SAD 2: Assignment 3

Interview your university network specialist. Ask how various parts of the system communicates with each other throughout the university. (Q) Given the chance to redesign the existing setup, enumerate and discuss your keypoints for an effective and efficient network environment ideal for the university.
(at least 3000 words)

A network specialist or a network specialist, as defined by the Wikipedia, concentrates on network design and security. Since we are asked to interview our university's network specialist, we request for a discussion with Mr. A. Reyes, university's network administrator. Due to some unexpected circumstances, we aren't able to conduct the interview instead he let us send our queries and he will be the one to answer those questions. A network administrator has a relative role on a network specialist. Based on a post from Wikipedia, A network administrator is a modern professional responsible for the maintenance of computer hardware and software that comprises a computer network. This normally includes the deployment, configuration, maintenance and monitoring of active network equipment.

The first query we have on the list asks, In system development, how various parts of the system communicate with each other throughout the university? In what way? According to him, the best person to asked about system development are the university's programmers, Mr. Fortich and Dr. Mercado. We also include in our list of queries the various components involved in the university's system. Once again, he commented that his not the right person to discuss the details of software components because there are personnel who are responsible for the job. However, he were able to list some specifications for the university's server used. Since he is the one entrusted to maintain the various servers and make sure it runs 24 hours a day and seven times a week. Currently, we have Web Servers hosted in the university using HP ProLiant ML350 Server. The said server has been used for years but it is still stable. This server was set-up in the Network Office. here are the list of specifications needed for this type of server:
• Intel Xeon 3.0 GHz, 3.2 GHz, or 3.4 GHz processors (dual processor capability) with 1MB level 2 cache standard. Processors include support for Hyper-Threading and Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T)
• Intel® E7520 chipset
• 800-MHz Front Side Bus
• Integrated Dual Channel Ultra320 SCSI Adapter
• Smart Array 641 Controller (standard in Array Models only)
• NC7761 PCI Gigabit NIC (embedded)
• Up to 1 GB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM with Advanced ECC capabilities (Expandable to 8 GB)
• Six expansion slots: one 64-bit/133-MHz PCI-X, two 64-bit/100-MHz PCI-X, one 64-bit/66-MHz PCI-X, one x4 PCI-Express, and one x8 PCI-Express
• New HP Power Regulator for ProLiant delivering server level, policy based power management with industry leading energy efficiency and savings on system power and cooling costs
• Three USB ports: 1 front, 1 internal, 1 rear
• Support for Ultra320 SCSI hard drives (six hot plug or four non-hot plug drives supported standard, model dependent)
• Internalstorage capacity of up to 1.8TB; 2.4TB with optional 2-bay hot plug SCSI drive
• 725W Hot-Plug Power Supply (standard, most models); optional 725W Hot-Pluggable Redundant Power Supply (1+1) available. Non hot plug SCSI models include a 460W non-hot plug power supply.
• Tool-free chassis entry and component access
• Support for ROM based setup utility (RBSU) and redundant ROM
• Systems Insight Manager, SmartStart, and Automatic Server Recovery 2 (ASR-2) included
• Protected by HP Services and a worldwide network of resellers and service providers. Three-year Next Business Day, on-site limited global warranty. Certain restrictions and exclusions apply. Pre-Failure Notification on processors, memory, and SCSI hard drives.


Here is a listof the servers used by the university:

* HP ProLiant ML350 Server


* Proxy servers


* Enrollment servers


Based on the questionnaires answered by our interviewee, here are some ideas that he have shared that I would discuss on this post. The university's servers are connected in a shared medium which is grouped as one subnetwork. generally, the network follows the extended star topology and was connected to a dual WAN router. This router serves as the load balancer between our two Internet Service Providers of the university. Every workstations are grouped into various subnetworks as in star topology branching out from the servers subnetworks as in extended star opology. As of now, they are using a class C IP Address for assigning private IP addresses. Workstations are configured either statically or dynamically ane are connected via proxy servers which basically filters user access controls on the internet aside from router filtering/firewall management.

SAD 2: Assignment 2

Based on my personal experience and relative on my post on the first assignment that talks about the current enrollment process of the university, I’m so grateful that the administration was looking forward to improve university’s enrollment system. Though they kept on changing the processes of the enrollment, I know that they are just aiming to make every step easier, faster, and hassle free.

Upon evaluating the current enrollment system, I would suggest that there are some processes that can be integrated to lessen the steps that a student must undergo. I have declared three problems on the enrolment process that can be resolve or can be work out. First, as I have observed, student have several fees to pay such as local council fees, headlight, OCSC fee, tuition fee and etc and they are processed on different stations. Why not join them inorder to lessen the time and effort especially on falling in lines. It would be a hassle free for students. Second was about the scholarship renewal. Luckily, I’m not a scholar so I don’t need to stay longer waiting for my name to be called or stay in a long line just to validate my card. It would be better if they will have additional personnel to cater all the scholars to minimize the queue. Third was focused on the advising and pre-enrollment procedure. Last semester, I have to spend too much time on queue before it was officially my turn for advising. Due to one personnel caters 2 or 3 year level (I guess) that’s why I have to stay on a long queue. It would be better that each year level will be accommodated by one personnel to be in-charge.

Moreover, for the administration, it would be better if they would be aware the feedback of the students and faculties about the enrollment system of the university. The enrollment procedure needs to be improve in order to ease the burden of the students, faculties and other personnel that are involved in the enrollment.

SAD 2: Assignment 1

Assuming you were tapped by the university president to evaluate the new enrollment system implemented this semester, enumerate your observations/comments and suggest possible areas and ways where improvements can be made.

I would agree to Ms. Kate Karen Rasonable’s post that this semester was not the first time we had experience enrolling using the new enrolment process since it was already implemented a year ago. Last year, there are big tarpaulins placed in some area of the university and one was laid on the engineering building lobby. I managed to grasp those tarpaulins before so the images presented by Ms. Reasonable were familiar. The images presented by Ms. Rasonable and Mr. Plariza are somewhat similar. But for this assignment, I’ll refer to Mr. Plariza’s posted image as a reference since it was taken for this semester’s enrollment. However, I have constructed a diagram that looks exactly the same on the image posted by Mr. Plariza for us to have a clear view of the enrollment process.

Here is a clear view of the enrollment process of the university. With the help of Edraw, I manage to create a flow diagram that’s almost similar with the image given by Mr. Plariza. I have used a work flow diagram shapes to illustrate properly the enrollment procedures.

Enrollment System for SY 2010-2011

Given the job to evaluate the new enrollment system implemented this year, the new enrollment process is quite better than those previous enrolment processes. I have stayed in this university for more than four years so I have experienced different processes implemented every enrollment days. That’s why I conclude that they have improved well the enrollment process but it was not perfect at all. There are still long queues and delays.
Diagrams are scattered on some areas of the university to assist those new and old enrollees. After observing the given diagram, I am a bit confused with the big arrow sign and the long arrow that points to nothing. The step-by-step procedure was illustrated well except of those arrows that I mentioned. If we try to look at the long straight arrow, the moment we are done with step 4 what will we do next. The arrow from step 4 is pointing to nothing wherein it should be pointing to the next step. Two arrows points to the same step number and different process where made but the two arrows came from the long arrow and leads us to the next step. And on the use of actors, it should be on similar size.

The diagram presented can be understood well but I would suggest that the university should construct a more detailed and clear representation of every processes of the university specifically the enrollment system. Clarity and good representation of the images is necessary.

After the diagram, lets proceed with the new enrollment system I mean literally the system used. On my first few years on the university, I really don’t care of the system used by the university. What matters for me is on how I will be officially enrolled. Long queues and crowded people in other words it’s inconvenient and not that organized. One of the unforgettable and very inconvenient and unorganized enrolment periods that I have encounter was when the university outsourced a new enrollment system. I haven’t seen the real system, maybe its good but based on what I have go through on that time, I would not give a thumbs up. But on the new enrollment system which is actually implemented last year, though we still encounter long queues but it’s more convenient and organized. I am proud to say that the university really had a great job on putting our skilled professor to be the developer of our own enrolment system. Why look for a good developer outside wherein the university has it already. Observing the latest enrollment system through my experience was the best way. As a student of the university, the new procedure on enrolling myself is quite better than before. They have organized the student well to avoid crowded and inefficient queues. The services per step are more convenient and swift. But the depressing part of having this new enrollment system is aside from long queues was some student spend more than a day maybe two to four days before they will be officially enrolled.

As tapped by the university president, here are some of my suggestions that I guess would improve the enrollment system.

First, the university should construct specific and clear diagrams. Avoid unnecessary arrows and make sure that it illustrates well every process. Clarity and appropriate images are necessary. Second, add more personnel to handle step 2, wherein those scholars need to proceed to OSS to reapply there scholarship. And with step two, though I am not a scholar, students spend too much time before they could validate their scholarship. Third, there should be one adviser every year level. This semester was tough. There is only one adviser who handles two or three year level. This is the reason why I spend more than two days to be officially enrolled. Next, there should be an additional window for the cashier. As what I have observed there are only two cashiers so adding one or two will minimize the queue. And lastly, on the last step I prefer that the university will implement one registrar per college. There are only three registrars who cater the entire student from various departments. So having a one registrar per college is a way of minimizing the queue and it will be more organized. Adding personnel on some phase will be costly for the university but it’s for the convenience of their student. The system used was already satisfactory for me since we only encounter fewer bugs. I guess.  But I would suggest that the university will maintain a good and secured system to avoid loss of data. I am really looking forward for a more effective and convenient enrollment system for the university.