Unit 36 Internet Server Management

Introduction

Aim

To enable learners to implement and manage secure internet technologies for networking systems.

 Unit abstract

As more organisations adopt internet-aware software there is an increasing need to understand the implications of internet technologies. In addition many organisations are now creating their own internet and intranet sites and therefore the successful management of sites and servers is becoming fundamental to network managers. The aim of this unit is to provide an introduction to internet server management within the context of a network operating system.Internet technologies play an important role in all modern businesses operations. They are used extensively to strengthen the competitive edge of organisations and businesses and their position in the current marketplace climate. They allow businesses not just to market their products and services, but also to undertake business transactions with their partners and customers. Internet servers are the backbone on which these internet technologies are implemented; these servers are at the heart of modern business operations. In this unit learners will discuss and analyse modern internet technologies used to establish internet services such as web, FTP, mail, proxy, certificate servers, directory servers, and many others. Learners will install, maintain and secure internet servers using tools and techniques available.

Learning outcomes

1 Understand internet technologies

• Internet technologies and communication protocols: protocols eg TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), OSI (Open Systems Interconnection), DNS (Domain Name System), DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol); routing and remote access; telnet; ports and addresses; internet organisations eg ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), InterNIC (Internet Network Information Center), IEEE (Institute of Electric and Electronic Engineers); subnetting and supernetting
• Internet services: services, eg intranet, email, e-Commerce, instant messaging, wikis, blogs, certificate services, directory services; internetworking servers eg ISP (Internet Service Provider), World Wide Web, FTP (File Transmission Protocol), database servers, e-Commerce servers, news servers, email servers, proxy servers, media servers, directory servers
• Networking technologies and concepts:devices, eg hub, switch routers; network management concerns, eg client/server environment, user and group management, resources management, security, network attacks, firewall, ethical and legal issues, servers and server performances, user access issues

2 Understand internet server architectures

• Internet server technologies: architecture eg modular; server structure eg core units, basic functionality, request handling mechanisms, performance and access issues; examples eg IIS (Internet Information Services), Apache
• Hardware and software:required components eg CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, storage devices, network connectivity, operating system; cost of running an internet server

3 Be able to implement internet server and services

• planning installation: procedures, eg examine and evaluate network infrastructure, select a suitable internet server, undertake pre installation activities, eg downloading and extracting the required files, preparing the required installation scripts, configuring the network server and the operating system for internet server inclusion; plan server required information, eg domain names, URLs (Uniform Resource Locators); consider customisation issues
• Installation:tools eg GUI (Graphical User Interface) and command line; activities eg create web site, create virtual directory, install FTP services, create FTP sites
• Configure internet services: services eg web services, FTP, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), proxy; certificate authority; configure site properties eg site bindings, IP (Internet Protocol), address hosting, port numbers hosting, host header hosting, default document filenames, directory browsing; publish websites
• Testing:documentation, eg test plan (test data, expected results, actual results); test results

4 Be able to manage internet server and services

• Websites and services:web applications eg CGI (Common Gateway Interface), ISAPI (Internet Server Application Programming Interface); server-side eg Active Server Pages (ASP), ASP.NET; activities eg installing UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery and Integration), configuring FTP, SMTP and other services, implement and secure network access
• Internet services security:activities eg configuring web site security; configuring IP address and domain name restrictions, enabling and configuring authentication methods, configuring anonymous access, using operating system authentication, enabling forms authentication, creating URL authorisation rules, using access control and file permissions, enabling and implementing certificate authentication and creating certificates Using VPN (Virtual Private Network) and secure sockets layer to protect integrity and authenticity and data exchange
• Monitoring and troubleshooting:procedures eg configuring sites and applications logging, configuring centralised and remote logging, identifying log file and format, analysing log file; trace and diagnose problems; troubleshoot and solve common problems; monitor internet server performance; use server tools to measure and enhance internet server resources performance; document internet servers and services configurations and usage.

Resources

• Bennett M et al – Professional Microsoft FAST Search (Wiley, 2010) ISBN-10: 0470584661
• Comer D – Hands-on Networking with Internet Technologies (Addison Wesley, 2004) ISBN-10: 0131486969
• Donahue G – Network Warrior (O’Reilly Media, 2007) ISBN-10: 0596101511
• Ford A – Apache 2 Pocket Reference (O’Reilly Media, 2008) ISBN-10: 0596518889
• Miller M – Internet Technologies Handbook: Optimizing the IP Network (Wiley Blackwell, 2004) ISBN-10: 0471480509
• OliferN,OliferV – Computer Networks: Principles, Technologies and Protocols for Network Design (Wiley, 2005) ISBN-10: 0470869828