Technical Evaluation of an Operating System

Overview IT professionals are often called upon to make decisions, provide recommendations, and perform analyses that require an in-depth understanding of the inner workings of an operating system. This summative assessment will provide students with the knowledge and skills required to achieve and maintain this level of understanding throughout their careers. For the summative assessment, students will perform a technical evaluation of an operating system. Students will be offered a choice of operating systems to analyze. Students will use real-time and log-based tools, empirical observation, and scholarly research to analyze the core subsystems of the operating system. For each subsystem, students will research and describe the technology used in that subsystem and compare it to other available technologies. For the final report, students will assess the results of their analyses and perform an overall evaluation of the operating system, with recommendations for how it might be improved. For the summative assessment you will perform an in-depth technical evaluation of an operating system. The evaluation will be made in terms of the ability of the system and its supporting hardware to meet a set of organizational needs and technical requirements. The organization is a global enterprise that provides premium technical support to other enterprise businesses. Management will use your evaluation as one element among several in their assessment of options for future technology adoption. You will define the technical requirements, based on tasks performed by the organization, the applications used, system loads, security, system management, maintenance, and performance. The scope of the evaluation will include analyses and assessments of the hardware-software interface, the techniques used to implement processes and threads, the file systems supported by the operating system, the input/output subsystem, and the operating system security features. You will use these analyses and assessments to produce a comprehensive evaluation, which will be written in the form of a detailed technology review. SNHU will provide tools to support analysis of some commonly used operating systems, but you may select another operating system if you have the resources to do so. There will also be several milestones throughout the course that will allow you to develop the evaluation incrementally. The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Three, and Seven. Your final report will be submitted in Module Nine.

Prompt Your technical evaluation of an operating system should include analyses and assessments of the hardware-software interface, the techniques used to implement processes and threads, the file systems supported by the operating system, the I/O subsystem, and the operating system security features. You will use these analyses and assessments to produce a comprehensive evaluation, which will be written in the form of a detai led technology review.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Organizational Needs and Requirements A. Develop an organizational profile that analyzes the tasks performed by the organization, the computer applications in use or

expected to be in use, and the estimated system loads anticipated for the operating system. B. What are the organizational, security, and performance and reliability requirements related to operating system function,

management, and maintenance?

II. Computer Architecture A. What hardware is required to host the operating system? This should include an identification of the minimal hardware required

and an assessment of what would be needed to support organizational needs and requirements. B. Analyze the architecture in terms of support and functionality of process management, memory management, I/O, and mass

storage. C. Analyze the architectural support for multiprocessor systems and assess the organization, connection, and control aspects. What are

some architectural issues that might arise regarding technologies used in multiprocessor systems and how would you recommend utilizing multiprocessor systems in light of these issues?

III. Process Management

A. Assess the operating system process management in terms of its responsiveness to organizational requirements. Use process monitoring tools to gather data for your assessment.

B. Assess software tools for thread analysis and deadlock detection that are available for the operating system. What strategies does the operating system provide for handling deadlocks?

C. What support does the operating system provide for multiprocessing? Assess the applicability and ability of the operating system to allocate tasks between multiple processors.

IV. Memory Management A. Describe how the types of memory supported by the operating system are used. What memory abstraction does the system use?

Use an analysis tool to investigate the mapping to physical memory. B. Describe the system support for virtual memory, memory paging, and segmentation. Use a monitoring tool to assess their activity

under heavily loaded conditions. C. Assess the techniques used for memory management policy and mechanism separation and their utility in managing complexity.

V. I/O and Mass Storage

A. Describe the hardware-software interface for I/O management used by the operating system. Various techniques are used for enabling the operating system to communicate with devices. What techniques are supported and what are their advantages and disadvantages?

B. Analyze the file systems supported by the operating system. Use file system performance tests to assess the available file sys tems. C. What is the relationship between scheduled process context switching and I/O interrupt handling? Analyze the use of device

interrupts in the operating system and compare them to other possible approaches to input/output.

VI. Security A. What formal security model does the system support? Analyze the system to determine what support it provides for implementing

security models and assess the relevant tools and services made available to administrators. B. Recommend techniques and best practices to further support security of the operating system.

VII. Overall Evaluation: Using the defined requirements, analyses, and assessments, develop a comprehensive detailed technology

recommendation. Include an integrated assessment of the operating system’s capability to support organizational needs and technical requirements.

Milestones Milestone One: Situation Analysis In Module Two, you will conduct a situational analysis. You will write a short paper that describes the business-related challenges faced by the organization. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Analytical Organizational Profile In Module Three, you will conduct an analytical organizational profile. Your work will be completed in the Milestone Two Template document. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. Milestone Three: Full Organizational Profile In Module Seven, you will complete a full organizational profile. Your work will be completed in the Milestone Three Template document. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Three Rubric. Final Submission: Technical Evaluation of an Operating System In Module Nine, you will consider the questions below and make revisions to the document you submitted for Milestone Three. With your Milestone Three document in front of you, consider the following and make revisions as necessary:

a) Have you incorporated all of the feedback and suggestions you received from your instructor? b) Does your submission address all of the critical elements outlined above? c) Does the operating system you selected match the specific requirements your organization identified? d) Do you have title and references pages? e) Is your submission at least 15 pages of content not including title and reference pages? f) Have you supported each of your positions with a credible source? g) Have you properly cited your sources and made proper attribution for any copyrighted graphics or photos? h) Does your submission make a clearly stated recommendation for an operating system?

Your final submission should be a polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final project. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded using the Final Project Rubric (below).

Deliverables

Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading

One Situation Analysis Two Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric

Two Analytical Organizational Profile Three Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric

Three Full Organizational Profile Seven Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric

Final Submission: Technical Evaluation of an Operating System

Nine Graded separately; Final Project Rubric

Final Project Rubric

Guidelines for Submission: Your report should be 15 pages double-spaced paper or the completed template provided in Milestone Three, professionally written, with necessary citations in APA format and any accompanying visuals or additional artifacts submitted as part of an appendix section.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Organizational Profile

[IT-600-06]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and organizational profile shows keen insight into organizational needs

and requirements

Develops an accurate and detailed organizational profile that analyzes the tasks performed by

the organization, the computer applications in use or expected to be in use, and the estimated system loads

Develops an organizational profile that analyzes the tasks performed by the organization, the computer

applications in use or expected to be in use, and the estimated system loads, but with gaps in accuracy or details

Does not develop an organizational profile that analyzes the tasks performed by

the organization, the computer applications in use or expected to be in use, and the estimated system loads

5.75

Function,

Management, and Maintenance [IT-600-06]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and

draws insightful conclusions or inferences about the implications of the requirements for the operating system

Fully describes the organizational,

security, performance, and reliability requirements as they relate to operating system function, management, and

maintenance

Describes the organizational,

security, performance, and reliability requirements as they relate to operating system function, management, and

maintenance, but with gaps in details

Does not describe the

organizational, security, performance, and reliability requirements as they relate to operating system function,

management, and maintenance

5.75

Hardware

[IT-600-01] Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws insightful conclusions or

inferences about the implications of the requirements for the hardware

Accurately explains the hardware required to support the operating

system, and assesses the hardware needed to support organizational needs and requirements

Explains the hardware required to support the operating system, and

assesses the hardware needed to support organizational needs and requirements, but with gaps in accuracy or details

Does not explain the hardware required to support the operating

system

5.75

Support and

Functionality [IT-600-01]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and

analysis shows keen insight into the significance of the architecture for process management, memory

management, I/O, and mass storage

Accurately analyzes the

architecture in terms of support and functionality of process management, memory management, I/O, and mass

storage

Analyzes the architecture in terms

of support and functionality of process management, memory management, I/O, and mass storage, but analysis is inaccurate

or lacking detail

Does not analyze the architecture

in terms of support and functionality of process management, memory management, I/O, and mass

storage

5.75

Architectural Issues [IT-600-05]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and analysis shows keen insight into the significance of the

architecture multiprocessor systems

Accurately analyzes the architectural support for multiprocessor systems and

assesses the organization, connection, and control aspects of the system

Analyzes the architectural support for multiprocessor systems and assesses aspects of the system,

but with gaps in accuracy or details

Does not analyze the architectural support for multiprocessor systems

5.75

Responsiveness to

Organizational Requirements

[IT-600-02]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws insightful conclusions or inferences about the value of process management in terms of

its responsiveness to organizational requirements

Assesses operating system process management in terms of its responsiveness to organizational requirements,

using process monitoring tools to gather data

Assesses operating system process management but the assessment lacks detail or the use of process monitoring tools is not

evident

Does not assess operating system process management

5.75

Software Tools [IT-600-02]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and shows keen insight into the

significance of deadlocks and related problems and the tools and techniques used in detection, recovery, avoidance, and

prevention

Assesses software tools for thread analysis and deadlock detection

available for the operating system and explains associated strategies

Assesses software tools for thread analysis and deadlock detection

available for the operating system and explains associated strategies, but with gaps in detail or accuracy

Does not assess software tools for thread analysis and deadlock

detection available for the operating system and explain associated strategies

5.75

Support [IT-600-05]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and evidences keen insight into the technology of multiprocessing and its applicability in organizational

needs and requirements

Accurately assesses the applicability and ability of the operating system to allocate tasks between multiple processors

Assesses the applicability and ability of the operating system to allocate tasks between multiple processors, but with gaps in

accuracy, analysis, or detail

Does not assess the applicability and ability of the operating system to allocate tasks between multiple processors

5.75

Memory Abstraction [IT-600-03]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and shows keen insight into the significance of the memory abstraction for system util ity

Accurately describes how the types of memory supported by the operating systems function based on analysis

Describes how the types of memory supported by the operating systems function but with gaps in detail or accuracy

Does not describe how the types of memory supported by the operating systems function

5.75

Assess Activity

[IT-600-03]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and

shows keen insight into the advantages and disadvantages of memory management

technologies

Assesses the system support for

virtual memory, memory paging, and segmentation

Assesses the system support for

virtual memory, memory paging, and segmentation, but the assessment lacks accuracy or

detail

Does not assess the system

support for virtual memory, memory paging, and segmentation

5.75

Techniques

[IT-600-03]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and

shows keen insight into how separation of policy from mechanism can serve as a general

principle for reducing complexity

Assesses the techniques used for

memory management policy and mechanism separation for their util ity in managing complexity

Assesses the techniques used for

memory management policy and mechanism for their util ity in managing complexity, but some

techniques are omitted or the assessment lacks accuracy

Does not assess the techniques

used for memory management policy and mechanism separation for their util ity in managing

complexity

5.75

Hardware-Software Interface

[IT-600-04]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws insightful conclusions or inferences about I/O techniques

across the full range of devices and I/O subsystems

Fully describes the hardware- software interface for I/O management used by the

operating system

Describes the hardware-software interface for I/O management, but lacks detail or accuracy of

explanation around the role of the operating system in controlling the computer’s I/O

Does not describe the hardware- software interface for I/O management

5.75

File Systems [IT-600-04]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws insightful conclusions or inferences about the performance of the fi le systems supported by

the operating system

Analyzes the fi le systems supported by the operating system, including an assessment of fi le system performance

Analyzes the fi le systems supported by the operating system, but the analysis is incomplete or inaccurate

Does not analyze the fi le systems supported by the operating system

5.75

Context Switching and I/O Interrupt

Handling

[IT-600-04]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates clearly the applicability of context switching

and I/O interrupt handling technologies

Accurately and comprehensively analyzes the relationship between scheduled process context

switching and I/O interrupt handling and compares to other approaches

Analyzes the relationship between scheduled process context switching and I/O interrupt

handling and compares to other approaches, but the analysis is incomplete or inaccurate

Does not analyze the relationship between scheduled process context switching and I/O

interrupt handling or compare to other approaches

5.75

Security Model [IT-600-06]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and evidences keen insight into the

value of formal security models

Concisely analyzes the system to determine the formal securi ty

model the system supports

Analyzes the system to determine the formal security model the

system supports, but with gaps in detail or accuracy

Does not analyze the system to determine the formal security

model the system supports

5.75

Recommended Techniques [IT-600-06]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and evidences keen insight into the effect recommended techniques

and best practices would have on further supporting security of the operating system

Recommends techniques and best practices to further support security of the operating system

Recommends techniques and best practices, but the recommendations are not

applicable to the operating system or would not logically support security

Does not recommend techniques and best practices for supporting the operating system

5.75

Overall Evaluation [IT-600-06]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and evidences keen insight into the

value of the recommendations and their feasibility

Develops a comprehensive, integrated technology

recommendation for the case based on the analyses, assessments, and defined

requirements

Develops a technology recommendation for the case, but

is not comprehensive or not based on the analyses, assessments, and defined

requirements

Does not develop a technology recommendation for the case

5.75

Articulation of

Response

Submission is free of errors

related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional

and easy-to-read format

Submission has no major errors

related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors

related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability

and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors

related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of

ideas

2.25

Earned Total 100%