Extra Credit Unit Project

Module: Overview of Network Administration

 Description of Problem

Spurlock Industries consists of seven main departments; Marketing, Legal, Finance, Sales, Human Resources, Management, and IT. The company currently has locations in Everett, New York City, Los Angeles, and Hawaii. They are planning to open a new office in Galveston, Texas. The link between Everett and Los Angeles is a 100-Mbps ATM link. Each geographic location will have its own on-site IT department. The company has decided to use a single domain model called Spurlock.com.

Current Needs

They would like you to design a possible OU structure for Spurlock.com. They would like you to rationalize the main decision in your organization.(Hint: Install Visio 2003 and use their Active Directory Structure template to do this.)  

Interviews with employees

CEO

Currently we have three servers set up at every site. We also have at least 150 workstations at each site, with about 200 at the NYC site. We have a number of printers and other resources shared throughout the domain. We would like to set this network up on a relatively strict budget but with an eye towards expansion.

 User

We have a pretty cool network, but it seems to slow down during certain hours of the day. Some users are claiming that the best time to work is lunch time. They have also found that coming in on the weekends is better because less people are on the network and it runs faster.

 One of the networks in the Everett site is often used for game playing. The manager at that site maintains that it is to allow employees to relieve stress and results in higher productivity. However, users report that when the gaming starts, the network slows down dramatically.

 Some users have been caught coming in during off hours and using the fast connection for their own use. The management is concerned that this might have some legal aspects.

 IT Departments

As the network implementation is underway we are finding that the connection between Los Angeles and Everett is too slow so we need some alternative replication strategy between the sites.

 Replication problems seem to be cropping up between NYC and Everett. We need some tools we can use to troubleshoot this problem.

 The IT department has a need to share a folder on the server in Everett that stores all of the human resources information for the company. They need to have this folder shared so that everyone in the management and HR departments can access the files.

 Human Resources

We need to have a folder that we can share throughout the network so that all sites can access it. I think the IT department knows what we need, but basically we have files that everyone needs to get in and use. The managers need to see the files, but not make changes to them. We don’t want them to mess them up!

 

Expansion plans/Future needs

As the company gets bigger the IT department has decided that it makes sense to eventually set up a domain forest. Since they don’t have this capacity yet, they have asked you if you would set up an OU structure along geographic boundaries. They are planning on opening a research and development program in the new site (Galveston) and need the departments that the other sites have, plus Research and Development.

 

They have asked that you set this up and also set up a Universal IT group that can manage all of the sites from one centralized location. You will need to create OUs, groups, and users appropriate to their current and future needs.

 

Since this is just a lab, you’re not going to create all of the users, but do create one user who is a member of the Marketing department in the OU you have set up in relation to the Everett site. Also make her a member of the management group. In addition, set up a home folder to map to her Z:\ drive. Set her logon hours to 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Once you have created her, use her account as a template for her OU. Create an addition three users in that OU. Create a total of 3 users in every OU.

Your Requirements

Task One: Develop a list of terms/jargon to be defined for the customer. Define the jargon.

Task Two: Develop a list of questions that must be answered before you can begin your research.

Task Three: Develop a list of current customer needs.

Task Four: Develop a list of future customer needs.

Task Five: Research solutions to the problems and develop a solution to present to the customer. In this case include a drawing of the Wide Area Network and indicate on it replication partners, speed, and OU setup at each site.

Task Six: Keep a list of resources consulted as you go. It will be part of your portfolio

Task Seven: Create a spreadsheet of prices to the solution, if applicable.

Task Eight: Emulate the solution on your system.

Deliverables

m      Jargon list

m      Questions

m      Current needs

m      Future needs

m      Solution, including graphics and drawings as necessary (WAN drawing)

m      Resource list

m      Solution set up on server, computers, etc. as appropriate

 


Project Rubric

Criteria

Out

standing

Good

Needs Work

Poor

0

Definitions of jargon/terms used in project

20

14

6

4

0

Developed a list of questions that should be answered before beginning.

20

14

12

8

0

Customer current needs identified.

40

28

24

16

0

Customer future needs identified

40

28

24

16

0

Solution to problem is clear and takes into account all aspects of customer needs.

50

35

30

20

0

Solution is clear and unique and is NOT copied and pasted from another website. Copying pasting will result in a 0 grade on the project.

50

35

30

20

0

Cost of solution is priced out and includes information on vendors

20

14

12

8

 

Solution is completely emulated on team systems

100

70

60

40

0

Entire team participates in project

20

14

12

8

0

List of resources used

20

14

12

8

0

Project portfolio is put together and is complete

20

14

12

8

0

Total out of 400