Designing A Network Essays - Inter-process Communication, Server

Designing A Network I. STATEMENT & BACKGROUND The college of Business (COB) server is now being used to support deliver to the Computer Information System (CIS) department. The CIS professors would be using the server for various operations. Assignments, e-mail, and other types of information would be easier for the students to access. Network users are able to share files, printers and other resources; send electronic messages and run programs on other computers. However, certain important issues need to be addressed and concentrated on. In order to begin the process of setting up the COB server, the total numbers of users (faculty and students) must be determined. Some other significant factors to be approached are: the required software applications needed on the network, an efficient and appropriate directory structure and effective security structure. In designing the directory structure, the major focus must be on accessibility. The number of undergraduate CIS courses that the server will be used for is be! tween 15 and 17. For the users to be ensured that their information is not at risk, we will create an effective security structure. In composing the appropriate security structure there must be certain access rights assigned to the users. An important technical detail in setting up a server is the amount of money that will need to be allocated for the restructuring of the system. For the system to function properly, the amount of hardware/ software will need to be determined. II. FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS The COB server will primarily be used by CIS professors and CIS students. The approximate number of professors in the CIS department is between five and seven and the approximate number of CIS majors is between 100 and 120. As computer technology continues to grow, the number of CIS majors is vastly increasing. If we see a considerable rise in Computer Information Systems majors the department will have to expand its faculty members. The CIS professors will be using the server to disburse their syllabi, distribute specific assignments and send e-mail to their students. The layout, design and complexity of each class will determine how much the professor may be using the server. The first class a CIS major usually takes at Western is CIS 251. Management Information Systems (CIS 251). This class offers students a basis for management information systems in business organizations. In putting the COB server to use and getting the student ready for hands-on knowledge of computer-based information systems, CIS 251 focuses on analysis, development, design, implementation, and evaluation. Other tasks that are covered in this class are computer applications ins spreadsheets, word processors, and database systems. Information systems affect both business people and people who live in society. The first programming class CIS majors take is CIS 256. This CIS course will be very beneficial for the server. Business Computer Programming (CIS 256) introduces the student to an application of programming principle in business. Detailed assignments involve flowcharting, coding, documentation, and testing. This course provides the student with a background of computer architecture and data representation. This class account will require the BASIC programming language that will be used as well as the compiler. The CIS elective, CIS 301, emphasizes maximum hands-on experience with microcomputers and software packages, including word processing, spreadsheets, database managers, and graphic systems. Microcomputer Applications (CIS 301), is an important course for students not majoring in Computer Information Systems, but would like to familiarize themselves with the personal computer. This account will contain Microsoft Office and e-mail capabilities. An important class that becomes useful for the server is the CIS 358 course. The professor can send applications, reports, programs and other data to the server where the student can transfer to a disk or their VAX account. Applications Development II (CIS 358) is a study of the state of art tools and techniques for developing complex business applications; data organization, on-line processing, software engineering, and software maintenance. This CIS class is an extension to CIS 258. The student will expand his/her knowledge of the COBOL programming language. In order for the CIS major to apply principle of good application design and solving problems, the Visual Basic programming language will also be introduced. The account for these two classes will contain the COBOL programming language and the compiler for it as well as Visual Basic. For the students to learn more about client-server technology, CIS 365 is required to the Computer Information Systems curriculum. The student will be involved in learning about different types of