UNITEC
Institute of Technology

Assignment
Referring to the course 06.815 Internet & Intranet Management
Semester Two 2000

A basic strategy for intranet/internet technology

Scenario 2

Name: 

Thomas Kramer

Deadline: 14th October 2000

Table of contents

1 CORPORATE STRATEGY FOR INTRANET/INTERNET TECHNOLOGY ... 3
1.1 THE SCENARIO ... 3

1.2 REQUIREMENT ANALYSIS ... 3
1.2.1 Email service....4
1.2.2 Internet access ... 4
1.2.3 Web server to store teaching material ... 4
1.2.4 Web pages promoting the school ... 4
1.2.5 Web based forms for staff to submit leave applications ... 5

1.3 DERIVING THE STRATEGY ... 5
1.3.1 Proposition of an Intranet solution ... 5
1.3.2 Applying a web based IT solution ... 6

1.4 IDENTIFYING MANAGEMENT ISSUES ... 6
1.4.1 Cost benefit analysis ... 7
1.4.1.1 The costs of the strategy ... 7
1.4.1.2 The benefits reaped ... 8
1.4.2 Managing Web Content ... 9
1.4.3 Security issues and policies ... 10
1.4.4 Maintenance & support ... 11
1.4.5 Upgradability ..12
1.4.6 Funding the Intranet / Internet ... 12

1.5 IDENTIFYING IT SOLUTIONS ... 13
1.5.1 Email services ... 13
1.5.1.1 SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol) ... 13
1.5.1.2 POP (Post Office Protocol) ... 14
1.5.1.3 IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) ... 15
1.5.2 The Internet access ... 16
1.5.2.1 ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode ... 17
1.5.2.2 DSL (Digital Subscriber Loop) ... 18
1.5.2.2.1 ADSL ... 18
1.5.2.2.2 SDSL ... 18
1.5.2.2.3 HDSL ... 19
1.5.2.2.4 IDSL ... 19
1.5.2.2.5 VDSL ... 19
1.5.2.2.6 RADSL ... 19
1.5.3 The servers and databases ... 20
1.5.3.1 Linux versus NT ... 20
1.5.3.2 The web server ... 22
1.5.3.3 The mail server ... 23
1.5.3.4 Database considerations ... 23
1.5.4 The homepage ... 24
1.5.4.1 Content Management ... 24
1.5.4.1.1 CGI (Common Gateway Interface) ... 25
1.5.4.1.2 ASP (Active Server Pages ... 26
1.5.4.1.3 Coldfusion ... 27
1.5.4.1.4 JSP (Java Server Pages) ... 27
1.5.4.1.5 PHP (Postscript Hypertext Preprocessor) ... 27
1.5.4.2 The Intranet pages ... 28

1.6 THE ARCHITECTURE ... 28
1.6.1 Hardware implementation ... 28
1.6.1.1 The network ... 28
1.6.1.1.1 Outgoing traffic ... 29
1.6.1.1.2 Incoming traffic ... 30
1.6.1.2 Cli ... 31
1.6.1.3 Server ... 31
1.6.1.4 Modem and Firewall ... 33
1.6.1.5 Network equipment ... 33
1.6.1.6 Additional equipment ... 33
1.6.2 Operating System ... 34
1.6.3 Running Applications ... 34
1.6.3.1 Workstations ... 34
1.6.3.2 Server ... 35
1.6.4 Dedicated Services ... 35

2 REFERENCES ... 36

1 Corporate strategy for intranet/internet technology

1.1 The scenario

The secondary school UniSec is going to upgrade its network on campus. With 1500 students enrolled and a total of 225 computers, the school recognises the need for the appliance of an appropriate Intranet and Internet technology. The current situation at the school shows already existing facilities that could be of use for a new implementation or an upgrade:

There are six computer labs of both Macintosh and PC computers, which run either on MacOS 8 or Windows 98. The computers share a peer-to-peer Ethernet network for file sharing whereas no servers are involved that could establish print and file sharing facilities for the students. Microsoft products are installed on the students′ computers. Furthermore there are 25 PC computers running on a Windows 98 platform for administrative purposes. Their interconnection bases on a client-server model that allows the staff to share printers and files. The server is NT-based. Within that network there is a human resource application that is running on a MS SQL-Server platform, which is located on the only server at school. In addition the staff uses the accounting application MYOB, that is running only on the PC based hosts.

1.2 Requirement analysis

According to the board of directors of UniSec the main intention is to adapt the present scenario to the current Internet and Intranet Technology standards.
Therefore the following services should be implemented:

1.2.1 Email service

The school needs an email service to improve the communication between both staff and students. The service should be accessible on and off campus. Every email client in school should have his or her own email alias and should be able to receive and send emails within the Intranet and as well through the Internet. There are no further restrictions that claim whether the email service should run on particular protocols - so an critical evaluation of the distinct technologies seems to be necessary.

1.2.2 Internet access

As the importance of the Internet increases significantly the school decides to give staff and students the opportunity to use the Internet as a large information source. Its users should be able to access the net from the local workstations on campus. An external dial-in possibility from computers which are located off campus is not planned. Restrictions on using the Internet apply only to students in order to avoid using the workstations for non-academic purposes.

1.2.3 Web server to store teaching material

The school has got the demand for a facility to store and access teaching material on and off campus. The files should be stored on a web server so teachers and students can easily download requested files through the internet via particular protocols. There are many possibilities to implement this facility, so an evaluation of appropriate alternatives must be considered.

1.2.4 Web pages promoting the school

UniSec wants to present itself on a homepage for promotion purposes and information delivery. A particular domain has to be selected, registered and assigned to the web server of the school. In addition a concept for designing, programming and implementing the homepage must be done. Questions about a proper content management system will arise since the intention is to keep the homepage′s maintenance easy for the staff.

1.2.5 Web based forms for staff to submit leave applications

An further urgent requirement is to establish a web based interface between the school′s homepage and the human resource application MYOB. Forms should enable teachers to submit leave applications from their home to the human resource department in school where it will be electronically processed and stored into a database. The idea is to enhance the flexibility concerning the staff′s availability in school.

[...]