating system on it. At first I was unable to complete the homework due to privilege issues on the vSphere server which was a little frustrating. However, these issues were eventually resolved, and I was able to create my virtual machine and install the operating system.
As an Information Technology professional, it is vital to have operating system installation experience. It is also good to have operating system upgrading and troubleshooting skills. Many operating systems provide IT professionals with many tools and documentation for troubleshooting their systems when common issues present themselves. Therefore, it is critical to be well versed in these tools and techniques as to be ready for these situations in their professional careers. I can also use some of what I have learned this week to help improve the performance and security of my systems at home.
With the cancellation of this week's class due to the blizzard, I had to read and understand the material on my own. This was not too difficult since the material this week was fairly straight-forward and well presented. The homework assignment was to create a virtual machine on the vSphere server and install the Windows 7 operating system on it. At first I was unable to complete the homework due to privilege issues on the vSphere server which was a little frustrating. However, these issues were eventually resolved, and I was able to create my virtual machine and install the operating system.
As an Information Technology professional, it is vital to have operating system installation experience. It is also good to have operating system upgrading and troubleshooting skills. Many operating systems provide IT professionals with many tools and documentation for troubleshooting their systems when common issues present themselves. Therefore, it is critical to be well versed in these tools and techniques as to be ready for these situations in their professional careers. I can also use some of what I have learned this week to help improve the performance and security of my systems at home.
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