INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMA IN COMPUTER STUDIES

MODULE:
FUNDAMENTALS OF HARDWARE AND OPERATING SYSTEMS

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: DATALIA LIBRARY MARCH 2011

Important Notes: Please refer to the Assignment Presentation Requirements for advice on how to set out your assignment. These can be found on the NCC Education Campus. Scroll down the left hand side of the screen until you reach Personal Support. Click on this, and then on Policies and Advice. You will find the Assignment Presentation Requirements under the Advice section. You must familiarise yourself with the NCC Education Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism Policy and ensure that you acknowledge all the sources which you use in your work. The policy is available on Campus. Follow the instructions above, but click on Policies rather than Advice. You must complete the Statement and Confirmation of Own Work. The form is available on the Policies section of Campus. Scroll down the left hand side until you reach Personal Support. Click on this and then click on Policies and Advice. Please make a note of the recommended word count. You could lose marks if you write 10% more or less than this. You must submit a paper copy and digital copy (on disk or similarly acceptable medium). Media containing viruses, or media which cannot be run directly, will result in a fail grade being awarded for this module. All electronic media will be checked for plagiarism. Marker's comments:

Moderator's comments:

Mark:

Moderated Mark:

Final Mark:

Fundamentals of Hardware and Operating Systems

March 2011

Final

NCC Education 2011

Introduction
Notes: 1. Due to the nature of the Fundamentals of Hardware and Operating Systems module this assignment has to be a mostly practical exercise, although some tasks involve theoretical research. 2. It is assumed and expected that the students have access to a suitable minimum practical environment as determined by the tutor. 3. Any deviation from the tasks because of any practical problems like non availability of broadband systems in the area need to be specifically documented with appropriate alternative solutions approved by the tutor. 4. The students must work in pairs for the practical component of the assignment only.

The Scenario
Datalia library is in your neighbourhood and does not have a proper computer system in place. The members of the community, who have benefited from the library for a long time, are interested in contributing some funds to establish a computer infrastructure to modernise the library. To meet their requirements, the members of the community have engaged with a computer systems and solutions company called JJLP Consultants. You work at JJLP Consultants as a PC Support Technician and you are to undertake a complete study of the existing infrastructure at the Datalia library. During your initial visit to Datalia library you gather the following information regarding existing hardware and software: 1. The PCs in the student computer centre are standalone old 233 Mhz machines (PCs) with a maximum 64 MB of RAM running Windows ME 2. The hard disks are IDE and the maximum capacity is 4 GB. 3. The PCs are equipped with just floppy drives. 4. The PCs have only serial and parallel ports. 5. There is a very old laser printer, shared by all of the PCs. 6. There is not a network at Datalia library. 7. Access to the Internet is via a single dial-up connection, which must be booked in advance

Assignment
When you later visit the Datalia library in order to elicit requirements the Chair of the advisory board informs you that the library requires the following: 1. PCs able to run the latest GUI OS (Windows 7) 2. Word processing and spreadsheet software, image editing software, Web development and software development tools, antivirus software, Internet browsers, system utilities and Network Trouble Shooters should be installed. Wherever possible, free and Open Source software is to be considered. 3. Network-enabled media for accessing and saving the contents of E-Journals, etc. 4. A USB based image scanner, Optical Media backup, multimedia keyboard and a networked printer. 5. A Wireless LAN or traditional LAN. Costs and benefits would be the deciding factors. 6. Broadband connectivity through hotspot access points inside the Library.

Fundamentals of Hardware and Operating Systems

March 2011

Final

NCC Education 2011

You have completed a comprehensive report covering the above items with features, comparisons, costbenefits, and pros and cons (if any). The library advisory board was quite happy with your report and has awarded JJLP Consultants the contract to modernise the Datalia library with the following hardware and software: 1. Windows 7 2. OpenOffice 3.2.1 3. GIMP 4. AVG AntiVirus (free version) 5. Mozilla Firefox 3.6, 6. Mozilla Thunderbird 3.1 7. Wireless Broadband gateway for internet connectivity 8. Installation of Printers, Optical Media and Scanner

Aim
The primary objective of this practical assignment is to cover both the theoretical and practical components of the module. The student needs to assemble a small networked system with the required software and hardware that meets the minimum desired objectives and produce a well documented report evidencing the given tasks.

Task 1 10 Marks Submit a comprehensive report covering the required items for the Datalia library with features, comparisons, cost-benefits and pros and cons (if any) of the suggested products. The document should identify the potential weakness and inoperability of the current systems and software available in the computer centre to meet the librarys requirements, and your recommendations in the current scenario. You need to take in to account new requirements like Broadband connectivity, Wireless LAN etc. Task 2 10 Marks
Research and prepare a word processed document to describe the various new systems and peripherals available in the market which could be used to implement the recommended solution namely: New System Boards Processor and Memory Architecture ( Intel/AMD) Disk Drive Systems (ATA/SATA) Peripherals (USB/Firewire, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi access) Printers (Laser /DeskJet) Network Hardware and cabling/Wireless LAN

Task 3 20 Marks
Produce a formal project plan detailing the practical tasks that need to be carried out and the procedures that will be followed in order to upgrade or replace the PCs with the available or new equipment and software. Since there would be a difference between what equipment is ideal and what is actually available, the Task 3 plan may be different from the Task 2 outcome.

Fundamentals of Hardware and Operating Systems

March 2011

Final

NCC Education 2011

Task 4 35 Marks
Set up a small prototype Microsoft Windows 7 (XP or Vista may be used) based network with the specified applications installed and configured. Create suitable screen captures and provide test documents printed on the networked PC as documentary proof of the correct installation and configuration of the computer centre with necessary applications. This is to match with Task 3.

Task 5 15 Marks Prepare a short user manual that covers the following: resolving common Printer problems, 5 essential operating system utilities, their purpose and available switches. The manual should also cover good practice computer usage instructions. Task 6 10 Marks Prepare and deliver a short presentation to your tutor that covers the following: Procedures necessary to optimise the operating system; Common boot sequence Error codes, their interpretation and correction; Pros and cons of Wireless Internet connectivity. Guidance
It is vitally important that candidates use their tutors as support and as a resource, throughout the assignment. Wherever possible the students are encouraged to use Open Source software though Commercial software may also be considered if it is available. The assignment Tasks require a considerable amount of background knowledge both theoretical as well as practical aspects of core hardware and operating system technologies. Candidates can enrich their knowledge by searching the Web and making use of any reference library before embarking upon the practical aspects of the assignment. Verbatim copying of text from websites or text books is discouraged. Candidates should fully complete a Task and consult with their tutor for guidance before starting the next Task. Note: For the practical project the students should work in pairs. In order to avoid any health and safety issues a single student should not be allowed to conduct the project in isolation.

Fundamentals of Hardware and Operating Systems

March 2011

Final

NCC Education 2011

Submission Requirements
A single word processed document containing all reports and other documentation. It should be signed and dated by your tutor. The document should be properly structured with page numbers, table of contents, bibliography (online and literature sources) and appendices (where necessary). The report should be signed and dated by your tutor. In particular the report should include the following: All the reports. Any print-outs and proofs of having performed the various sub-Tasks. Any notes made of changes in strategy. All information / data that can be used to test various aspects of your work on an appropriate medium (Zip disk, CD etc). An electronic version of the document must also be submitted on disk. Warning: All media must be virus free! Media containing viruses, or media which cannot be run directly, will result in a FAIL grade being awarded for this module.

You must read and understand NCC Educations policy on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism. You must complete the Statement and Confirmation of Own Work form and attach the completed form to your assignment.

Fundamentals of Hardware and Operating Systems

March 2011

Final

NCC Education 2011