Last night we talked about a variety of storage components and how they all technically worked at a very detailed level. While you may never work in a factory that manufactures hard drives, as an IT Auditor why do you think it is important to understand and appreciate the variety of storage components that exist in an organization?
Importance of Understanding Storage Components
Week 4 Update
Hi Class,
Good work last night. To recap: We covered various Storage components including RAM, hard drives, flash drives, dvds and back-up tapes. We concluded by going through an activity involving auditing a server for hard drive partitions not showing under the My Computer view in Windows.
Next week we will cover Networking, which will include a hands on activity involving building a network with routers.
For next week: 1) Read Burd Ch 9 2) Submit the OS Assignments and Storage Assignments to me by 9/26
Have a great weekend!
Pat
Why all the Operating Systems?
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!
Week 3 Update
Hi Class,
Good work last night. To re-cap: We covered Operating System concepts, and went through the key aspects of the task manager, performance monitor and file directories of the windows OS. In addition, we covered how to create a VM in both Azure and VMware, so should all have everything you need for the OS activities.
For next week: 1) Read Ch 5 and 12 2) Work on the OS Activities due 9/26
Again, these OS activities are a very important component of this class. In addition to performing the actual steps I am expecting you all to work through the various install issues you may encounter with downloading, installing and configuring the software and vms (i.e. VMWare, SDM, the MIS Software Website). Working through these issues is a vital part of the assignment in addition to the actual submission.
Next week we will wrap up Operating Systems and move on to Storage.
See you all next week!
Pat
Operating System and Storage Issues/Questions
Week 2 Update
Hi Class,
Good work last night! To re-cap: We went over the key components of a computing system and how these key components work together to power every operation in a PC. We then built a computer from scratch using the components covered in class.
Next week we will move on to Operating Systems and cover creating VM’s in both Azure and VMware. We will close out the class by starting the OS Lab, which you will complete as an assignment.
For next week:
1) Complete Tech Challenge 1 which is essentially to build a Windows Server 2012 VM (Complete this in either Azure or VMWare)
2) Complete step 1 of the OS Lab which is to build a Windows Server 2008 VM. I would like everyone to complete this task in MS Azure. Please sign up for the free trial, choose only the A0 and A1 basic VMs and be sure to completely shut down your VMs by clicking the “STOP” button in the Azure portal when you are not using them. Be sure to monitor your VM costs, so you are not charged unnecessarily by Microsoft. I want everyone to become comfortable in both VMWare and Azure in this class.
3) Read Burd Ch 11
Finally, in terms of setting up the VMs I am expecting you all to make a significant effort to troubleshoot any issues you encounter. This is a absolutely vital part of the learning process for this assignment! Feel free to work in groups and work through the issues together. Post to the IT Knowledge base with questions for the class. I am happy to answer questions, but I want everyone to put in the technical work to figure this out on their own as it is a crucial part of this class. If you get absolutely stumped I am always here to help!!
Have a great weekend!!
Pat
Some Virtual Machine Info
Hi Class,
If you are using MS Azure for your VMs please be sure to choose the cheapest options (B Series and A0-A4 Basic Options). Many of the choices such as the D series are way beyond what we need in this class and are much more expensive to host).
Please see the following Azure pricing guide: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-machines/windows/
Also, Azure charges you for running VM’s. You can avoid costs by completely shutting down all of your VM’s when you are not using them. Please see the following link on how to ensure all of your VM’s are shut down: https://buildazure.com/2017/03/16/properly-shutdown-azure-vm-to-save-money/
Also, please see the following videos on info on how to use Azure: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/get-started/
If you are using VMWare here is a quick guide: http://www.wikihow.com/Use-VMware-Workstation
Hope this info helps!
Pat
PC Parts and IT Auditing
Why do you think we built a PC this week? If I am to assume all of you are currently or someday will become IT Auditors, what was the point of building a PC from scratch? I gave you the analogy of a Mechanic doing a State Inspection, but can you think of another example? Ultimately, I’m interested to know what you got out of building the PC and if you think it will help you at all in your future careers.
What do IT Auditors do?
In your own words what do you think IT Auditors do? Why are they necessary? What are their roles within organizations?
Week 1 Update
Hi Class,
It was great meeting you all last night. I am really looking forward to working with you all this semester, and hope that last night gave a good overview of what we will be covering in the course.
To re-cap, the main takeaway from last night was that the IT discipline encompasses a multitude of technical areas such as desktop computing, networking, storage, system administration, security etc. Gaining exposure to these areas is crucial for the anyone working in the IT discipline such as IT Auditing.
Each week I will be posting an update like this recapping what we did in the current week and what will be expected from you for next week. Please check the course web site regularly as this will be where all of my announcements and class discussion will be.
I would like all questions for this class to be posted to the course website so everyone can benefit from the discussion. On the homepage you will see a number of discussion topics please feel free to post any questions to the appropriate category by clicking “Leave a Comment”.
For next week: 1) Purchase the textbooks 2) Install and configure VMWare and/or Setup an Azure account 3) Submit the Week 1 Assignment to me via e-mail before class next week (You can work in pairs of up to 2 people or individually). 4) Read Burd Ch 4 & 6 5)Give Tech Challenge 1 (Under Week 3 Materials) a try and see if you can configure a VM 6) Participate in the online class discussion
Next week we will be covering Computing Systems, where the main portion of the class will be building a computer!
Have a great Holiday weekend and see you all next Thursday!
Pat