DCNSA Level II

Network Operating Systems flashcards

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What is a network operating system (NOS)?

An operating system built to manage and coordinate resources across a network, rather than for a single standalone machine. It extends the general operating-system functions, managing processes, memory and files, to many connected computers at once.

How does a client-server network differ from a peer-to-peer network?

Client-server: dedicated servers provide services to many clients; administration, security policy and backup are applied in one place, and it scales to hundreds or thousands of users. Peer-to-peer: every computer is both client and server, with no central server; cheaper and simpler, but each machine manages its own accounts, so it is practical only for a handful of machines.

What do directory services provide, and why do they matter for administration?

A centralised store of user, computer and resource information. They are the backbone of centralised administration: a password changed once in the directory takes effect everywhere that account is used.

What features make a computer server-class hardware?

It is built for continuous, reliable operation: redundant power supplies, ECC memory, hot-swappable drives and often redundant network connections. Desktop hardware lacks these, so a power supply or drive failure that a server tolerates routinely becomes a full outage.

When is an attended installation used, and when an unattended one?

Attended: an administrator steps through the setup prompts by hand. Suits a single server or one that needs genuine customisation. Unattended: a pre-configured answer file supplies every response automatically. Suits deploying many servers that must be configured identically.

How do smart cards and biometrics strengthen login beyond a password?

Smart card: a physical card holding a cryptographic credential, adding something the user has. Biometrics: fingerprint, facial or other physical authentication, verifying something the user is. A password or PIN is only something the user knows.

What is the difference between disk partitioning and disk formatting?

Partitioning divides a physical storage device into separate logical sections, for example the operating system's files apart from the server's data. Formatting prepares a storage device with a file system, such as NTFS on Windows Server, so the operating system can store data on it.

What is each of a domain, an organizational unit and a site used for?

Domain: the security and directory database boundary. Organizational unit: delegated administration and targeted policy for a subset of accounts within one domain. Site: controlling replication traffic between physical locations.

What does a DHCP server do?

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server automatically assigns IP addresses and network configuration (subnet mask, default gateway, DNS servers) to devices as they join the network. It removes the need to configure each device's addressing by hand.

What is network load balancing, and when should it be planned?

Distributing traffic across multiple servers where a single server would be a bottleneck or a single point of failure. It is planned at the design stage, if the expected load or availability requirement calls for it.

What is a server?