University of Sunderland
Faculty of Technology – School of Computer Science
CETM51 – Computer Architectures & Networks
Assignment 1 of 2
The following outcomes will be assessed:
Knowledge
Critical understanding of the key system components of a modern computer system.
Critical understanding of the role different architectures play in an overall computing
context.
An appreciation of the operation and configuration of the hardware devices of a network
system using standard network models, protocols, topologies and media.
A critical understanding of network security, including threats, attacks and countermeasures
and security policies within organisations.
Skills
The ability to compare and contrast the main operating systems used in modern computer
systems.
The ability to compare and contrast the different software requirements associated with
instruction set architectures and application programs.
Important Information
You are required to submit your work within the bounds of the University Infringement of Assessment
Regulations (see your Programme Guide). Plagiarism, paraphrasing and downloading large amounts
of information from external sources, will not be tolerated and will be dealt with severely. Although
you should make full use of any source material, which would normally be an occasional sentence
and/or paragraph (referenced) followed by your own critical analysis/evaluation. You will receive no
marks for work that is not your own. Your work may be subject to checks for originality which can
include use of an electronic plagiarism detection service.
Where you are asked to submit an individual piece of work, the work must be entirely your own. The
safety of your assessments is your responsibility. You must not permit another student to access your
work.
Where referencing is required, unless otherwise stated, the Harvard referencing system must be used
(see your Programme Guide).
Please ensure that you retain a duplicate of your assignment. We are required to send samples of
student work to the external examiners for moderation purposes. It will also safeguard in the unlikely
event of your work going astray.
Submission Date & Time According to published schedule
Submission Location By electronic submission via Canvas
CETM51 – Assignment 1 – Worth 60% of module mark
Scenario:
In this assignment you will be playing the part of a computer hardware and networking consultant
for a firm known as “Made to Measure Computers” – MTMC.
“Nuts & Bolts Imaging” is a new customer for your firm which specialises in producing sophisticated
designs of parts for the automotive industry. They have been very successful so far and they now
wish to expand their Computer Aided Design operation so they can adequately service more of their
customers and in different design areas.
They will need to have new desktop PCs designed, some servers and their network needs to be
configured to link all their systems together.
For the new PCs, they need 30 units which need to be capable of running Autodesk’s famous
AutoCAD in its latest version.
Each PC will need at least 2 display screens with an option for adding a third – any graphics card
choices must allow provision for this. Also, provision should be made to ensure that the designers
using these systems are able to use these systems comfortably and in line with health and safety
requirements for the usage of such equipment.
They also need to have 2 file server units which will act as a central design storage facility and its
“mirror” backup. Only rudimentary display hardware is needed for these, as they will, for the most
part, be accessed remotely rather than directly in day-to-day operation.
These systems (design PCs and servers) need to be added to their existing line up of PCs on their
company network.
ASSIGNMENT TASKS – Report size no more than 2000 words (so be concise):
Part 1: For the systems designs:
1. Specify and design suitable PCs for the video animators (30 machines), ensuring that:
All units conform to all the software requirements for running the most up-to-date
version of Autodesk AutoCAD.
A suitable operating system license is selected and included for each machine.
You supply a full and detailed justification as to why each component has been selected
over its competitors.
All health, safety and environmental issues are covered.
Suitable security features for safeguarding their data on these systems is included.
You provide full costing for these machines without exceeding a budget of £2500 per
unit. [25 Marks]
2. Specify and design the 2 file servers suitable for being the “master” and “mirror” animation
frame stores. Ensure that:
They have a suitable network operating system with all appropriate licensing sorted out
for the number of clients accessing them (to match the 30 animation machines).
You also supply full justification as to why each component has been chosen.
Any environmental computing requirements are satisfied as much as possible.
You include discussion and recommendations as to how the server mirroring is supposed
to operate – including any additional software that would be needed.
Suitable security features are present to keep data safe.
You provide full costing for these machines without exceeding a budget of £3000 per
unit. [25 Marks]
Part 2: The network:
The company is split between three distinct sites. One is in London, one in Liverpool and the other is
located in Newcastle.
1. Whilst ensuring that these technologies do actually exist between the sites, compare and
contrast any suitable Wide Area Network (WAN) technologies (including public networks)
which could be used to securely join the sites together as one network. Make
recommendations based on your findings (please omit any technologies that are not
available between the sites – don’t waste report space on these). [15 Marks]
2. Draw a simple schematic diagram displaying the different technologies used in linking the
sites. [5 Marks]
3. Create sample IP scheme tables to cater for the London and Newcastle sites below. Provide
a full table for IPv4 and an example of how this could be done with IPv6 instead.
London Newcastle
Department Users Department Users
4. As the design files have to be kept safe and away from competitors while in production,
strong security measures will need to be implemented to defend against hacker attacks and
other risks. Compare and contrast methods of defending the company networks both
between the sites and within them. Make some recommendations on what you think the
company should implement, making full justification for your choices. [10 Marks]
PLEASE TAKE SPECIAL NOTE:
As a responsible employee of MTMC – dedicated to the best value for your clients, you need
to ensure that your specifications are based both on performance and economy.
Any specifications which are clouded by “marketing hype” will cause a loss of up to 20 marks
from the overall assignment mark.
The unjustifiable inclusion of any unnecessary/surplus parts/software may also cause an
additional loss of up to 10 marks.
You may assume that cost is no object for staff training (and is not in your budget).
REALLY IMPORTANT! You are not allowed to specify any ready-built or off-the-shelf PCs or
servers (the only exception being the laptops). Inclusion of such hardware will result in the
loss of all 25 marks from your PC or server sections.
You may use any reasonable source of machine components for your locality. However
there must be evidence of the price lists for these included as an appendix to your submission.
Do make sure that where requested, you do actually make recommendations about the
technologies for the company to employ – don’t lose marks for leaving these items out.