IT infrastructure assignment

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SBM4104 IT Infrastructure

Semester 2, 2017

Case study: Study the IT Infrastructure Architectures and Network

Layers of the PAS Company

Date due: Week 5

Value: 30%

Rationale

Practical exercises assess students’ ability to apply theoretical learning to practical, real world situations. In this assessment students, must form project groups of 3 to 4 students. Each group must prepare a report answering the questions related to the case study tasks.

Task Specifications

Prepare a report to study the network architectures and Internet layers for the PAS company. Your report should consider the followings:

1. Discuss how each department uses information technology, what hardware equipment are required including the network devices. Explain the function of each device.

2. Specify the operating systems and application software required for data communication between the clients and servers for each department. Justify your answer.

3. Explain the function of each layer of the Internet model.

4. Use the Internet model with the support of diagrams to explain how the messages are moved between the layers when an employee sent an email form a PC at the market department to the manager at the Sale department.

5. Discuss the kind of networks used for PAS. Justify your answer.

6. Propose with justification the type of application architectures that would appear to be the most beneficial to the human resources department.

You may need to make some assumptions with the required justifications.

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Case Study PAS company was founded in 1990 for overnight package deliveries. The company provides

local pickup and delivery of parcels. The PAS consists of a main building and a secondary

building for maintenance near the Sydney International airport. As the business volume

increased, PAS experienced very rapid growth. PAS developed branch offices in Canberra,

Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Initially, PAS contracted a computer services company to handle billing. As the computing

power of small computers increased, PAS purchased a minicomputers and tool

responsibility for its own data processing.

Currently, the Management department at Sydney main office conducts the data processing

division performs all the data entry, processing, and check printing in addition to generate,

reviews and approves the reports. Because of an increasing volume of paperwork brought

about by continued business expansion, the management decided to automate the billing

process by using centralized database system. This is the first step in a series of strategic

moves planned to provide online transaction processing and real-time customer information

through the Internet. This online system will enable the remote offices to obtain

information such as credit status, correct delivery address and many other services from the

Sydney office.

The level of network connectivity in this company is varies from department to another.

Where, the Marketing and Sales department, have a Personal Computer (PC) for each

account representative. Small LAN with several servers are used to connect these PCs at the

Sales and Marketing departments only.

The remote offices can communicate with the head office and with one another using voice

mail, fax, and telephone. There are desktop computers in each of the remote offices.

However, some of the offices have Apple Macintosh PC and others use Intel-based systems.

Several managers have laptop computers with wireless and wired networking capabilities,

which come from various computer manufacturers.

The human resources department wants email, instant messaging and videoconferencing

services via the Internet to support the department requirements.

Report Layout The report should be organised using the following headings and guidelines: 1. A Cover Title Page 2. Introduction

a. Should clearly define the aims and objectives of the project in the report b. Explain what contents will be covered in the report

3. A depiction of the uses of information technology at the company. 4. List and functions of the hardware equipment required for each department focusing

on the network devices.

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5. Operating systems and application software specifications for the clients and servers. 6. Internet model layers’ discussion. 7. Email data message movement between the layers of the Internet model. 8. Types of PAS networks with justification. 9. Application architecture proposal for the human resources department with

justification. 10. Conclusions and Recommendations

A summary of your findings and your recommendations as to whether the project should continue/ how to continue.

11. Reference

Assessment criteria Only one group report grade will be awarded to all group members, as follows:

SBM4104 IT Infrastructure

Semester 2, 2017 Worth 30%

Marking Criteria:

Group Name: ___________________

Group member’s name Student ID

1

2

3

4

Assessment Criteria HD

Excellent

D Very Good

C Good

P Satisfactory

F Poor

Marks Obtained

The extent to which the task description was fulfilled, both in terms of quality and completeness as well as the degree of conceptual clarity demonstrated (50%)

- interpreted the case questions appropriately

- all required tasks have been completed (adequate breadth and depth in analysing the complexities involved)

- used sufficient and appropriate real-life information to

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effectively support the key points

- demonstrated understanding of the necessary concepts/ theories involved

Written Communication skills (30%)

- there is no spelling or typing errors

- the introduction is appropriate to the type and format of response and clearly outlines the focus.

- the body of the response is well structured, with appropriate sections/ paragraphs.

- the conclusion is appropriate and summarizing the key ideas

Citation of sources and list of references (20%)

- key ideas from the literature are effectively paraphrased and/or quoted

- in-text citations and direct quotes follow referencing guide rules (correct and complete)

- reference list appropriately compiled

TOTAL MARKS: 100 Total Marks Obtained:

Comments: Lecturer: Location: Date: