Project Ideas

1. Do a complete installation of the entire sgi OS and configure the system to be on the network. Write down steps you performed and any problems encountered.(about 10-16 hours)
2. Number 1, but on another platform, such as Linux.
3. Setup a large package like SNMP, a DBMS, or NAMED on a system. Write up the steps you went through to get it to work and any problems you encountered.
4. Learn Perl and write a program using perl (to be agreed upon with instructor).
5. Select something in Unix you want to learn in-depth, such as sendmail, tcp/ip, accounting and do a project with it.

Paper Ideas

1. System security, examine a security incident on the internet and explain what steps a system administrator could take to lessen the potential for damage.
2. Firewall technology. Firewalls are becoming very popular to protect sites on the internet. Describe what a firewall is and how it can be used to help secure a site.
3. Comparison of Windows NT versus Unix. What are the strengths of each and do they compete or complement each other.
4. SNMP. The Simple Network Management Protocol can be used to help system administrators, describe what SNMP is and how a system administrator might use it.
5. ATM. Asyncronous Transfer Mode could be the next major network technology, describe what it is and how it related to telecommunications.
6. PGP/PEM. What are these and how can they be used in a computing environment.
7. Policy and legal issues. Pick and area and investigate.
8. Any other topic related in any way to system administration.