IT6 Project

IT 600 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview IT professionals are often called upon to make decisions, provide recommendations, and perform analyses that require an in -depth understanding of the inner workings of an operating system. This summative assessment will provide students with the knowledge and skills required to achieve and maintain this level of understanding throughout their careers. For the summative assessment, students will perform a tech nical evaluation of an operating system. Students will be offered a choice of operating systems to analyze. Students will use real -time and log-based tools, empirical observation, and scholarly research to analyze the core subsystems of the operating system. For each subsystem, students will research and describe the technology used in that subsystem and compare it to other available technologies. For the final report, students will assess the results of their analyses and perform an overall evaluation of the operating system, with recommendati ons for how it might be improved. For the summative assessment you will perform an in-depth technical evaluation of an operating system. The evaluation will be made in terms of the ability of the system and its supporting hardware to meet a set of organi zational needs and technical requirements. The organization is a global enterprise that provides premium technical support to other enterprise businesses. Management will use your evaluation as one element among several in their assessment of options for future technology adoption. You will define the technical requirements, based on tasks performed by the organization, the applications used, system loads, security, system management, maintenance, and performance. The scope of the evaluation will include analyses and assessments of the hardware-software interface, the techniques used to implement processes and threads, the file systems supported by the operating system, the input/output subsystem, and the operating system security features. You will use these analyses and assessments to produce a comprehensive evaluation, which will be written in the form of a detailed technology review. SNHU will provide tools to support analysis of some commonly used operating systems, but you may select another operati ng system if you have the resources to do so. There will also be several milestones throughout the course that will allow you to develop the evalua tion incrementally. The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Three, and Seven. Your final report will be submitted in Module Nine.

Prompt Your technical evaluation of an operating system should include analyses and assessments of the hardware-software interface, the techniques used to implement processes and threads, the file systems supported by the operating system, the I/O subsystem, and the operating system security features. You will use these analyses and assessments to produce a comprehensive evaluation, which will be written in the form of a detai led technology review.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Organizational Needs and Requirements A. Develop an organizational profile that analyzes the tasks performed by the organization, the computer applications in use or

expected to be in use, and the estimated system loads anticipated for the operating system. B. What are the organizational, security, and performance and reliability requirements related to operating system function,

management, and maintenance?

II. Computer Architecture A. What hardware is required to host the operating system? This should include an identification of the minimal hardware required

and an assessment of what would be needed to support organizational needs and requirements. B. Analyze the architecture in terms of support and functionality of process management, memory management, I/O, and mas s

storage. C. Analyze the architectural support for multiprocessor systems and assess the organization, connection, and control aspects. What are

some architectural issues that might arise regarding technologies used in multiprocessor systems and how would you recommend utilizing multiprocessor systems in light of these issues?

III. Process Management

A. Assess the operating system process management in terms of its responsiveness to organizational requirements. Use process monitoring tools to gather data for your assessment.

B. Assess software tools for thread analysis and deadlock detection that are available for the operating system. What strategies does the operating system provide for handling deadlocks?

C. What support does the operating system provide for multiprocessing? Assess the applicability and ability of the operating system to allocate tasks between multiple processors.

IV. Memory Management A. Describe how the types of memory supported by the operating system are used. What memory abstraction does the system use?

Use an analysis tool to investigate the mapping to physical memory. B. Describe the system support for virtual memory, memory paging, and segmentation. Use a monitoring tool to assess their activity

under heavily loaded conditions. C. Assess the techniques used for memory management policy and mechanism separation and their utility in managing complexity.

V. I/O and Mass Storage

A. Describe the hardware-software interface for I/O management used by the operating system. Various techniques are used for enabling the operating system to communicate with devices. What techniques are supported and what are their advantages and disadvantages?

B. Analyze the file systems supported by the operating system. Use file system performance tests to assess the available file sys tems. C. What is the relationship between scheduled process context switching and I/O interrupt handling? Analyze the use of device

interrupts in the operating system and compare them to other possible approaches to input/output.

VI. Security A. What formal security model does the system support? Analyze the system to determine what support it provides for implementing

security models and assess the relevant tools and services made available to administrators. B. Recommend techniques and best practices to further support security of the operating system.

VII. Overall Evaluation: Using the defined requirements, analyses, and assessments, develop a comprehensive detailed technology

recommendation. Include an integrated assessment of the operating system’s capability to support organizational needs and technical requirements.

Milestones Milestone One: Situation Analysis In Module Two, you will conduct a situational analysis. You will write a short paper that describes the business -related challenges faced by the organization. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Analytical Organizational Profile In Module Three, you will conduct an analytical organizational profile. Your work will be completed in the Milestone Two Template document. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. Milestone Three: Full Organizational Profile In Module Seven, you will complete a full organizational profile. Your work will be completed in the Milestone Three Template document. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Three Rubric. Final Submission: Technical Evaluation of an Operating System In Module Nine, you will consider the questions below and make revisions to the document you submitted for Milestone Three. With your Milestone Three document in front of you, consider the following and make revisions as necessary:

a) Have you incorporated all of the feedback and suggestions you received from your instructor? b) Does your submission address all of the critical elements outlined above? c) Does the operating system you selected match the specific requirements your organization identified? d) Do you have title and references pages? e) Is your submission at least 15 pages of content not including title and reference pages? f) Have you supported each of your positions with a credible source? g) Have you properly cited your sources and made proper attribution for any copyrighted graphics or photos? h) Does your submission make a clearly stated recommendation for an operating system?

Your final submission should be a polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final project. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded using the Final Project Rubric (below).

Deliverables

Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading

One Situation Analysis Two Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric

Two Analytical Organizational Profile Three Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric

Three Full Organizational Profile Seven Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric

Final Submission: Technical Evaluation of an Operating System

Nine Graded separately; Final Project Rubric

Final Project Rubric

Guidelines for Submission: Your report should be 15 pages double-spaced paper or the completed template provided in Milestone Three, professionally written, with necessary citations in APA format and any accompanying visuals or additional artifacts submitted as part of an appendix section.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Organizational Profile

[IT-600-06]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and organi zati onal profi le s hows keen i ns i ght i nto organi zati onal needs

and requi rements

Devel ops an accurate and detai l ed organi zati onal profi le that anal yzes the tas ks performed by

the organi zati on, the computer appl i cations i n us e or expected to be i n us e, and the es ti mated s ys tem l oads

Devel ops an organi zati onal profi le that anal yzes the tas ks performed by the organi zati on, the computer

appl i cations i n us e or expected to be i n us e, and the es ti mated s ys tem l oads , but wi th gaps i n accuracy or detai l s

Does not devel op an organi zati onal profi le that anal yzes the tas ks performed by

the organi zati on, the computer appl i cations i n us e or expected to be i n us e, and the es ti mated s ys tem l oads

5.75

Function,

Management, and Maintenance [IT-600-06]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and

draws i ns i ghtful conclus ions or i nferences about the i mpl i cations of the requi rements for the operati ng s ys tem

Ful l y des cri bes the organi zati onal,

s ecuri ty, performance, and rel i abi lity requi rements as they rel ate to operati ng s ys tem functi on, management, and

mai ntenance

Des cri bes the organi zati onal ,

s ecuri ty, performance, and rel i abi lity requi rements as they rel ate to operati ng s ys tem functi on, management, and

mai ntenance, but wi th gaps i n detai l s

Does not des cri be the

organi zati onal, s ecuri ty, performance, and rel i abi lity requi rements as they rel ate to operati ng s ys tem functi on,

management, and mai ntenance

5.75

Hardware

[IT-600-01] Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and draws i ns i ghtful conclus ions or

i nferences about the i mpl i cations of the requi rements for the hardware

Accuratel y expl ai ns the hardware requi red to s upport the operati ng

s ys tem, and as s es s es the hardware needed to s upport organi zati onal needs and requi rements

Expl ai ns the hardware requi red to s upport the operati ng s ys tem, and

as s es s es the hardware needed to s upport organi zati onal needs and requi rements , but wi th gaps i n accuracy or detai l s

Does not expl ai n the hardware requi red to s upport the operati ng

s ys tem

5.75

Support and

Functionality [IT-600-01]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and

anal ys is s hows keen i ns i ght i nto the s i gni fi cance of the archi tecture for proces s management, memory

management, I/O, and mas s s torage

Accuratel y anal yzes the

archi tecture i n terms of s upport and functi onal i ty of proces s management, memory management, I/O, and mas s

s torage

Anal yzes the archi tecture i n terms

of s upport and functi onal i ty of proces s management, memory management, I/O, and mas s s torage, but anal ys is i s i naccurate

or l acki ng detai l

Does not anal yze the archi tecture

i n terms of s upport and functi onal i ty of proces s management, memory management, I/O, and mas s

s torage

5.75

Architectural Issues [IT-600-05]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and anal ys is s hows keen i ns i ght i nto the s i gni fi cance of the

archi tecture mul ti proces s or s ys tems

Accuratel y anal yzes the archi tectural s upport for mul ti proces s or s ys tems and

as s es s es the organi zati on, connecti on, and control as pects of the s ys tem

Anal yzes the archi tectural s upport for mul ti proces s or s ys tems and as s es s es aspects of the s ys tem,

but wi th gaps i n accuracy or detai l s

Does not anal yze the archi tectural s upport for mul ti proces s or s ys tems

5.75

Responsiveness to

Organizational Requirements

[IT-600-02]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and draws i ns i ghtful conclus ions or i nferences about the val ue of proces s management i n terms of

i ts res pons i venes s to organi zati onal requi rements

As s es s es operati ng s ys tem proces s management i n terms of i ts res pons i venes s to organi zati onal requi rements ,

us i ng proces s moni tori ng tool s to gather data

As s es s es operati ng s ys tem proces s management but the as s es s ment l acks detai l or the us e of proces s moni tori ng tool s i s not

evi dent

Does not as s es s operati ng s ys tem proces s management

5.75

Software Tools [IT-600-02]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and s hows keen i ns i ght i nto the

s i gni fi cance of deadl ocks and rel ated probl ems and the tool s and techni ques us ed i n detecti on, recovery, avoi dance, and

preventi on

As s es s es s oftware tool s for thread anal ys is and deadl ock detecti on

avai l able for the operati ng s ys tem and expl ai ns as sociated s trategi es

As s es s es s oftware tool s for thread anal ys is and deadl ock detecti on

avai l able for the operati ng s ys tem and expl ai ns as sociated s trategi es, but wi th gaps i n detai l or accuracy

Does not as s es s s oftware tool s for thread anal ys is and deadl ock

detecti on avai l able for the operati ng s ys tem and expl ai n as s oci ated s trategi es

5.75

Support [IT-600-05]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and evi dences keen i ns i ght i nto the technol ogy of mul ti proces s i ng and i ts appl i cabili ty i n organi zati onal

needs and requi rements

Accuratel y as s es s es the appl i cability and abi lity of the operati ng s ys tem to al l ocate tas ks between mul ti pl e proces s ors

As s es s es the appl i cability and abi l i ty of the operati ng s ys tem to al l ocate tas ks between mul ti pl e proces s ors , but wi th gaps i n

accuracy, anal ysis, or detai l

Does not as s es s the appl i cability and abi l i ty of the operati ng s ys tem to al l ocate tas ks between mul ti pl e proces s ors

5.75

Memory Abstraction [IT-600-03]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and s hows keen i ns i ght i nto the s i gni fi cance of the memory abs tracti on for s ys tem uti l i ty

Accuratel y des cri bes how the types of memory s upported by the operati ng s ys tems functi on bas ed on anal ys i s

Des cri bes how the types of memory s upported by the operati ng s ys tems functi on but wi th gaps i n detai l or a ccuracy

Does not des cri be how the types of memory s upported by the operati ng s ys tems functi on

5.75

Assess Activity

[IT-600-03]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and

s hows keen i ns i ght i nto the advantages and di s advantages of memory management

technol ogi es

As s es s es the s ys tem s upport for

vi rtual memory, memory pagi ng, and s egmentati on

As s es s es the s ys tem s upport for

vi rtual memory, memory pagi ng, and s egmentati on, but the as s es s ment l acks accuracy or

detai l

Does not as s es s the s ys tem

s upport for vi rtual memory, memory pagi ng, and s egmentati on

5.75

Techniques

[IT-600-03]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and

s hows keen i ns i ght i nto how s eparati on of pol i cy from mechani s m can s erve as a general

pri nci pl e for reduci ng compl exi ty

As s es s es the techni ques us ed for

memory management pol i cy and mechani s m s eparati on for thei r uti l i ty i n managi ng compl exi ty

As s es s es the techni ques us ed for

memory management pol i cy and mechani s m for thei r uti l i ty i n managi ng compl exi ty, but s ome

techni ques are omi tted or the as s es s ment l acks accuracy

Does not as s es s the techni ques

us ed for memory management pol i cy and mechani s m s eparati on for thei r uti l i ty i n managi ng

compl exi ty

5.75

Hardware-Software Interface

[IT-600-04]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and draws i ns i ghtful conclus ions or i nferences about I/O techni ques

acros s the ful l range of devi ces and I/O s ubs ys tems

Ful l y des cri bes the hardware- s oftware i nterface for I/O management us ed by the

operati ng s ys tem

Des cri bes the hardware-s oftware i nterface for I/O management, but l acks detai l or accuracy of

expl anati on around the rol e of the operati ng s ys tem i n control l i ng the computer’s I/O

Does not des cri be the hardware- s oftware i nterface for I/O management

5.75

File Systems [IT-600-04]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and draws i ns i ghtful conclus ions or i nferences about the performance of the fi l e s ys tems s upported by

the operati ng s ys tem

Anal yzes the fi l e s ys tems s upported by the operati ng s ys tem, i ncl uding an as s es sment of fi l e s ys tem performance

Anal yzes the fi l e s ys tems s upported by the operati ng s ys tem, but the anal ys is i s i ncompl ete or i naccurate

Does not anal yze the fi l e s ys tems s upported by the operati ng s ys tem

5.75

Context Switching and I/O Interrupt

Handling

[IT-600-04]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a a nd demons trates cl earl y the appl i cability of context s wi tchi ng

and I/O i nterrupt handl i ng technol ogi es

Accuratel y and comprehens i vel y anal yzes the rel ati ons hi p between s chedul ed proces s context

s wi tchi ng and I/O i nterrupt handl i ng and compares to other approaches

Anal yzes the rel ati ons hi p between s chedul ed proces s context s wi tchi ng and I/O i nterrupt

handl i ng and compares to other approaches , but the anal ys is i s i ncompl ete or i naccurate

Does not anal yze the rel ati ons hip between s chedul ed proces s context s wi tchi ng and I/O

i nterrupt handl i ng or compare to other approaches

5.75

Security Model [IT-600-06]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and evi dences keen i ns i ght i nto the

val ue of formal s ecuri ty model s

Conci s el y anal yzes the s ys tem to determi ne the formal s ecuri ty

model the s ys tem s upports

Anal yzes the s ys tem to determi ne the formal s ecuri ty model the

s ys tem s upports , but wi th gaps i n detai l or accuracy

Does not anal yze the s ys tem to determi ne the formal s ecuri ty

model the s ys tem s upports

5.75

Recommended Techniques [IT-600-06]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and evi dences keen i ns i ght i nto the effect recommended techni ques

and bes t practi ces woul d have on further s upporti ng s ecuri ty of the operati ng s ys tem

Recommends techni ques and bes t practi ces to further s upport s ecuri ty of the operati ng s ys tem

Recommends techni ques and bes t practi ces , but the recommendati ons are not

appl i cable to the operati ng s ys tem or woul d not l ogi cal ly s upport s ecuri ty

Does not recommend techni ques and bes t practi ces for s upporti ng the operati ng s ys tem

5.75

Overall Evaluation [IT-600-06]

Meets “Profi ci ent” cri teri a and evi dences keen i ns i ght i nto the

val ue of the recommendati ons and thei r feas i bi l ity

Devel ops a comprehens i ve, i ntegrated technol ogy

recommendati on for the cas e bas ed on the anal ys es , as s es s ments , and defi ned

requi rements

Devel ops a technol ogy recommendati on for the cas e, but

i s not comprehens i ve or not bas ed on the anal ys es , as s es s ments , and defi ned

requi rements

Does not devel op a technol ogy recommendati on for the cas e

5.75

Articulation of

Response

Submi s s i on i s free of errors

rel ated to ci tati ons , grammar, s pel l i ng, s yntax, and organi zati on and i s pres ented i n a profes s i onal

and eas y-to-read format

Submi s s i on has no major errors

rel ated to ci tati ons , grammar, s pel l i ng, s yntax, or organi zati on

Submi s s i on has major errors

rel ated to ci tati ons , grammar, s pel l i ng, s yntax, or organi zati on that negati vel y i mpact readabi l ity

and arti cul ati on of mai n i deas

Submi s s i on has criti cal errors

rel ated to ci tati ons , grammar, s pel l i ng, s yntax, or organi zati on that prevent unders tandi ng of

i deas

2.25

Earned Total 100%