ICTICT302 Install and optimise operating system software. Learner Guide

Transcription

1 ICTICT302 Install and optimise operating system software Learner Guide

2 Copyright, 2015 by North Coast Date last saved: 28 October 2015 by Amanda Walker Version: 1.0 # of Pages = 63 IT Teachers (CHEC) Content writer and course adviser Resource Development Team Instructional and graphic design Copyright of this material is reserved to the Crown in the right of the State of New South Wales. Reproduction or transmittal in whole, or in part, other than in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act, is prohibited without written authority of North Coast. Disclaimer: In compiling the information contained within, and accessed through, this document ("Information") DET has used its best endeavours to ensure that the Information is correct and current at the time of publication but takes no responsibility for any error, omission or defect therein. To the extent permitted by law, DET and its employees, agents and consultants exclude all liability for any loss or damage (including indirect, special or consequential loss or damage) arising from the use of, or reliance on, the Information whether or not caused by any negligent act or omission. If any law prohibits the exclusion of such liability, DET limits its liability to the extent permitted by law, to the re-supply of the Information. Third party sites/links disclaimer: This document may contain website contains links to third party sites. DET is not responsible for the condition or the content of those sites as they are not under DET's control. The link(s) are provided solely for your convenience and do not indicate, expressly or impliedly, any endorsement of the site(s) or the products or services provided there. You access those sites and use their products and services solely at your own risk.

3 Contents Getting Started... i About this unit... i Elements and performance criteria... i Icon Legends... iii Topic 1 - Determine the functions of operating systems... 1 The user interface... 2 Operating system functions... 3 More detailed OS functions... 6 Summary Topic 2 Obtain an operating system Technical specifications System requirements Licensing requirements Organisational requirements Evaluation criteria Documenting your recommendations Summary Topic 3 Install, configure and optimise an operating system The installation plan Installing operating systems Configuring the operating system Testing an operating system Summary Topic 4 Provide instruction to meet new software requirements and gain feedback Determining client s training needs Feedback Summary Glossary... 57

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5 Getting Started About this unit This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to install, configure and optimise operating system (OS) software to meet business and client needs. Welcome to ICTICT302 - Install and optimise operating system software. This unit will help you to understand the purposes, functions and types of operating system (OS) used in the computing industry today. There are two types of software: system software and application software. An important part of the system software is the set of programs called the operating system. The operating system controls how the computer functions, whereas application software is used to perform particular tasks e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, etc. The operating system loads, stores, executes programs and transfers data among devices and memory. For a computer to operate, an operating system must be stored in its memory. You will become familiar with various terms and technical specifications to allow you to recommend various operating systems. You ll learn how to install one and to optimise it to work more efficiently. You ll also be introduced to user training regarding operating systems and learn how to evaluate the acceptance of a new system by the end-users. You ll do some tasks for a Case Study IT company, BIOS Solutions, which will allow you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge in installing and optimising operating system software. You will have the choice of your own case study as well. Elements and performance criteria 7.1 Elements define the essential outcomes of a unit of competency. The Performance Criteria specify the level of performance required to demonstrate achievement of the Element. They are also called Essential Outcomes. 7.2 Follow this link to find the essential outcomes needed to demonstrate competency in this Unit: i P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

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7 Icon Legends Learning Activities Learning activities are the tasks and exercises that assist you in gaining a clear understanding of the content in this workbook. It is important for you to undertake these activities, as they will enhance your learning. Activities can be used to prepare you for assessments. Refer to the assessments before you commence so that you are aware which activities will assist you in completing your assessments. Readings (Required and suggested) The required reading is referred to throughout this Learner Guide. You will need the required text for readings and activities. The suggested reading is quoted in the Learner Guide, however you do not need a copy of this text to complete the learning. The suggested reading provides supplementary information that may assist you in completing the unit. Reference A reference will refer you to a piece of information that will assist you with understanding the information in the Learner Guide or required text. References may be in the required text, another textbook on the internet. Self-check A self-check is an activity that allows you to assess your own learning progress. It is an opportunity to determine the levels of your learning and to identify areas for improvement. iii P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

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9 Topic 1 - Determine the functions of operating systems Introduction After completing this topic you will be able to: > Identify and demonstrate understanding of the purposes of the operating system. > Distinguish between batch systems, real time systems and multi-tasking systems. > Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the basic functions of an operating system, including file systems, memory management, process scheduling. > Identify and demonstrate management of virtual memory. 1 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

10 The user interface The user interface determines how you will interact with the computer. It controls how information is presented to you on screen and how you enter data and commands. Most operating systems use a graphical user interface (GUI) which provides visual clues such as icons to help a user. Otherwise there is a command line interface which requires knowledge of commands to use the computer. Figure 1 a Command Line Interface Figure 2 the GUI (pronounced gooee ) or Graphical User Interface of MS Windows 7 operating system 2 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

11 Identify and describe the functions When you have turned on the switch to activate or boot your computer, it probably made various noises, displayed information on the computer screen that indicated what the computer was doing and eventually stopped at a screen that was familiar to you such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, MAC OS, Ubuntu or your game console screen. It is the Operating System which causes your computer to work and run through these routines which interact with attached devices and perform shared functions such as to print a document when you choose print button in your application software. The operating system does disk management tasks, too, such as saving or retrieving files to/from your computer disks and external storage devices. It can also analyse problems with your computer. Examples of popular modern operating systems for personal computers are Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X and the Linux-based Ubuntu. Examples of popular operating systems for networked computers are Unix, Novell, NetWare and Microsoft Windows Server Nearly every computer needs some way of communicating between the user of the computer and the various devices the computer has, such as a keyboard, mouse, modem, pointing device, CD/DVD drive, etc. This is one of the tasks of the Operating System. Regardless of the ICT area you may decide to specialise in, you will need some knowledge of what an operating system is, what it can do for the end user, what its various features are, and how it functions. You will also need to know why some operating systems are better suited to some industries and not to others. Operating system functions While you work in your computer s applications, the operating system works in the background and provides the resources such as memory, disk space and processing time. Here are some of an operating system s functions: > It allocates resources to the applications that are running. > It provides the utility programs required to manage the hardware by analysing, configuring, optimizing and maintaining the computer > It facilitates communication between the hardware (such as the keyboard, disk drives, internal memory, video monitors and other peripheral devices like your digital camera or your MP3 player or smartphone. 3 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

12 > It manages the scheduling of tasks (such as an automatic backup you might set off to run at a particular time). > It facilitates communication with other computers on a network or the Internet. Figure 3 the operating system is an interface between a user and the hardware Classes of operating systems There are also various classes of operating systems, each with its own characteristics. Real-time Operating System It is a multitasking operating system that aims at executing real-time applications. Real-time operating systems often use specialized scheduling algorithms so that they can achieve a deterministic nature of behaviour. The main object of real-time operating systems is their quick and predictable response to events. They either have an event-driven or a time-sharing design. An event-driven system switches between tasks based on their priorities while timesharing operating systems switch tasks based on clock interrupts. Multi-user and Single-user Operating Systems The operating systems of this type allow multiple users to access a computer system concurrently. Time-sharing system can be classified as multi-user systems as they enable a multiple user access to a computer through the sharing of time. Single-user operating systems, as opposed to a multi-user operating system, are usable by a single user at a time. Being able to have multiple accounts on a Windows operating system does not make it a multi-user system. For a Unix-like operating system, it is possible for two users to login at a time and this capability of the Unix OS makes it a multi-user operating system. 4 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

13 Multi-tasking and Single-tasking Operating Systems When a single program is allowed to run at a time, the system is grouped under a singletasking system, while in case the operating system allows the execution of multiple tasks at one time, it is classified as a multi-tasking operating system. Multi-tasking can be of two types: namely pre-emptive or co-operative. In pre-emptive multitasking, the operating system slices the CPU time and dedicates one slot to each of the programs. Unix-like operating systems such as Solaris and Linux support pre-emptive multitasking. Cooperative multitasking is achieved by relying on each process to give time to the other processes in a defined manner. Distributed Operating System An operating system that manages a group of independent computers and makes them appear to be a single computer is known as a distributed operating system. The development of networked computers that could be linked and communicate with each other, gave rise to distributed computing. Distributed computations are carried out on more than one machine. When computers in a group work in cooperation, they make a distributed system. Embedded System The operating systems designed for being used in embedded computer systems are known as embedded operating systems. An embedded system is a computer system designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions often with real-time computing constraints an Automatic Teller Machine is an example. Embedded systems include PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), cash registers, GPS devices, MP3 players, traffic lights all systems with less autonomy. They are able to operate with a limited number of resources. They are compact and extremely efficient by design. Windows CE, FreeBSD and Minix 3 are some examples of embedded operating systems. Batch Systems and Real-Time Systems Batch processing is the process in which data is collected, and at some later time, all the data that has been collected is processed as a group. An example of batch processing is the case of a business which processes its accounts on weekly or monthly intervals. Real-time processing refers to systems that perform one task at a time and update a central database instantly. Automatic Teller Machines are real-time systems. If you make a withdrawal, your balance is debited immediately. Airline booking systems are real-time too. 5 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

14 More detailed OS functions We have discussed the purpose and types of an operating system. We now need to discuss in more detail the different functions that an operating system can perform. The boot process One of the more critical functions of the operating system is in booting up (starting) your computer. Let s look (briefly) at the steps in this process in relation to a personal computer using the older MS-DOS operating system. (In other operating systems the process is basically the same; however some of the file names used are different and may perform extra or other functions.) When your computer is first turned on, it uses a special piece of hardware/software called the BIOS (Basic Input Output System). The BIOS is generally stored on a ROM (Read Only Memory) microprocessor chip stored on your computer s motherboard. This chip has instructions on it to tell the computer to perform a Power On Self-Test (POST). The POST tests for the existence of various devices on your computer and ensures that they are working properly. (That is why you see the lights on your keyboard light up momentarily when the computer is first turned on.) Once the POST has finished, and assuming that everything to this point is working correctly, the BIOS looks for a small program called a Bootstrap Loader stored on a hard disk or even on a bootable Compact Disk (CD) or any other bootable medium, such as USB devices. The order of where to look for an operating system is stored in the CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). The CMOS is accessed by a user pressing certain keys on their keyboard while the computer is booting (generally <DEL> or <F1>). To determine what key to press, watch your computer screen during its start up. It will generally display something such as Press DEL to access setup. Once you have accessed your CMOS you can change certain settings that will affect your computer s behaviour. A word of warning: Changing some items can cause your computer to stop working, so be careful! The Bootstrap Loader program has basically one function: to load other parts of the operating system into the computer s memory so that it can be used. Eventually the Bootstrap Loader gives control of the computer to the rest of the operating system. These other parts of the OS include the File Management schemes, the Memory Management schemes and loading the different software drivers that communicate with the various devices. 6 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

15 The Bootstrap Loader program will then tell the system where to look for the first file in the (DOS) operating system, called IO.SYS. IO.SYS is then loaded into memory and it now takes over the boot process. It then looks for an operating system file called MSDOS.SYS. This is then loaded into memory and the system now looks for a programme called CMD.EXE, which then takes permanent control of the computer. At this point the computer should basically be ready to accept input/output data from the attached devices and the user. Memory management One of the most important tasks that an operating system does is manage the memory requirements of your computer. We discussed earlier how current day operating systems are Multi User. This means that many users will be using the facilities of the computer at the same time, including its memory, to run their own tasks. Imagine if you had ten people sitting and working around your desk, and each of those people put their paperwork all over the desk. The desk would soon become unmanageable, with the paperwork hard to find or even lost. Eventually all ten people would probably not be able to complete their tasks. Somebody needs to take control and organise the chaos - on a computer this is one of the jobs of the operating system. As an example consider the process of using your word processor on your computer. On your computer, you double-click an icon on your desktop to load the program. This double-click sends a signal to the operating system that you want to use this particular program. The operating system then makes a request to the CPU to retrieve a copy of the program from the computer disk. The CPU and operating system then find where on the disk this program resides and start to copy the program code from the disk into the computer s memory (RAM). Once the code is stored in memory, the CPU then executes the code and your program runs. Once you have your word processor working, you may want to open up an existing document. To do this, the same process basically happens, where the document is loaded from the computer s hard disk into RAM, so again more storage space is required. The problem with this scenario is that: > There must be enough memory available to store the program or data when it is retrieved. > The programs and data cannot overlap or use memory that is currently being used by other programs. This is where the operating system needs to be a memory manager. 7 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

16 Memory chips in your computer are like the mailboxes found at your local post office. The operating system, when storing the data or program s bytes, stores them in these boxes. All of these boxes have an address (like the mailboxes). The CPU needs to know these addresses so it can retrieve and store the data when required. However, the operating system cannot store the data in addresses that are already filled. Part of the operating system s task is to determine whether the data that is in those boxes is still relevant does the system or do the programs still require it? If not, then the operating system will discard the data and then use the now empty space. However, if the data is still required, then some other technique must be found. When you close a program or save and close a document, the operating system knows that you have finished using the file and/or program, so it automatically purges the program or file data from memory. This means that RAM is a temporary storage area. At some point in time whatever is in RAM will eventually be lost, especially when you turn the computer off. Virtual memory If your computer runs out of space to store data in physical RAM, the operating system must compensate for this somehow. (Remember that a multi-tasking system could have many programs and/or files open at once, each needing resource space such as physical memory.) Most operating systems do this by creating a swap file and Microsoft Windows uses this to store its virtual memory. When the computer s RAM chips run out of space, the operating system uses one of its programs called a Memory Manager. This memory manager sets up a large contiguous (there are no gaps) file on your computer s hard disk (Note that sometimes, this file can be fragmented and is called a temporary swap file). As the operating system determines that your physical memory is full, it moves some of the data/programs that it believes are not currently needed, but could be needed later, into the swap file on the hard disk. Because it is contiguous, the operating system knows exactly where this data is, if it needs to retrieve it again very quickly. The size of the amount of space used by the swap file can also grow and shrink, depending on system requirements and no other programme/file/document will ever be saved in the space being reserved as the swap file. 8 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

17 A problem with using a swap file is that it can slow down system performance because the data has be read from the disk when it is required and written to the disk when not needed. (There are not many moving parts within a computer, but there are in a hard disk the disk itself that spins and the read/write heads that move backwards and forwards across the disk reading and writing the data. These moving parts always slow down access). Another problem with swap files occurs when the available space on a user s hard drive shrinks through normal use, e.g. saving programs and files. As the amount of free space on the hard disk reduces, the amount of space available for the swap file is also reduced, thereby degrading system performance significantly. This virtual memory makes your computer think that it has more memory than it actually has. Fortunately, the average computer user doesn t have to worry about this, as it is handled automatically by the operating system and associated software programmes. Windows, Unix and Linux use this technique of having a swap file. Large mainframe computers use a similar technique called paging. The data that is moved in and out in these systems is called pages. Linux actually creates an exclusive partition on your drive to use for swapping. LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 1 Changing virtual memory Changing the virtual memory settings on your computer can cause it to stop working. You should only do this if you really understand the consequences. For this exercise we will simply walk through a process of looking at where it is configured on a Windows operating system. However, note that the process is basically the same for all versions of Windows including Windows 7. 1 Open the Control Panel on your computer by going to Start/Settings/Control Panel. 2 In the Control Panel look for your System icon and double-click it. 3 Click the Advanced tab. 4 Click the Settings button on the Performance option. 5 Click the Advanced tab within the Performance Options box. 6 At the bottom of the performance box the Virtual Memory option is displayed. Click the Change button. 9 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

18 Figure 4 System properties for changing virtual memory The resulting screen will display the settings for the virtual memory on your computer - the size of the swap file. Microsoft generally recommends that you allow Windows to control the size of your swap files. Do not change anything in these screens. Click the Cancel buttons until you have closed down the Control Panel. File management One of the most used pieces of an operating system, file management refers to the way that the operating system manipulates, stores, retrieves and saves data on mass storage devices. Each time you install a program onto your computer, open and play a game, create and save a new document, delete an old document or simply copy files from your hard drive to a USB device, CD or DVD, etc, you are using the operating system file management programs. The operating system may also implement security on files and programs such as when a network operating system is used. When files are stored on a mass storage device, these different devices can vary in their structure, e.g. a CD-ROM, a hard Disk, a tape, a USB flash drive. It is important therefore that the operating system knows how data can be stored on these devices as each has its own characteristics of storing data. However, the operating system will nearly always present the data on those devices to a user in a consistent view. That is, as folders and files in a directory structure. 10 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

19 For a device to be able to store and retrieve data it needs to be set up by the operating system to allow this. The techniques for setting up these devices vary slightly depending on the device. For this discussion, we will concentrate on a hard disk drive and the Microsoft disk operating system (MS-DOS), but note that the concepts for most mass storage devices with other operating systems are similar to what is discussed here. Partitioning When a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is first installed into a computer, and before it can be used, the operating system needs to create a partition/partitions on the drive. A HDD can have either only one partition or many partitions. A partition is simply the physical hard disk having an area or multiple separate areas to hold data. An analogy would be a large roomy office. The room could simply be used as one large office where everybody works together or we could use room partitions and divide the room into separate working areas. The end result is that we still have one physical room, but it is divided into smaller separate areas where each staff person would have their own private space. Partitioning a hard drive is similar to this. In the DOS and Windows operating systems these separate areas of the HDD are identified by letters of the alphabet. If we have one physical HDD and only have one partition, then the drive is identified as the C: drive. If we partitioned the HDD into four separate areas, then each is identified by a letter of the alphabet, i.e. C, D, E, F, etc. called logical drives. On a Linux and Unix system, and generally on Windows Server systems, the separate areas are known as volumes and are identified by names rather than letters. When the operating system creates these partitions, it creates a partition table on the very first track of the hard drive. During the POST, the operating system checks the partition table and verifies that they exist on the disk. If the operating system finds that the partition information is invalid, then the system normally stops and it will be unusable. If it finds the partition table to be valid, it checks to see which partition has been identified as the active partition. The active partition is identified and created during the partitioning process. 11 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

20 When an operating system is installed on the HDD, the active partition tells the operating system that this partition is the one to boot the computer from, e.g. if Windows was installed on the active partition then Windows would be the default operating system to load and run. If Linux was installed on the active partition, then Linux would be the operating system loaded. (Note that it is possible to have more than one operating system installed on a HDD in the different partitions. Some operating systems will recognise this and present the user with a menu from which they can select the operating system they want to load.) Example The screen below shows the results of running the MS-DOS FDISK program, and that the computer simply has one partition, identified as C: drive and it is marked active. It also displays the size of the partition in megabytes and also the type of file system installed (FAT32). Figure 5 a screen from the Microsoft FDISK program used for partitioning a HDD Figure 6 an un-partitioned C: drive running Windows 7 12 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

21 Figure 7 Options to view information on Windows 7 Formatting Once you have partitioned the HDD, the formatting process is now performed. Note that there are two types of formatting: low level and high level. Low level formatting is generally done before the HDD leaves the factory. Low level formatting divides the HDD into sectors (much like the pieces in a pie) and tracks (separate concentric circles on the disk surface). For our purpose, we will concentrate on what the average user can do - high-level formatting. High-level formatting High-level formatting of a HDD basically does four tasks: 1 Creates the sectors and tracks that are identified by the low level format. Each sector can hold about 512 bytes (characters) of data per track. Some operating systems allow this value to be increased. The first PC hard disks typically held 17 sectors per track. Today's hard disks can have thousands of sectors in a single track, and make use of zoned recording to allow more sectors on the larger outer tracks of the disk. 13 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

22 Figure 8 disk platter divided into tracks and sectors 2 Creates a Master Boot Record (MBR). The MBR holds data that tells the operating system about the structure of the disk. How many tracks, how many sectors, etc. 3 Creates an area on the first track, (the outside track) called the File Allocation Table (FAT). The FAT is like the index of a book. It holds information that tells the operating system where the data (your programs and documents) is physically stored on the disk. The format process actually creates two copies of the FAT, in case one of the copies is corrupted. (Each time you save or delete data from your disk, the operating system updates this table.) 4 Creates the first directory (folder) on the disk called the root directory. The root directory is simply the first directory on the disk. It is called the root directory because directory structures are like trees every other directory that is created on your disk grows from the root. So how does the process work? Assume you are using your word processor and you open an existing document on your hard disk. When this happens, the application program tells the operating system that it wants to retrieve this document from the hard drive. The operating system then consults the FAT on the disk to determine the address of the file you want. (The address is basically the track and the sector where it is stored). Once the operating system knows where the file (or first part of the file) is located on the disk, it then directs the actuator arm, (the piece of the hard drive that has the read/write heads) to move to that address on the disk and start retrieving the data. As the data is retrieved it is assembled into the correct order and sent to the CPU, which then displays it on the screen. 14 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

23 Note that the file may be stored in many different sectors and tracks all over the disk, depending on its size. This is known as fragmentation. When a file is saved on a disk, the operating system looks for addresses which are not in use. Because you may have saved/deleted many files of different sizes over time, the disk will have empty addresses in different places all over the disk and the operating system simply uses these empty addresses to store the data. Non-contiguous sectors are the reason for defragmenting a disk, they slow the retrieval process down. LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 2 Check your understanding 1 Choose the correct response to the statement: An operating system manages? A. Computer memory requirements B. Communication between the various computer devices C. Storing and retrieving files for your computer D. All of the above 2 Name at least three well-known operating systems. 3 What is a computer BIOS? 4 What is the File Allocation Table (FAT)? 5 What is a swap file? 15 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

24 Summary Having completed Topic 1, you should now be able to describe the functions of an operating system: > provides an interface for the end user to use their computer > manages the various system resources and devices without the end-user needing to manage them > brings the computer into an operating state so that it can be used by the end user 16 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

25 Topic 2 Obtain an operating system Introduction After completing this topic you should be able to: > Contact operating system vendors to obtain technical specifications and system requirements. > Identify process and steps required to install and configure the operating system using installation components. > Document adjustment recommendations and provide to appropriate person > Determine and apply knowledge of licensing, hardware and security requirements. How do you start evaluating the large range of computer products? 17 P a g e ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

26 To select a product from suppliers, manufacturers publish technical specifications for their products. These specifications will vary depending on the particular component. For example, when looking at hard drives you will compare specifications such as data storage capacity and how fast the hard drive can access data. If you are looking at a graphics card, you will look at specifications such as the amount of memory and what interface is used. READINGS SUGGESTED 1 There are many sources of information where you can find out about technical specifications and other features, as well as reviews on products. The Internet and computer magazines are good sources of up-to-date information. Here are some links to magazines: > APC available at: > PC World available at: > ZDnet available at: > Byte available at: > TechLife Magazine available at: Newspapers Most newspapers have an IT section once a week. For example The Australian newspaper has an IT section every Wednesday. Online news sites have technology sections as well. For example: Manufacturers and vendors Manufacturers will usually have product information and specification sheets or product data sheets. Some manufacturers have product selection guides to assist in the selection of the most suitable product for a particular task. These can usually be accessed from the manufacturer s website. The Internet The Internet has many sources of information including manufacturer websites, online computer magazines, product review sites and user forums. 18 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

27 Software evaluation versions For software purchases many software suppliers provide evaluation versions available for download from their website. This allows staff to conduct their own independent evaluation of the product. The evaluation versions may have fewer features than the full commercial version, or they may operate for a limited period of time, such as 30 days. Other sources Trade associations and professional associations can be a valuable reference source for identifying software offered for a specific line of business. You can also use: > Google > Telephone directories > ICT exhibitions Technical specifications When comparing products, particularly hardware components, you will need to read the technical specification details. If you are unsure of the meaning of any specification used, PC Webopedia is one place to start to find a definition of a term. A benchmark is an objective test or measurement that can be used to compare two or more competing products. Benchmarks are a popular way to compare hardware products, but they are also useful for software packages or computer systems. Benchmarks are an objective evaluation criteria, it means that they are measurable and not influenced by personal opinion. System requirements For both hardware and software components you will need to ensure that any minimum system requirements are met. You will find this information at manufacturer s websites. For software you will need to ensure that your system meets minimum requirements for: > the type and speed of the processor > memory > available disk space > operating system 19 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

28 For hardware components you will need to ensure compatibility with the existing system: > processor - ensure motherboard support for new CPU is available > memory - ensure type and size is compatible with the motherboard > hard drives and optical drives - ensure that there is an available drive bay, power cable and interface connection > expansion cards - ensure that there is a suitable expansion slot for installation of the expansion card Licensing requirements When evaluating software, the cost of the product will be determined by how many licences are required. A license is a legal agreement to use software and the exact terms of the agreement vary. An important part of managing software licences is to purchase the right types and mix of licences. Software licenses are offered as follows: > a site licence for a number of computers at a particular office > a licence assigned to a specific computer > a licence assigned to one specific user If you are evaluating software, the cost of the software is directly related to the number of licences that need to be purchased. It is therefore important that part of your evaluation process is to accurately determine how many licences are required. Typically, the cost per user decreases as you have more users. For example, a popular anti-virus software application has the following pricing: Table 1 No of users Total Price per user 1-user $74 $74 3-user $112 $ user $169 $33.80 Another point to consider is that some software applications will have different pricing structures for either an upgrade or a new install. To purchase software at the upgrade price, you must have a licence for an earlier version of the software. 20 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

29 Organisational requirements Companies may establish computer product standards to limit the number of hardware and software choices. By establishing standards, companies can achieve the following: > have compatible products > limit parts inventories > limit support costs In terms of hardware, companies can establish standards for new hardware purchases with respect to minimum configurations and preferred suppliers. Similarly, companies establish standards for software configurations. This lessens both support costs and licensing costs. When evaluating hardware or software components, these organisational guidelines must be adhered to. Similarly companies may also have preferred suppliers, that is, vendors that must be used when any components are purchased. Evaluation criteria When evaluating the hardware or software component, you will firstly need to decide on the evaluation criteria. The criteria used would be based on several factors including: > The specific type of hardware or software product being evaluated. Evaluation articles in magazines are an excellent source of ideas for criteria to use when evaluating specific products > The needs of end users - does the product have all features required by the end users? > Support issues such as what warranty comes with the product > Cost - last but not least 21 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

30 The following table gives examples of criteria that could be used for evaluation of a product: Table 2 Category Criteria Processing speed of a CPU Storage capacity of hard drive Hardware or software Software capabilities Compatibility with existing systems Upgradeability Ease of use End user needs Ease of learning Does the product meet all mandatory features? Does the product have any desirable features? What technical support is available for the product? What assistance is given during installation? Support issues Is any training in the use of the product provided? What documentation is supplied with the product? Is the product compatible with existing platforms? Total cost of ownership (TCO) Cost The total cost of ownership is a type of calculation that assesses both the direct and indirect costs related to the purchase of computer software or hardware. For example, when considering the purchase of a printer, the ongoing costs of consumable items such as printer cartridges would be need to be considered Documenting your recommendations You have researched the requirements for your new hardware or software and now you need to document your findings. Typically, your report will be presented as a matrix that presents the component manufacturer horizontally and evaluation criteria vertically. For examples of evaluations, visit the website of any computer magazine and search for reviews. 22 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

31 One useful website for reviews is ZDnet at: The following is a template that you could use to present your recommendations. To use the template you would need to add details of the products that have been evaluated, the manufacturer or supplier details and list vertically all evaluation. Table 3 Example of a selection template Component required Brief description Product 1 Product 2 Product 3 Model Number Price Supplier Contact details Internet details Technical specifications (or software feature) Spec 1 Spec 2 Spec 3 Spec 4 Spec 5 Bundled software Training Technical support Warranty Recommendation 23 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

32 LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 3 Check your understanding. 1 Choose the correct response to the statement: Sources of information about products can be found? A. In the technology sections of newspaper B. At technology trade fairs C. In computer magazines D. All of the above 2 What is a benchmark? 3 Name 3 reasons organisations establish standards for their information systems? 4 Name 3 evaluation criteria to take into account when deciding on technology? Summary New releases of computer products, including hardware components, software applications and operating systems are constantly changing. In this reading you have looked at sources of information to use when you start researching the available hardware or software. Manufacturers publish technical specifications for their products. For hardware components this will include performance considerations such as data transfer rate. For software, it will also include a list of features included in the application. When making your recommendation, you will need to consider the system requirements, licensing requirements and organisational requirements. The next step is to determine your evaluation criteria and present your recommendations to the appropriate person. 24 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

33 LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 4 Practice Use the web to compare and contrast Ubuntu and Windows operating systems. Consider why you might choose one operating system over the other and in what circumstances. 25 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

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35 Topic 3 Install, configure and optimise an operating system When you have sourced the required system software; recommended it to the appropriate person; had your recommendation approved; purchased it and; entered it into an inventory database, you are ready to install the operating system. However, more planning is still required before performing the actual installation. The additional planning steps include: 1 scheduling the installation of the hardware components in conjunction with your client s needs 2 testing the system for problems and optimal performance 3 documentation of final outcomes 27 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

36 As part of this entire process, you should also plan to complete these tasks with minimal disruption to your client. After completing this topic you should be able to: > install, configure and test operating system using installation components and boot utility options > use the relevant operating system user interface to correctly configure the installation > optimise the system to meet organisational requirements > document the system according to organisational requirements > install the operating system with minimal disruption to client or users The installation plan When installing a new operating system many users are concerned about: > losing their data > losing the configuration of systems settings and applications > time taken to complete the job > unexpected expenses that may arise Having an installation plan will aid in providing a smooth transition between operating systems and must include steps for: 1 Installing with minimum disruption to your client 2 Configuring the system to meet your client s requirements 3 Testing for security and performance issues 4 Backup procedures and disaster recovery plan 5 You will also need to consider: > Does the client hardware meet the operating system specifications (is the equipment new or is an upgrade needed?) > How will existing data be migrated to the new operating system? 28 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

37 Back up data and system settings When you have completed your installation schedule, you then need to negotiate with your client the start time and location for the installation. When performing an operating system installation on new computer hardware you may find it preferable to do the installation off-site (away from the client). You will then only need to arrange for delivery and final setup. If you do complete the installation on-site, then disruption to the client would, at this stage, still be minimal. You only need to arrange for the final setup and integration into an existing system. So, for an on-site installation or an upgrade of the operating system and possibly hardware, you need to organise times when you can be on-site to reduce disruption to the client. You will also need to be familiar with available backup equipment and programmes for upgrading the operating system to ensure client data and system settings can be recovered or duplicated. The whole system may even be backed up using a file system cloning or ghosting programme such as Symantec Ghost. You also need to be familiar with the suggested installation recommendations and procedures from the operating system and/or software vendors. This information may be found: > printed on a CD/DVD > in a separate vendor s installation manual if included > in a file often called the readme.txt, install.pdf or installation.doc or something similar These instructions should provide details on both minimum hardware and disk space requirements, as well as the installation instructions so you can check that your previous research matches these specifications. 29 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

38 Disk Cloning As a method of backing up an existing operating system, applications and data, a technique called disk cloning can be used. Disk cloning involves taking an exact image (duplicate) of everything on a disk (or partition), compressing it and saving the image on a CD, DVD or network file server. By using software tools that come with the cloning programme, the image can then be copied to other workstations, uncompressed and then used (installed). Once this is done the workstation is generally available for use straight away. This technique has benefits in that only one installation may need to be done that can be used for many workstations, thereby saving considerable time and resources. (Note: you should be aware of any copyright issues when using this technique.) Examples are Symantec Ghost or Norton Ghost. LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 5 Disk-cloning Go to Symantec s website and get details of the operating systems that are suitable for use with Ghost. > What are Ghost s pricing and licence requirements? > Read more in depth about what Ghost does Microsoft has similar large rollout capacity procedures built into the Windows operating systems installation procedures (SysPrep). Other products that can be used may be found at the following websites: > Migration Toolkit from > Drive2Drive from > SYSPREP You can find an article from Microsoft on the usage of the SYSPREP tool for Windows at: 30 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

39 Installing operating systems Example 1: Installing windows When installing Windows, you have three options to choose from. A clean install This will install Windows and basically deletes any existing data/information on the hard drive. You would do this when installing the operating system to a new computer, replacing a failed hard disk drive or simply want to reinstall the operating system. Note: remember that this deletes any information currently on the disk. An upgrade install This will install Windows over the existing operating system. Windows duplicates existing application and system settings to a large extent. You would do this if you had a large existing base of computer systems where the existing computer hardware is suitable for the new operating system. This doesn t format the hard drive which means that your data should be relatively safe, but remember to back up important data first. Repair a previous installation If you have an existing install of Windows and are having troubles with the operating system, it is possible to simply reinstall the operating system. This will keep the existing data and replace any relevant system files. It is also possible to install multiple operating systems on your hard drive and allow Windows to install a Boot Manager. You can then select the Operating System you want to work with, during the boot process. At the Microsoft website at you can find a document that contains a checklist of items you should have before installing Windows. Starting the installation There are three ways that you can start a Windows installation. 1 Microsoft Windows start-up disk 2 Windows boot disks 3 Windows CD-ROM 31 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

40 For this reading we will use the method of booting from the Windows CD-ROM. You can find out about the other methods at the Microsoft website. Another commonly used option is to make use of an image file (ISO), this is a good option for installation on a virtual server. Installing Microsoft Windows The following procedure is for a new installation of Windows to a hard drive that does not yet have an installed operating system. If you are upgrading or the hard drive already has an installed operating system, then there will be minor variations to these procedures. These variations, where relevant, will be mentioned. First, configure the PC to boot from a CD-ROM Before inserting the Windows CD-ROM, you have to ensure that your computer is configured to boot from the CD drive. Most personal computers have this ability. If the computer does not have the ability to boot from your CD-ROM drive, you will need to create a boot disk with appropriate CD drivers installed. You may need to refer to your computer s hardware manual to determine the way that your computer needs to be configured to allow booting from a CD/DVD. However, generally there is a key that needs to be pressed during boot up that will allow you to enter the BIOS Setup. Sometimes this key is <F2> or <delete>. Watch the bottom of your screen during boot up for something like this. Once you have entered your computer BIOS, look for an entry such as Drive Boot Order or Boot Configuration. Unfortunately, there are many types of BIOS available and also different versions. Therefore, it is impossible to cover all possibilities in these notes. (Also be aware that changing some items in this area can cause your computer to not boot at all. Be careful). Once you have configured your computer to boot from a CD, insert the Windows CD into your CD drive. Reboot your computer. 32 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

41 LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 6 1 Watch the computer screen. The setup process enters the DOS installation mode. 2 Setup will start to copy device drivers and files to the computer s memory. (It cannot copy to the hard drive at this point if it is a new installation, because the drive has not yet been partitioned and formatted to receive data.) 3 At this point you will be asked if you want to install Windows, repair a previous installation or quit the setup process. For our walkthrough we will select the first option by pressing <Enter>. 4 You will then be presented with the End User License Agreement (EULA). By pressing the <F8> key, you are accepting that you abide by the terms of the licensing agreement. 5 Once you have accepted the End User License Agreement, the setup process will allow you to partition your hard disk and use that partition for the Windows operating system. If no partitions have yet been set up you need to press the <C> (create) key. If your disk already had partitions on it or you want to delete an existing partition, select one of the other options. 6 You can specify the size of your partition. If you want to use the entire disk for Windows, simply accept the default value and press the <ENTER> key. If you want to change the size, enter the new size. Note, that if you do change the size, you will have un-partitioned space on your hard drive. If you want to use this space for another operating system you will need to complete this and the previous step again for creating more partitions. 7 You will be returned to the screen shown in Step 5, however instead of showing Unpartitioned space the screen should show that the partition has been assigned a drive letter of C: and it is now partitioned. Simply press <ENTER> to continue. 8 You now have the option of formatting the partition into 1 of 2 types of file systems. A file system is simply the way that your computer stores the files on the hard disk. Each type of file system has different characteristics. Windows gives you an option of FAT or NTFS. NTFS gives greater security options and allows larger files to be stored. For greater security, the best option is to choose NTFS. 9 Once you pick the type of file system, the setup process will format the drive (partition). 33 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

42 10 When the formatting process is finished, Setup will start copying operating system files to the newly partitioned drive. Depending on the speed of your computer this can take a while. 11 Once the copying of files is completed, Windows Setup sets some configuration files for the initial boot up. The screen will display a notice that the computer is about to reboot. After reboot the setup process enters the Graphical Setup phase. 12 Once your computer has rebooted, you will see the first Windows graphical screen. During this phase some more files are loaded into memory and the hard drive and some devices are initialised. 13 The setup process will then continue to copy more Windows files to your hard drive. Various screens will also remind you of the benefits of using Windows and also indicate how long the process will take. This timing is fairly subjective. 14 Device drivers will also be copied to the hard drive. In most cases, there are standard sets of drivers that are a part of Windows. You may find that after the installation process, you need to update or install different drivers to get them to work properly with Windows. 15 You will then be asked to supply your regional and language settings. Click the <Customize> button and select the required parameters. 16 You will then be asked for a name and organisation for your software. This information will appear in the settings tab of Control Panel once the installation has finished. 17 You will then have to enter your licence key. This is generally printed on the CD/DVD cover or on your Windows manual or box. The setup process will not continue until this number is entered correctly. 18 You will then be asked for a computer name and a password for the administrator of this computer. The computer name should be something that uniquely identifies this computer on the network. The administrator password should conform to accepted standards such as using a mixture of numbers and letters, using non-standard characters and a mixture of upper and lower case characters. 19 You will then need to set your date and time and also your time zone. The date and time will generally display and be retrieved from your computer BIOS settings. You will need to select the correct time zone from the drop down box. You can also get the system to automatically change itself when daylight saving starts and stops. 34 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

43 20 The next screen allows you to accept the default network settings or to change them if needed. You may find that the default IP address may need to be changed, or you may need to add an extra network protocol. If you select the <Custom Settings> option, other screens will appear when you click <Next>. If you are not sure about any of these settings, the best option is to accept the typical settings option and then change them after the setup process is finished or check with your Network Administrator. 21 The process will continue by copying some files and saving the settings for answers that you have supplied in the previous screens. 22 Once this process is finished, the computer will reboot and you will be asked to add at least one other user to the computer. Remember that the administrator is added as default and you have already supplied a password for this user. You may also find that you are asked for other information such as registration, or if you want to connect to the Internet. Once you have supplied this information, you will be presented with the standard Windows screen. From here, you can now continue to configure the computer and install programmes. Example 2: Installing a Linux operating system Listed below are seven steps to download and install Red Hat Enterprise Linux (or Fedora). 1 Understand what you are doing. 2 Make room on your system. 3 Download the files you need. 4 Write files to media, if necessary. 5 Boot from the CD-ROM or boot diskette you created and run the installation program. 6 Use Red Hat Network to update your system or check for Errata on the Red Hat website. 7 Get help, if you need it. Here is a link to downloading and installing Redhat Enterprise Linux P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

44 Configuring the operating system Once you have installed the operating system, it can then be configured to suit the organisational and/or individual needs of the user/s. Some of the items are configured during the setup process; others are configured after the first reboot or indeed, as needed over time. Main items to be configured Some of the main items that should be configured include: > User and group accounts - establish any new or existing user or group accounts, including passwords, level of access, login times, and security issues. > Network items - do other protocols need to be added? Does the computer need to logon to a network server? > What services should be run at start up? If the computer is to be a web server, then the HTTP Web services should be started when the computer boots. > Backup procedures and schedules. It may be necessary to implement scripts or schedules to do or to automate backups. > Does virtual memory need to be adjusted? > Do any network shares need to be configured on the computer to allow other users access to the computer? > Do any policies need to be established? In some organisations, the ability to perform certain functions is disabled, e.g. stopping a user from installing software without logging on as an administrator. These are called policies. You may find that some policies need to be established. > Do any applications need to run at start up? Some application programmes such as a word processor or client may need to be automatically run when the computer boots, so these may need to be configured to do this. The main point is that each operating system can be configured to meet a user s or an organisation s requirements. You may also find that there are 3rd party utilities to also help fine tune the operating system. Configuring Microsoft Windows operating systems In Windows, the items that can be configured are contained in the Control Panel. You can configure the Date and Time, Display, Internet Options, Regional Options and the Users and Passwords from the Control Panel. You may also have to configure the Network places and make links to any printers, multi-function units, scanners and/or network storage locations. 36 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

45 Configuring Linux operating systems In Linux, the items are configured by various command line programmes or utilities within the X Windows System. Some of the items that can be configured under Linux are: 1 The Linux desktop configuration selection 2 Which services to start on boot up Figure 9 Figure 10 Testing an operating system Once the operating system has been installed, it is extremely important that the hardware and software be tested. Three types of tests are performed during this activity: 1 System Test, which checks all application programmes available on the system. It also includes the manual procedures, backup and recovery procedures. 37 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

46 2 Integration Test, which checks that all applications work with one another and interact with the network resources such as printers. 3 Acceptance Test, which is performed by the users to ensure that the new system works with actual data and that it satisfies their information needs. How do you know that the installation was completely successful? By testing the application(s) and checking the following: > Does it run slowly? > If the answer is yes, then you have a problem! > Does the machine come to a grinding halt? > If the answer is yes, then you have a problem! > Can the application access the network printer? > If the answer is no, then guess what? You have a problem! These are the type of tasks that need to be tested and resolved before you can finally say you ve installed and configured the application(s) successfully. Develop a test plan As part of project management you need to develop a test plan. This involves: 1 Creating a list of functions to test. 2 Within each function, create a list of items to be tested. 3 Developing test cases for each function. 4 Developing a timetable of when the functions will be tested. Allow time for resolving issues. 5 Assigning resources to undertake system testing according to the timetable. 6 Organising client resources to undertake User Acceptance Testing according to the timetable. 7 Assigning resources to resolve issues arising from testing. 38 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

47 Table 4 Example of a test plan Function Procedure Expected results Actual results Comments Print Access an application and print a document Selected document printed Scan Scan and save a document Selected document displays on screen User acceptance testing Input by the users does not stop at the initial investigative phases. Users need to be involved in all stages of software installation and they can serve as a reliable source of information. After the vendors have delivered the software and hardware, the users are involved in overall system testing, adaptation and hands-on training on how to use both the hardware and software. User acceptance testing involves the clients using the operating system and performing their normal work activities for a period of time, to see if any problems occur with it. They also determine whether the performance requirements defined in the initial investigative phases have been met. These performance requirements must be defined as a specific set of tests that will decide whether the software is acceptable. If the software passes all of these tests, it is considered to be acceptable by the users. System testing The entire system needs to be tested. Test strategies are used to try and crash the system. These strategies have to ensure that any and all problems that the software may have are found before the users convert to it. Often this is done on a pilot (secondary) system. On the completion of this activity, a report is produced which will contain the results of the user acceptance testing process. Review, use, and evaluation of the software documentation is a part of user acceptance testing. Users are involved with reviewing user documentation such as user guides and training manuals. At the end of this activity, the users should be adequately trained with the new software. This means that they must be familiar with the software to a level, which allows them to independently use it in their everyday work in order to fulfil their information needs. 39 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

48 System integration The stage following testing is system integration. This is where you integrate the new system software and upgraded applications into the organisation. At the beginning of any conversion, existing data must be made ready for the new software. This involves the conversion or creation of the files, forms and databases for the new software versions. Conversion can take place using one or more of the following methods: > Parallel - when the old operating system software runs alongside the new software. > Abrupt - when the old system is completely disbanded > Phased - used with larger applications that can be broken down and installed separately at different times > Pilot - new software is installed and used by one department in the organisation so it can be tested Post-installation review and support The final stage of installing new technology or, in our case, an operating system, is reviewing the installation process that has occurred and ensuring ongoing support is provided to users. This means: > Set up user support or help desk > Train the users in all aspects of the system, including backup and recovery > Conduct post-installation review, identify errors, add enhancements and, monitor software > Document that the installation has been completed, and that the software has been registered What aspects of the new operating system might you document and train users in a small group setting? What aspects would you leave for as needed training on a one-to-one basis? Any changes which necessitate an immediate change in policy or work practice need to be documented, and distributed to users as notes or in training. For example, these would include things like having to log on where previously they may not have, new backup procedures and how My Network Places works differently from Network Neighbourhood. One-to-one training may be left for the user to request how a particular function works and may include things like making a file available to others on the network which may not be everyday requirements. 40 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.docx

49 LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 7 Check your understanding 1 What is a EULA? 2 What is an ISO image? 3 What is disk cloning? Summary In this topic you have worked at the various stages of installing an operating system. Whether or not you are carrying out a new system install or an upgrade, the tasks include: 1 planning and scheduling 2 installing new hardware 3 installation of the operating system 4 testing 5 carrying out system integration LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 8 Practice Use some of the utilities in your operating system to improve or monitor a computer s performance. For example: > Perform a disk clean-up. (Available in Windows however many technicians use CCleaner a freeware system optimisation, privacy and cleaning tool: > Investigate the advanced system tools, such as Event Viewer, Disk Defragmenter, and System Information, that system administrators and IT professionals often use to solve problems. 41 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX

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51 Topic 4 Provide instruction to meet new software requirements and gain feedback Finally you will learn how to provide instruction to clients in a group or one-to-one training session. There are similarities between group and one-to-one training, such as determining client needs, formulating training plans and obtaining feedback. However, each has advantages over the other depending on the training required, and it is important to be able to select the appropriate training option accordingly. At the end of this topic you will know how to: > Provide one-to-one instruction about changes to the client or users as required > Obtain client evaluation about new system to ensure requirements are met, using appropriate feedback mechanism 43 P age ICTICT302_LG_V1.0.DOCX