Why do you all think I am asking you to install multiple virtual machines with different operating systems using 2 different types of virtual machines hosting technology? Doesn’t it seem like a lot of work to have to download iso/dvd/exe files from the web and install them when we could just use MS Azure and host them in the cloud?
Why don’t I just ask you to sign up for azure and install one instance of windows server and do the OS lab? Why Linux, Windows Server 2012 and Windows 2008 both local and cloud based?
Do you think configuring 3 different types of operating systems will ever help you become better IT Auditors? Feel free to agree or disagree!
Shuyue Ding says
Different operating systems and virtual machines not as different as apples and oranges, and getting familiar with multiple operating systems and virtual machines more like learning apple from different brands. I use Apple’s products as well as other Android phones and Windows computers, they are just cell phones and computers in my mind. Therefore, I do agree with what we are doing right now. I’d admit that it is not the most convenient way to get over with the operating system chapter, but it is the most efficient way to get familiar with the operating system in general. In our future career life and just life in general, even the technology is growing so fast, once we understand the core idea, we would not be afraid of new virtual machine software and new operating systems because they are just tools with a little different. Learning different types operating system do help me become a better IT Auditors because different organizations do use different operating systems.
Patrick J. Wasson says
Thank you for the comment!!
Ryu Takatsuki says
I think the reason is we need to understand how to use the different operating systems with different types of virtual machines hosting technology. Virtual machines are based on computer architectures and provide the functionality of a physical computer. Their implementations may involve specialized hardware, software, or a combination. I agree that MS Azure is a powerful tool and it is easy to use, however, it is also important to know how does a VMware work. Since some companies might use MS Azure and some will use VMware. As an IT auditor, we don’t need to be a technology expert, but we still need to aware of different platforms. I think configuring 3 types of operating systems will give us a chance to use a different system. I have never used a Linux system before this class. It would help me to be familiar with this system if a company is using it.
Imran Jordan Kharabsheh says
When considering the surprisingly large number of methods we can use to create and host virtual machines, each requires its own skill sets and knowledge of the virtualization technology being applied. More often than not, companies will use multiple kinds of virtualization technology in order to provide remote access to information systems, or you will find that the types of virtualization technology used varies from company to company.This is why it is critical for us to learn to use multiple virtual machine hosting technologies, so as to develop a diverse set of skills that can be applied for the shared aspects of all these virtualization technologies. We also learn about the different types of operating systems that can be used in remote servers in order to familiarize ourselves with the graphical user interface and the steps needed to accomplish certain tasks.
Sarah Puffen says
The purpose of this exercise is to become familiar with the different types of operating systems while hosting them on both “the cloud” and on a single, physical machine. It relates back to the purpose of building a computer- in order to understand how it works, you start at the foundation.
While using VMware, downloading and installing files may seem inconvenient when Azure has everything you need. However, VMware gives a more concrete understanding of where and how these operating systems come to existence, rather than just picking and choosing from Azure. With this in mind, having experience using a cloud-based technology is also vital when looking for a career in IT, since “cloud computing” has become increasingly popular and convenient for its lack of reliance on infrastructure.
Configuring three different types of operating systems allows for us to understand that, generally, operating systems are the same in that they serve the same purpose. An IT Auditor does not need to know every platform, just as every computer scientist does not need to know every programming language, it is still helpful to have exposure to a variety of possible resources that may be used, instead of relying on one popular catchall. For an Auditor, it is beneficial to have an idea of how each operating system works, since different companies may have different preferences, and each OS is unique in terms of manageability or current safeguards. This is where installing two different versions of Windows served its purpose- we are able to observe functional differences in versions of the same platform, understanding just how variable operating systems can be.
Jason M Mays says
Very well put. I especially like your thoughts on VMware and cloud computing familiarization. We were talking in another class about how google cloud has a simular offering to Azure. I will leave a link below for it. Familiarity with these technologies won’t just make you a better auditor, but a higher paid one too.
https://cloud.google.com/free/
Patrick J. Wasson says
Thanks for the additional input Jason! Great comment Sarah!
Jason M Mays says
There is no such thing as a comfortable environment in the IT world. In the real world, auditors should expect should expect to encounter multiple operating systems configured in multiple ways varied in complexity. Legacy systems, in-house builds and patchwork solutions are common. The primary lesson we should take away from week 3’s tech challenges should be to approach the unfamiliar without hesitation.
Jason M Mays says
I found that in addition to free credits for Google Cloud Platform they are also offering grants for faculty that want to use GCP for class purposes.
https://edu.google.com/higher-ed-solutions/?modal_active=none
Patrick J. Wasson says
Exactly! Learning how to become comfortable with any platform and realizing that they are not really that different is a critical skill! Good point!
Yuchong Wang says
People say diversifying your skill sets is only going to benefit yourself, not hurt yourself. Therefore, I believe professor Wasson wants us to use 2 different types of virtual machines hosting technology to get more familiar with different situations we might be in when we help companies to audit their systems. And yes, it is a lot of work for sure for my storage in my laptop! We could definitely use MS Azure and host them in the cloud, but I am sure it will cost a lot of money.
Figuring 3 different types of operating system will help us become better IT Auditors because we can experience the advantage and disadvantage across all the operating systems, thus help us to better perform our auditing.
Haixin Sun says
I think the reason why we are using different methods like Azure and VMWare is to learn more knowledge and enhance our technical ability for our later work. I think the reason why it requires to install various operating systems is to have a deeper understanding of the basic operating systems and the idea of the comparison between them. I believe we all have a basic thought of different operating system’s advantages and disadvantages after doing the challenges by ourselves. Also, with the comparison between Windows 2008 and Windows 2012, it is clear to see the changes made to improve customers’ experience. Learning the development of operating systems is important for the later both business work life and daily life. On the other hand, mastering of both Azure and VMWare can enhance our technical ability. Though it looks complicated, but it is necessary for IT Auditors to try different new softwares and stuffs consistently and get used to that. I think it is also for the IT spiritual training and practice.
Yuan Liu says
I think the reason why we install two different operating systems based on the virtual machine is because those installation task let us to understand there is only Windows operating system, there are some other systems to support different mission, such as data analytics and programming. At the meantime, the installation of virtual machine shows us how the computer is running in detail and the connection between computer and operation system. Moreover, the reason why we install virtual machine instead of online operation system is that virtual machine is running fast and stable, which cannot be influenced by internet condition.
Cloud data analytics is more convenience compared with local analytics because it does not rely on the psychical computer calculating power, and it can be used anywhere with internet. However, there are lots of situation, where is not internet or low internet speed. Those situation would effect data upload and download from the server.
I think it is good for IT auditor to know how to use three or more operation system because lots of programs are running not only based on the Windows. Also, some system is good for collecting data from the server and analytics compared with Windows.
Yuqing Tang says
I think use both VMWare and Azure helps us to discover more about how the software works together in order to follow the command. I actually used azure before, but with different windows servers. I had some new thoughts and understanding comparing what I did before. In the past, I only followed steps to build virtual machines but didn’t know the reasons behind. This time, I tried to choose different option each time to figure out the differences. To learn using the Azure also helps us to know the virtual world better since it’s on cloud and can be used remotely. For the VMWare, I think it’s much easier to use once we have the ISO image and is more stable to run. In addition, create virtual machines using various operating systems give me more knowledge about the development and improvement of operating systems. The system’s optimization indeed provides convenience and the new versions are tending to work more efficiently.