CSC 489/689: System Administration and Security
Professor: Clinton Jeffery
Office: TBE B372D
Phone: 895-2493
E-mail: jeffery@cs.unlv.edu
Meets: MTWR 5:00-6:55PM, TBE B174
Web: http://icon.cs.unlv.edu/jeffery/courses/489/
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Normally, CSC 370 operating systems
Texts: "System Administration", by Nemeth et al
"Linux System Administration", by Carling et al
Numerous class handouts
Course Description
This course covers the administration of multi-user computing facilities,
including file-, web-, and mail- servers and their clients. System security
is introduced as one of the important subtopics in this field.
Goals
When you finish this course, you should have an understanding of the major
tasks and responsibilities of system administrators. You should know how to
use common administration tools and how to perform rudimentary system
administration tasks.
Our goals in this course include:
- Broad overview of modern client/server networks
- Practice configuring and installing clients, servers, and their services.
Grading
Your grade will be based on daily homeworks, daily quizzes, and daily
laboratory exercises. During the scheduled final examination period,
you will be required to demonstrate your machine's functionality on
various assigned server functions.
Each day you have 5 points to earn, towards your
total of 100 points. Some days' assignments are important and will be
highlighted as they are assigned. Those assignments must be completed
successfully in order to pass the course, regardless of how many points
you earn overall.
Schedule
| Date | Topic |
| 7/10 | Hardware setup, OS installation, partitioning, file systems |
| 7/11 | /etc directory, system startup scripts, log files |
| 7/12 | Disk quotas, password expiration, process control |
| 7/13 | Ethernet hardware |
| 7/17 | Printing, print filters; IP configuration, DHCP |
| 7/18 | Scheduled maintenance, cron, backups |
| 7/19 | web servers, Apache, HTTP and FTP |
| 7/20 | NIS |
| 7/24 | NFS |
| 7/25 | Samba |
| 7/26 | mail servers, sendmail, POP, IMAP |
| 7/27 | DNS, Bind |
| 7/31 | Usenet news, NNTP |
| 8/1 | ssh, Firewalls, IP masquerading |
| 8/2 | Kerberos |
| 8/3 | Web server security, CGI attacks |
| 8/7 | Hacker techniques, security test tools, Satan, Crack |
| 8/8 | Intrusion detection, Tripwire |
| 8/9 | Virtual Private Networks? SSL? DES encryption? |
| 8/10 | Final Exam |
Topics with question marks are subject to change.
Use of Lab Machines
In this course you will need hands-on ("root") access to a network-connected
"server" machine in order to do assignments. For many assignments you will
in fact need to connect client software on another machine to your server.
We will be giving such access to new machines being deployed in TBE A-311.
Each student in the class will work on one particular computer for the term.
Your responsibility for a machine you have (even temporary) root access is
extreme. Do not share information or access to this machine with other
students. Do not configure this machine other than as instructed or
approved by your professor. If your machine becomes messed up ("not
bootable", or "not working") it is your responsibility to fix it. If your
machine is used other than as assigned for the course, your lab privileges
for this course may be revoked.
Policy Statements
Cheating is strictly forbidden on both exams and assignments, with severe
penalties. Discussion is OK, but do not share your code, or risk failing
or being removed from the course.
If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, you will
need to go to the Disability Resource Center (DRC) for coordination in
your academic accomodations. The DRC is located in the Reynolds Student
Services Center rm. 137. The DRC phone is 895-0866 or TDD 895-0652.