Unix System Administration
Unix System Admin
Course Links
Course grades

Sample presentation topics
Presentation guidelines

Example source code
Class notes
Lecture Slides

Unix History & Timeline

Unix Sites
Sun Microsystems
Sun Freeware
SGI
RedHat

Sun Docs Server
SGI Docs Server

Mr. Shawn Sivy & Mr. Brad Coburn

CMSC 485-02
Spring 2001
5:00pm - 6:20pm, M/W in Holman 253
Office: Green 10
Office Hours: By appointment
Phone: 771-3474 (Shawn), 771-2319 (Brad)
Discussion List: SA-L@list.TCNJ.EDU
Email: ssivy@tcnj.edu or coburn@TCNJ.EDU

Course Information

Course Content

System Administration will focus on the installation, configuration and ongoing support of enterprise computer system. The course will consist of lecture, demo and some lab time. Topics covered will include the networking, server hardware, adminstration of various UNIX-based operating systems and the use of the shell scripts to automate administrative tasks.

The Solaris and Linux operating systems will be used in demonstration and lab experiments.  Unix shell languages and Perl 5 may be used to write tools to automate system administration tasks, such as adding users and various creating reports.

Expected Prior Knowledge

  • Having taken the Networks course would be helpful, but is not required. We will review the relevant topics from that course during this one.
  • Students should be familiar with the UNIX operating system from a user or programmer standpoint.  They should be able to edit files, compile programs and manage files using command such as ls, rm and cd.

Course Textbooks

UNIX System Administration Handbook, 3rd Ed. by Hein, Nemeth, Seebass and Snyder. Published by Prentice Hall © 2001. ISBN 0-13-020601-6.

The Most Important Policy

Have fun and LEARN!

Grade Scale

  • Grades will be calculated on the scale below (which may be adjusted downward if I believe it should):
    • A A- 
    93-100% 90-92% 
    B+ B B- 
    87-89% 83-86% 80-82% 
    C+ C C- 
    77-79% 73-76% 70-72% 
    D+ D D- 
    67-69% 63-66% 60-62% 
    F+ F
    57-59% 0-56%
     
The following will be used to calculate your final grade:
Midterm Exam Quizzes/
Homework/Labs		 Presentation Final Exam 
20% 20% 30% 30%

Attendance Policy

Attendance will not count for a grade. However, I will be taking attendance during each class. Attendance may be taken into account for those students whose grade is on a borderline.

Tests, Quizzes, Papers, Presentations, Homework and Lab Assignments

Make sure you put your name and date on all work you submit. Work without a name will be lowered one letter grade!
  • There will be a total of two (2) tests during the semester and one (1) course project/presentation. Whether a particular test is open or closed book will be announced when the test date is announced. The final project/presentation will be presented to the entire class at the semester's end.

    • If you miss and exam, an ACCEPTABLE excuse MUST be provided before a makeup opportunity will be given. You have 24 hours after an exam to notify me (via e-mail, phone or in person) with a reason. If no notice is received, you will receive a ZERO.
  • The project/presentation will be on a pre-approved topic relevant to the course. Teams of up to 3 members (more with approval) may work on the same presentation; however, each member of the team must participate in its presentation.
  • Quizzes may be given and will be unannounced. Quizzes must be completed within a specified time period (you won't have the entire class...probably about 10 minutes). No make-ups for missed quizzes will be given.
  • Home/lab work may be assigned. You will be notified which of them will be collected.
Send questions, comments, suggestions to Brad or Shawn.