Friday, April 18, 2008

Final Blog Post LSS

This is the last post that will be shown about the server install and security team. There were a few unexpected stages in the installation that we were not ready for that held us back. Otherwise, the final product is something that we are proud of. We all learned to manage tasks and duties throughout the coarse of the project. Basically the project took just about the same time of less time then I had expected. I learned that if you set checkpoints that are contained within the project scope, a majority of the time large scale projects can be completed.

I found my knowledge of Linux exceedingly beneficial in the initiation of the Linux server installation. I needed to know many things about scripting, the Unix environment, and networking to get everything finished in time. The project has helped me become a better professional in many ways and is going to aid in me getting a high paying job in the future. Here are a few other tasks to be completed in the future by new interns. They are as follows:

  • RJ-45 cables have to be run into the room that the servers will be residing in.
  • Power cables are needed in the back room where the servers will be in.
  • The Linux server is to be put at the front of the network to do DHCP ip address assigning.
  • Proper ventilation should be provided for the servers to operate properly.
Those are the basic conditions to be satisfied for the network as as whole to be more secure and manageable. Thank you for every one's hard work and dedication in the deployment of this system.

Handing off the opportunity for future students

I've felt that the team at LSS has learned much about Server Administration and Networking during the coarse of the project. With all of the services that have been set up on that network, this should give another project team a chance to do something beneficial for the Lutheran Social Services organization. At the same time this should give other students the opportunity to become better Information Technology professionals.

Tying up of the loose ends

The network is configured so that the router is doing the DHCP ip address assigning. Both of the servers have static ip addresses but through the NAT it's become difficult to share a connection with either of the two severs because of the block that the router puts on the network. We went into the routers configuration settings and allowed port forwarding which enables us to access the servers vis ssh on their unique ip addresses. Besides just setting up the servers to be accessible to the outside there was a request for making the Linux server a DHCP provider instead of the router. With lack of time and resources we have felt that this is not within the scope of the installation. Therefore, we as a team have decided not to follow through with the setting up of a DHCP server at LSS.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Final Project Plan Submission and Project Presentation

After the project plan is typed up and all of the documentation is finished then this install should be complete. There is a meeting Monday at 2 pm about all of the documented work. There will also be a clinic on how to use and maintain the new equipment.