CIS114-6 Network Systems and Administration (Block 6) Assessment – Portfolio 2024-25

Assignment Brief Discussion with Students

The assessment brief must be discussed during an in-class session with students within the first 2 weeks of the unit and be accompanied by a screen/podcast on the BREO shell explaining the assessment, the rubric and marking criteria. Please confirm the date this discussion is to take place:

What am I required to do in this assignment?

This assessment is an individual portfolio consisting of four questions.

This assessment is an individual portfolio consisting of 2 quizzes (30%), and a report (70%) for a case study covering the development, implementation, configuration, and maintenance of a network solution based on an industry standard network operating system. A final report of up to 3500 words (1500 minimum) will be submitted where you are required to fully justify your design, implementation, and configuration, provide a detailed testing strategy to test your configured services, create a maintenance plan as appropriate to the case, and critically evaluate your work.

Question 1. Linux Essentials Final Grade

Provide the grade of Linux Essentials Final Comprehensive Exam (Modules 1-18) – you can find the grade in your Cisco NetAcad gradebook (look in the grades section). You should also include a screenshot of your grade book from Netacad.

Question 2. Networking Essentials Final Grade

Provide the grade of Networking Essentials (Version 3.0) final exam – you can find the grade in your Cisco NetAcad gradebook (look in the grades section). You should also include a screenshot of your grade book from Netacad.

Question 3. Linux System and Network Administration 

Scenario:

Piranha is a small organization where Tom, the business owner, has been maintaining the server that stores all information relevant to finance, management, production, and sales. Due to the increase in operations, Tom wants to hire you as the Network Systems Administrator.
The VirtualBox image of the server can be downloaded through: University of Bedfordshire

You are required to download the VirtualBox image and run the server. You are provided with the username and the password of Tom to log in to the server and get the work started. 

Username: tom
Password: tom

You are required to perform and report the following tasks.

1. Create a New User Account: Create a user account for yourself with root access. Name the account as sxxxxxx, where xxxxxx is your student ID (e.g., if your student ID is 192136, the username should be s192136).
2. Confirm Root Access: Log out from Tom’s account, log in to your new account, and confirm you have root access. All subsequent operations should be performed from your account.
3. Verify Access to Company Files: Since Tom is not an expert in System Administration, he has enabled access to all company files and folders located in /piranha for all employees: Rebecca (username: rebecca, password: rebecca), Asad (username: asad, password: asad), and John (username: john, password: john). Verify that this is the case.
4. Limit Access by Group Settings: Configure user and group settings to limit access to folders as follows:
   - /piranha/finance to the group finance. Users in the group: rebecca
   - /piranha/management to the group management. Users in the group: asad
   - /piranha/production to the group production. Users in the group: rebecca and john
   - /piranha/sales to the group sales. Users in the group: john
5. Set Up a Client-Server Network: Since it’s not safe for users to access the server directly, set up a Linux client by installing a Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu) from scratch on a separate virtual machine in VirtualBox (using a pre-built image is not allowed). This will create a client-server network infrastructure within the organization to support file storage and business applications. Your account in the client should be named as cxxxxxx, where xxxxxx is your student ID.
6. Initiate an SSH Session: Start an SSH session from the client to the server for each user to verify they can connect to the server and confirm that you’ve correctly limited access to files for each user as specified in task 4.
7. Observe Traffic with Wireshark: Install Wireshark on the client, monitor the network traffic during the SSH session, and report your observations. Pay close attention to packet types, encryption standards, and consider how unencrypted traffic might pose a security risk.
8. Update Security Practices: Identify potential security vulnerabilities in this setup. For example, consider the risks of shared usernames and passwords, and propose improvements, such as using SSH keys, unique passwords, or other security measures.
9. Maintenance and Disaster Recovery Plan: Propose a maintenance schedule to ensure the uninterrupted operation and security of the system.

Additionally, include a brief disaster recovery plan or backup strategy for the client-server system.

What do I need to do to pass? How do I achieve a good grade?

The Unit Information Form states the Threshold Expectations that inform both you and markers what is the minimum needed to be demonstrated to pass the assessment. They should, therefore, answer the question "What do I need to do pass?”. During the assessment introductory session, you should be given the opportunity to check your understanding of the threshold statements and what you need to do to surpass them.

The assessment marking criteria listed below show how your work is assessed. The assessment criteria are informed by the unit’s learning outcomes and the assessment task. Carefully reading the assessment criteria should help you understand the aspects that will be used to judge your progress and achievement of the learning outcomes and offer guidance on “how do I achieve a good grade”.

What do I need to do to pass?

• Identify a suitable solution for the given scenario.
• Install, configure, and operate the network solution in an industry-standard multiuser system.
•  Justify your choice of network solution (contextually, technically, and in terms of meeting current organizational norms and trends and satisfying the business context).
•  Develop a testing strategy and test your solution.
•  Critically evaluate the behaviour of the system.
• Reference your work according to academic standards.

How do I achieve a good grade?

By addressing all the assessment requirements and threshold expectations stated above and following the comments in the Marks and Feedback section below.

How does this assignment relate to ‘my learning in this unit and help me develop knowledge and skills that I will need for my future?

You will submit an artefact as specified in the format outlined in the detailed assessment brief for the unit. The artefact will relate to practical skills and knowledge of network systems and administration.

Within the University of Bedfordshire, graduate competencies refer to the skills, knowledge, attributes, and abilities that individuals are expected to possess upon completing their education at the graduate level. Our graduate competencies are the fundamental building blocks in preparing you for the future world of work. They form the foundation for learning outcomes within and beyond your course. They are relevant for every subject and you can work towards them in different ways, so that you can attain and benefit from them even if you have lots going on outside university. These competencies will be integrated across your course and units.

The table below indicates graduate competencies gained relevant to this assessment.

What should I be aware of when preparing my and how and where should I submit my work? (May need wiseflow info for exams)
When submitting work for assessment, you must ensure that it is all your own work. Failure to do this could result in sanctions, including removal from your course.

 The Academic Integrity Resource (AIR) has been designed to introduce you to academic integrity and how to demonstrate this during your studies.

The University provides access to Studiosity that connects students with a team of writing specialists who are here to help you with writing and core skills - anytime, anywhere. Studiosity provides you with two online services: Writing Feedback and Connect Live. Their Writing Feedback gives feedback on referencing, choice of language, structure and spelling/grammar within 24 hours. If you are not sure how to use the feedback to enhance your work before making a final submission, you can arrange to discuss this with a member of the Study Hub team. Connect Live also offers live support in areas such as basic English, maths and stats, science and generic study skills. Both services are available 24/7, 365 days of the year, and you can access them for FREE via BREO.

For exams, you should familiarise yourself with the guidance information available here: https://www.beds.ac.uk/exams/
Practice exams can be taken for all exam types before exams week. Please see section Prepare for your exam.

• Students may use generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT or similar platforms, as a supplementary resource to enhance their understanding of networking concepts, assist with brainstorming ideas, or refine technical writing for their report. However, the following guidelines must be adhered to:

1. Originality: All submitted work must be your own. Generative AI tools may support the learning process, but the final work must demonstrate your understanding and skills.

2. Proper Attribution: If generative AI tools are used, you must disclose their usage in the report, specifying how they were utilized (e.g., for research guidance, drafting explanations, etc.).

3. Critical Evaluation: Students are expected to critically evaluate the output from AI tools for accuracy and relevance, particularly for technical tasks and justifications.

4. Restrictions on Use: Generative AI must not be used for:

• Completing practical tasks (e.g., running network configurations or creating command scripts).
• Generating test results or screenshots.
• Replacing original critical thinking, analysis, or evaluation.

For more detailed information on the use of AI, refer to the guidance provided on BREO: [AI Guidance for Students]( this link).
Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in penalties under the Academic Integrity Policy.

• Students must submit the report via the Assessment Submission Link under the Assessments and Feedback section in their unit on BREO. Screenshots and clear explanations of all actions must be clearly presented in the report, ensuring that the commands, your username account, and any other results are clearly visible.

What to Submit

1. Submit your single report saved in the following format: StudentID.docx (if your student ID is 192136, the filename should be 192136.docx). No compressed file is supposed to be submitted and will receive a 10 marks deduction if done.
2. Please ensure that the first page/cover page of your submission document includes your Full Name and your Student
   ID. 

Self-plagiarism, a student copying material from another assignment they have submitted, is generally not considered as an offence unless this is explicitly forbidden in the assignment brief. Course teams to specify whether students are allowed to submit their own previous work or a significant proportion of it (self-plagiarism permitted or not).