CIS 6930/4930 Unix System Administration (Fall 2001)

Class Meeting Time

MWF 2 (8:30 AM - 9:25 AM)
Room 107 Matherly Hall

Instructor

Joseph N. Wilson (jnw@cise.ufl.edu)
Room E314A CSE Bldg. (Overlooking the French Fries.)
Phone: (352) 392-1360
Office Hours:
DayTime
T 10:00AM - 12:00 Noon
W 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon

TA

Mike Lanham (mlanham@cise.ufl.edu)
Office: Rm E301 CSE
Phone: (352)392-1183
Office Hours: TBA
DayTime
T2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
R2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Course Requirements

Practical Assignments (60%)
These include announced assignments with writeup and emergency responses with writeup.
Several of these assignments will require the student to demonstrate mastery of System Administration concepts and techniques and will require successful completion. Such assignments shall be repeated until completed before semester's end, or a failing grade shall be assigned.
Midterm Examinations (20%)
Final Examination (20%)

Prerequisites

Computing maturity, namely
  1. Experience in programming using C
  2. Experience with some operating system shell, preferably csh or sh (or one of its derivatives or successors)
  3. Good understanding of computer architecture
  4. Good knowledge of operating system functions
  5. Good knowledge as a user of a Unix operating system

Textbooks and Other Required Material

Required Text

E. Nemeth, G. Snyder, S. Seebass, T.R. Hein, Unix System Administration Handbook, Prentice Hall, 2001, ISBN 0-13-020601-6.

Recommended Texts:

AEleen Frisch Essential System Administration : Help for Unix System Administrators (Nutshell Handbook), O'Reilly & Associates, December 1996, ISBN: 1-56592-127-5.

H. Stern, M. Eisler, R. Labiago, Managing NFS and NIS, 2nd Edition, O'Reilly & Associates, July 2001, ISBN 1-56592-510-6.

P. Albitz, C. Liu, DNS and BIND, 4th Edition, O'Reilly & Associates, July 2001, ISBN 0-596-00158-4.

Course Objectives

This course is intended to provide the student with an understanding of the fundamental concepts and tools necessary to administer a multiuser, networked computer under the Unix Operating system.

Class/Laboratory Schedule

Credits: 3. Three 50 minute sessions per week.

Professional Components

The Unix System Administration course addresses the goal of teaching engineering science and design. The student is required to employ basic knowledge gained in other parts of the program to the task of effectively administering an operating system. Knowledge of specific data structures and programming techniques employed in the implementation of operating systems and utilities is exploited in solving problems assigned during the term.

Program Objectives

The Unix System Administration course addresses several of the CISE Department's program objectives. The course provides a variety of information demonstrating interactions between hardware and software. It provides ample opportunities to learn to analyze, design, and implement solutions to computer engineering problems. It also addresses a number of the ethical, legal, and social issues associated with the adminstration of computer systems and networks.

Person and Date

Prepared by Dr. Joseph N. Wilson in July 2001.