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.

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.

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.