Managing a UNIX network environment

Managing a UNIX network environment

Narrative

Network management has always fascinated me. Right from my primary school level, I have liked topics relate to technology. As I advanced in knowledge of what network management was all about and the different software associated with it, I became more inclined to pursue how server software was applied in networks. My great interest in the management of UNIX network environment was intensely sparked through an experience with a senior UNIX administrator at an Oil Exploration Company. In spite of the fact that the company used various versions of the Windows, UNIX network was widely applied to support the most important scientific activities of the company.

Following the encounter, I became more interested in managing a UNIX network sever. I could not help thinking that the operating system could be applied in scientific operations as well as provide a wide connection of devices in different locations of an organization. I therefore was more interested in the topic. I was in the pursuit of a deeper understanding of the topic. With the foundation knowledge about the topic, I was now aware that the server network could help keep information for many people. The little information I had about the topic made me believe that UNIX was easy to use. This is particularly concerning input and retrieval of information. I also thought that it only required no much effort to acquire. I believed that it was simple process that did not require use of passwords to access the information, especially in a company that dwelt with the scientific activities.

Bridge

UNIX network management is a topic of vital importance. As an aspiring IT administrator, an inside-out understanding of the topic is imperative. I am interested in knowing how it works, the advantages and disadvantages as well as the challenges associated with it. At the same time, the application of UNIX in the interconnectivity of working systems is an area that I would want to gain more knowledge. UNIX network software is a vital likewise enterprise software that can be applied in bringing about efficient working in a company or organization. In particular, I would like to gain understanding of the several applications associated with the use of the UNIX software.

Research process and findings

I undertook a deep research about the UNIX. From the research, I realized that a variety of software is applied in the operations of organizations and companies. Different versions of Windows are applied in the performance of various tasks related to the working environments. Application of UNIX and LINUX devices is helpful especially in the support of the important activities with scientific perspective (Burleson, 2002). For instance, in an organization that deals with several information exchanges among different working locations, UNIX is very useful. My research on the operational analysis of the various aspects of UNIX software, revealed that I the software could perform some of the most crucial activities associated with an organization involving several working locations (Bourke, Mitchell & Lacey, 2006).

The application of UNIX software involves wide application of single user as well as multi-user interface (Rago, 1993). I undertook a research on how the single users of UNIX operated it. My research led to the understanding that UNIX supports single user login IDs ranging from five to six. The many login IDs are helpful especially during the access of information from different sites associated with an organization (Rago, 1993). As I went about my research, I came across the newly developed software concerned with the use of UNIX software. Altiris systems management software works best in managing Windows and UNIX based systems (Burleson, 2002).

Through the console abstracts of Altiris systems, UNIX/LINUX administrators are able to incorporate the different versions of the software into their systems. The enhancement brought about in the operation of the UNIX shows the relevance of the systems of data centers (Eisler & Labiaga, 2001). The result of the applications associated with UNIX software brings about a combination of systems of heterogeneous environments. I have learnt from the research that UNIX provides a single-console approach for the operations that involve native operating systems. Further, it is now clear that there are various advantages associated with the application of UNIX operating systems with relevant enhancement software such as Altiris (Rago, 1993). I have also further understood that UNIX operating system can be further enhanced to suite the needs of an organization through combination of Likewise Enterprise software. I have understood that Enterprise Likewise software applied in UNIX makes it easy for the administrator to do User Identifier (UID) and group identifier (GID) (Burleson, 2002). UNIX administrators are involved in the determination of the kind of application that is compatible with the operating system. The importance of UNIX operating system in the different applications of an enterprise is extensive. I now know that most of the challenges in organizations can be solved through use of UNIX operating system.

Conclusion          

UNIX network management is efficient in linking the operations of an organization. The relevance of UNIX is in the facilitation of various users access information associated with similar organizational tasks. Through the research I have done, I have discovered that UNIX creates ease in input, access and retrieval of information through use of user identifiers. Similarly, I have known that UNIX can be enhanced through other console systems such the Altiris Software Delivery Solutions. In the process, my assumption that UNIX is operates without enhancements has been clarified. At the same time, I can now understand the relevance of the different workings of the UNIX operating system. Most importantly, I have understood that the use of UNIX network software can be very helpful for an organization as it facilitates application of enterprise likewise software (Eisler & Labiaga, 2001). Nevertheless, the research raised further concerns about further modifications that need to be applied to give UNIX fine tuned features to the different organizations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 Bourke, P., Mitchell, T. & Lacey, R. (2006). Managing UNIX and Linux Platforms in a Windows World. San Francisco, CA: Dell Power Solutions.

Burleson, D.K. (2002). Oracle9i UNIX administration handbook. Santa Rosa, CA: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishers.

Eisler, M. & Labiaga, R. (2001). Managing NFS and NIS, 2^nd ED. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media Publishers. Retrieved on Saturday, November 14, 2009 from, http://www.orafaq.com/faq/managing_unix_environment_variables

Rago, S. (1993). UNIX® System V Network Programming. Petaluma, CA: Addison-Wesley Professional Computing Series.