SAD 2 - Assignment 3

University Network Environment

Interview your university network specialist. Ask how various parts of the system communicates with each other throughout the university. (Q) Given the chance to redesign the existing setup, enumerate and discuss your keypoints for an effective and efficient network environment ideal for the university.

Technology at present is undeniably of great importance for everyone. Everyone I think is making use of technology may it be in different fields of profession. In everything we do we cannot deny the fact that we are of need of technology. Talking about technology there are a lot of field underlying it for the word technology itself is a broad statement. One of these is the network field. In a network environment there are still a lot of areas to be understood and still as I have said it is important to people specially for schools and universities to have good communication. In the university the network environment is very important and is widespread for it has a major role. One basic role of the network environment is for the communication of different systems in different departments of the university. We all know for a fact that systems are also of great help for us for it ease some manual works and have it automated. In the university there are a lot of systems that are currently running and some of which needs to communicate with one another and in this situation comes the role of networking.

For this assignment we are tasked to interview our network specialist and ask some questions regarding how systems communicate. Our class has decide to have a group interview with the university network specialist Sir Ariel Roy Reyes to make it easy and convenient for him rather than individual interview. But Since Sir Reyes has some errands to accomplish we had our interview by submitting questionnaires to him through e-mail message for we cannot have it as a face to face interview. My answers are based on what Sir Reyes replied via e-mail as answers to our questionnaires and based on how I understand it.

The first question was to explain how various parts of the system communicate with each other throughout the university. Sir Reyes actually have not answered this question directly for he stated that it is better for us to ask the university programmers with the question.

Another question was on the different components involved in the systems within the university specifically software hardware and other components. Again according to Sir Reyes he is not in the right position to discuss the details for the system components for there are other people who are in position to answer the question and are assigned for such specific job but then he had stated some specifications on the servers he is assigned to maintain. Sir Reyes as the network administrator is assigned to maintain the university’s different server to run 24/7. Currently, the university’s Web Server is hosted in a HP ProLiant ML350 Server.  According to him the server is an old but stable server set-up in the Networks Office and has been active since Engr. Val A. Quimno was appointed as the Network Administrator before he was a dean.  The said server has the following specification:

• Intel Xeon 3.0 GHz, 3.2 GHz, or 3.4 GHz processors (dual processor capability) with 1MB level 2 cache standard. Processors include support for Hyper-Threading and Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T)
• Intel® E7520 chipset
• 800-MHz Front Side Bus
•  Integrated Dual Channel Ultra320 SCSI Adapter
• Smart Array 641 Controller (standard in Array Models only)
•  NC7761 PCI Gigabit NIC (embedded)
• Up to 1 GB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM with Advanced ECC capabilities (Expandable to 8 GB)
• Six expansion slots: one 64-bit/133-MHz PCI-X, two 64-bit/100-MHz PCI-X, one 64-bit/66-MHz PCI-X, one x4 PCI-Express, and one x8 PCI-Express
• New HP Power Regulator for ProLiant delivering server level, policy based power management with industry leading energy efficiency and savings on system power and cooling costs
• Three USB ports: 1 front, 1 internal, 1 rear
• Support for Ultra320 SCSI hard drives (six hot plug or four non-hot plug drives supported standard, model dependent)
• Internalstorage capacity of up to 1.8TB; 2.4TB with optional 2-bay hot plug SCSI drive
• 725W Hot-Plug Power Supply (standard, most models); optional 725W Hot-Pluggable Redundant Power Supply (1+1) available. Non hot plug SCSI models include a 460W non-hot plug power supply.
• Tool-free chassis entry and component access
• Support for ROM based setup utility (RBSU) and redundant ROM
• Systems Insight Manager, SmartStart, and Automatic Server Recovery 2 (ASR-2) included
• Protected by HP Services and a worldwide network of resellers and service providers. Three-year Next Business Day, on-site limited global warranty. Certain restrictions and exclusions apply. Pre-Failure Notification on processors, memory, and SCSI hard drives.

Aside from the specifications of the server mentioned, the mail server also runs under Compaq Proliant ML330 Server which is the oldest server and is hosted in the network office as well. Together with other Servers, such as Proxy and Enrollment Servers, both proxy and enrollment servers of the university are running in a microcomputer/personal computers but with higher specifications to act as servers.

The third question was about how different mediums and systems communicate with each other. Sir Reyes said that all Servers are connected in a shared medium grouped as one subnetwork.  In general, the university network follows the extended star topology which is connected to a DUAL WAN Router that serves as the load balancer between the two Internet Service Providers of the university.  All other workstations are grouped into different subnetworks as in star topology branching out from the university servers subnetwork as in extended star topology.  Also according to him at present, the university is making use of class C IP Address for private IP address assignments.  Other workstations IP assignments are configured statically like in laboratories while others are Dynamic like in offices. All workstations are connected via proxy servers that do some basic filtering/firewall to control users access to the internet aside from router filtering/firewall management.  So, whenever any workstation has to connect to the internet, it has to pass through software and hardware based firewall.

The fourth question concerns the processes involved in the communication of a system to the other. According to the network specialist as he have mentioned in the third question all workstations are connected via a proxy server which means that whenever a workstation is turned on, it requests for an IP address from the proxy server (for dynamically configured IP address) and connect to the network after IP address is acquired. As connection is established, each system can already communicate and share resources within the same subnetwork and to the server following the concepts discuss in our Computer Network Class.

The next questions are on the maintenance, security and standard of the systems. He said that during his vacant time he finds a way to monitor the serers and check on the logs, hardware performance such as CPU health. And if problems are observewd the immediate remedies are applied and once a week, regular overall checkup is observed as preventive maintenance to ensure not to experience longer downtime if possible.

On the standards of the servers, according to Sir Reyes before he was assigned as the network specialist different standards are already observed. These are different networking standards such as cabling standards, TIA/EIA 568A-B, different IEEE standards as discussed in our Computer Networks Subject, etc. Regarding the security they have implemented both software and hardware based filtering/firewall.  Basically, Risks or vulnerabilities and different mitigation techniques were considered to increase security in the network. Aside from filtering/firewall, constant monitoring on networks activity also increases the security of the system.

Another question was if there are any interfaces and during what times does it occur and what are their effects with regards to the university’s business. do these occur? I have quoted below the answers given by the network specialist.

“Major Interferences are normally encountered as an effect of unforeseen and beyond our control events such as black outs, and the like.  The said interference would of course affect University’s day-to-day businesses for obviously this will paralyze all our activities that rely on electricity and further this might cause damage on our network devices, etc. that may later be the reason for longer downtime. Problems encountered by our providers such as connection to the National/International Gateway also affect University’s business such as correlating to University’s Business Partners outside and within the country.”

Given the chance to redesign the existing setup, enumerate and discuss your keypoints for an effective and efficient network environment ideal for the university. 

If I were given the chance to redesign the existing setup of the university’s network environment? For me I think it is not anymore necessary to redesign the whole network environment because It would take much time and effort and not mention, money as well. Even Sir Reyes has not redesigned the previous network environment and he just improved and maintained it instead. I think the current network environment is already working well with the university’s functions and only needs some polishing and enhancements. Enhancements regarding the performance I think to have a quality network environment.

SAD 2 - Assignment 2

On the Enrollment System Design

As I have said on the previous assignment for his course the university's enrollment system has problems regarding the time consumed for the whole process as well as other resources. There are a lot of factors that could affect the whole process of the university enrollment system one of it is the design of the system itself. If I were to rate the satisfactory rating of the enrollment system I would have to rate it as "needs improvement" for I think lots of students are still not satisfied of it. Seeing the enrollment system process printed and posted on different parts of the university I think is a good first step to start the process. These steps would be of big help especially for those who re new students and transferees who does not know much about the university. One thing I could suggest or the improvement of the enrollment system would be on the payment matters. The payment for the other fees would be the start of the whole process just before an applicant could advance to the advising step. Paying for this other fees could be added to the payment for the tuition which would lessen the time and effort of the students. The advising as well has problems on the number o adviser for the students of our college since there are only limited advisers for all the students which took much time.  

Generally the Enrollment system design could still be developed for the betterment of the university and for the satisfaction of the students. It is not that I don't like the enrollment system at all, it's just that I am hoping for an improvement on it on the coming semesters and years for the university. One way to alleviate these unsatisfactory feedbacks is to ask and let the students have their voice on what they have in mind as well as the staffs and other people involved in the enrollment system. With these the administrator or the once concerned would know the problems and have possible solution for it. 

SAD 2 - Assignment 1

The Enrollment System

Before a student is able to be called an official student of the university officially first thing he/she should do is to undergo the enrollment process of the university. In my whole stay in this university (University of Southeastern Philippines) I always hear so much complains from students (including me) during or after enrollment. Most of these complain are on time consuming processes, long line-ups on different offices and much more. In my own experience when I am enrolling, it always take up to one whole day or 2-3 days at worst and it is not really convenient at all. In this assignment I would talk about my experience on this semester’s enrollment system and have some commentaries on it. In this university a new applicant specifically those new students and transferees could be able to identify the process of the enrollment by the diagrams of the enrollment process found on different parts of the university. If I’m not mistaken these diagrams are printed in tarpaulins (one located at the cashier/registrar) papers located on different walls of every buildings of the university. The location of these diagrams is somehow fine but it could be better if it would be placed on bulletin boards with large prints which are noticeable by people passing by or maybe the same tarpaulin near the gate where all people who get inside the library could see. By this new applicants would be guided all along the enrollment process.

(credits to the owner of the photo )

Enrollment Procedure

After talking about the locations of these diagrams, now I’ll be talking of what these diagrams are. Basically the diagrams are the enrollment procedure to be followed by the applicant to finish the enrollment process. These contain where the starting point is or the first thing to do and what follows after it until one will be officially enrolled. I have appreciated the tarpaulin because it shows three different steps o follow, one for new students and transferees, one for old students and another for shiftees. In this manner applicants have less confusion and will easily comprehend o the diagram because if I where a new student I’ll and it easy to know what are the procedure for it is separated for the procedures of old student and shiftees. 

(credits to the owner of the photo )

Diagram of Enrollment Procedure for New Students and Transferees

(credits to the owner of the photo )

Diagram of Enrollment Procedure for Old Students

(credits to the owner of the photo )

Diagram of Enrollment Procedure for Siftees

Since I am an old student of the university, I’d be talking about each step or process and try to give some comments and suggestions as a student of this university based on what I have experience on the enrollment in the first semester. 

1. Pay other fees

First step during our enrollment for this semester is to pay the Headlight and OCSC fees on their respective offices. For this semester we only paid two out of three supposed to be since there is a problem on our Local Council but tough two fees means two different places to pay for it which could take time and efforts for us. I think it would be better and would be much convenient for us student to pay those fees together with the accounts to be paid in the cashier. In this way it would lessen the time and effort of the student as well as those students who are in charge of collecting these fees whom should also be taking the same enrollment procedure as mine instead of collecting those fees which I hope is always in god hands. Lol

2. Advising and Encoding

After securing the payment for other miscellaneous fees, an old student is now all set for advising which requires the receipts for payments and the students’ passbook and clearance for the previous semester. The adviser will look up the grades of the student and see his/hr standings and secure a PRF (Pre Registration Form) for the students. During the advising IC students were crowded because there were I think two advisers for all year levels which really took much time and made the students as well as the advisers very exhausted. To make it more convenient I think there would be one adviser per year level or if possible one adviser per section so that the advisers could focus on one group which lessens their effort and confusion.

After advising and filling out the PRF it is ready for encoding. Just like the past years there are always problems regarding the number of encoders. It would be better to have a few more encoders’ o IC so that encoding would be faster.

3. Student Accounts and Cashier 

This step has two different methods, has for scholars and non-scholar. The scholars direct to the students account and account their scholarship and the non-scholars pay the tuition fee to the cashier. Since I am not a scholar I pay the amount on the cashier and what I have observed is there are few windows available for payment and windows for the scholars as well which is somehow time consuming. It would be better to have a few more windows and I think it is a good practice of separating the scholars and non-scholars window.

4. Registration 

The registration is the last step to be officially enrolled in the university. It’s like the final step of reaching your destination.  The registrar requires the receipts for payments and tuition, a copy the student’s clearance on the previous semester/the blue card for scholars (not sure). In this process I think it has the same problems for the cashier which has fewer windows to accommodate enrollees. Another thing is that there are no separate windows for ever college which I think would be better and I have experienced this o my first year I think. For me I is more convenient to have separate window for every college because it would be organized and take us less time for waiting on lines. 

5. Library Card Validation 

The validation or the library card is really not included on the diagram but is still part of the enrollment process. There is no problem with validating the library card in terms o time because it just take a few minutes to be done. I just came of wit the idea based on my experience just a few days when I wanted to utilize my hours in the virtual library or my assignment. I though I could directly access my account but instead I have to again validate my account before I could utilize my hours for the virtual. I think it would be better if the validation for the virtual library use will be included or be part of the validation for the library card. 

Overall the enrollment system for this semester was a little better that the previous year maybe it is just because I enrolled on the right day of enrollment scheduled for us in which there are fewer enrollees. The main problem I think in whole the enrollment procedure is the time hic I think most students would agree. It takes long time for enrollment because of some factors that affect the enrollment process like lack of person to entertain students and resources which results to unorganized enrollment process and inconvenient complaining students. I hope by the next years to come, there would be noticeable improvement on the enrollment system of the university to invite more students to enroll. I look forward for a smooth and uncomplicated enrollment system by the next years for the university.