Week 3: Network and Infrastructure Services
Between the lessons that touch upon software delivery and service platforms during the week three offerings of this course, you’ll learn how to correctly define software and platform services and manage them. Understand the necessary configurations for email, security-related services, and file and print platform services. Learn about and troubleshoot some typical issues with these services. This way, by the end of this module, you’re going to have extensive knowledge of how one goes about setting up and managing those infrastructural services that are so valuable to maintaining the productivity, security, and seamless delivery of applications within any business.
Learning Objectives:
- Know about the communication services and their corresponding requirements within the organization.
- How to play on a local web server and what it takes to understand a public web server’s function.
PRACTICE QUIZ: SOFTWARE SERVICES
1. What are some communication services you can utilize in your organization? Check all that apply.
- Email (CORRECT)
- Chat applications (CORRECT)
- DNS
- Phones (CORRECT)
Yo this well-thought-out communication tool can be used within an organization. It is chat applications, emails, and phone calls. This ‘being-known’ of devices and tools helps to communicate messages, manage workflows, and connect teams on various modes of communication. Sound administration and appropriate security of these services are required for smooth communication and protection of data within the organization.
2. What’s the difference between POP3 and IMAP? Check all that apply.
- POP3 can only download email to one local device. (CORRECT)
- IMAP can only download email to one local device.
- POP3 is used for sending emails.
- IMAP can download emails onto multiple devices. (CORRECT)
Wonderful! POP3 allows download of emails to just one device which will be efficacious in case you need extra privacy for your emails. In contrast, IMAP allows downloading emails to multiple devices and is also the most widely used email protocol nowadays.
3. True or false: Commercial-use and personal-use software licenses are essentially the same thing.
- True
- False (CORRECT)
Yes, normally software distributors give different agreements for corporate organizations. Under this pretext, it is necessary to ensure the given use of the license for the software before buying or else installing the software in order just to make sure that it adheres to the needs of the organization and that everything is fine about terms and conditions.
4. What are the differences between TLS and SSL? Check all that apply.
- TLS is the successor to SSL. (CORRECT)
- TLS is more secure than SSL. (CORRECT)
- SSL is more secure than TLS.
- SSL is the successor to TLS.
But …, good job. TLS and SSL are frequently defined as similar, but they are indeed two separate words. SSL is the predecessor of the new protocol called TLS. And TLS has many stronger encryptions that make itself more secure than SSL, thus creating a movement of modern systems toward TLS for secure communication.
PRACTICE QUIZ: FILE, PRINT, AND PLATFORM SERVICES
1. What are the benefits of setting up an NFS server? Check all that apply.
- Connecting to printers
- Storing files on a network drive (CORRECT)
- Enabling files to be shared over a network (CORRECT)
- Serving web content
An NFS is a network file system that stores files centrally on a server and allows sharing by different computers or devices on a network. This creates easy access for users to those files, thus eliminating the need to store them on different devices. It is typically used in environments where collaboration and shared working space are required.
2. What methods could you use to set up printing in an organization? Check all that apply.
- Directly connecting a printer (CORRECT)
- Setting up a print server (CORRECT)
- Using a cloud service to set up printers (CORRECT)
- Setting up an NFS server
Totally! Regardless of whether you run a small business or a large industry, print management offers effective ways of setting up and managing printers for efficient printing across the enterprise. Local setups of printers (directly connected to a device), shared printers in a network, cloud printing for advanced solutions, then the right one for the organization can be opted for workflow optimization and easy access to printing services-taking size and needs of the organization into account.
3. When you have a web server, what service is used to enable HTTP requests to be processed?
- An HTTP server (CORRECT)
- The web server
- HTTP status codes
- A database server
Fantastic! These are HTTP servers such as the Apache web server, which accept HTTP requests from clients and provide the necessary web content in response to those requests.
4. You can use a(n) ______________to store large amounts of customer data for a website.
- NFS server
- HTTP server
- database server (CORRECT)
- DNS server
Extensive works are being done, and databases used for applications to create, manage and store data include MySQL and PostgreSQL. Great work!
PRACTICE QUIZ: TROUBLESHOOTING PLATFORM SERVICES
1. HTTP status codes that begin with 4xx, like 404, indicate errors on:
- The client-side (CORRECT)
- The server-side
- Nowhere; these codes are successful
- Redirections
Great Work! The 4xx HTTP status codes show client-side errors that may arise from typographical error in the URL or the attempt to access some resources without appropriate authorizations.
2. HTTP status codes that begin with 5xx, like 501, indicate errors on:
- The client-side
- The server-side (CORRECT)
- Nowhere; these codes are successful
- Redirections
That is right! 5xx HTTP status codes actually refer to server-side error messages, meaning that on the server, something has been wrong while processing a request. This category of codes indicates a keep server error, not for client.
QUIZ: SOFTWARE AND PLATFORM SERVICES
1. You want to be super private with your email. You’d like to be able to download your email to a single device, then remove it from your email server. What email protocol can you use to do that?
- HTTP
- POP3 (CORRECT)
- IMAP
- SMTP
Yep! POP3 is used to download email to a single device.
2. What type of DNS record is used for email servers?
- A
- AAAA
- MX (CORRECT)
- CNAME
Wohoo! MX, or mail exchange, records are used for email.
3. Which of these is NOT an email protocol?
- SMTP
- POP3
- IMAP
- IRC (CORRECT)
That’s right! IRC is a messaging protocol used for enabling real-time communication-as in chat rooms or private messages for users. It is different from email protocols like POP3 and IMAP, which are for email communications.
4. Which file system protocols are intended for network use? Check all that apply.
- Samba
- Fat32
- SMB (CORRECT)
- NFS (CORRECT)
This is so tiring: SMB (Server Message Block) is a file-sharing protocol providing excellent interoperability with Windows systems.
NFS (Network File System) is a file-sharing protocol typically used in Unix/Linux environments but also available in some configurations for use with Windows. Great job!
5. If you wanted to securely transfer files from your local machine to a web server, what file transfer protocol could you use?
- FTP
- TFTP
- SFTP (CORRECT)
- NTP
Good work! SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) is a protocol that protects data during the transfer process because it encrypts the data being moved; that means it has a much-sought-after, yet very secure way to transmit files over a network.
6. Apache is an example of what type of software?
- File transfer protocol (FTP) software
- Web (HTTP) server software (CORRECT)
- Antivirus software
- Web browser
It’s absolutely true! Application web server collects; handles and also delivers web content to users from the Internet. Apache HTTP Server, otherwise known as Apache, is among the best and most popular web server applications as a result of its dependability and adaptability.
7. An employee sets up Apache HTTP Server. He types 127.0.0.1 in the browser to check that the content is there. What is the next step in the setup process?
- Set up DNS so the server can be accessed through the Internet. (CORRECT)
- Nothing. The web server is good to go.
- Assign a static IP address.
- Install CUPS.
Excellent! Before visiting a URL on the web, DNS (Domain Name System) should configure the connection. DNS transforms the user-friendly domain names, such as www.example.com, into IP addresses that can be understood by computers. Therefore, one can locate and subsequently access web content using the Internet.
8. HTTP status codes are codes or numbers that indicate some sort of error or info message that occurred when trying to access a web resource. When a website is having issues on the server side, what number does the HTTP status code start with?
- 4xx
- 6xx
- 2xx
- 5xx (CORRECT)
Outstanding work! Errors indicated via codes that begin with 5xx show some kind of trouble happening at the server end. These errors indicate that the web server, which is hosting the contents, has troubles, and most likely, the server administrators are handling the problem.
9. Let’s say that you’re the sole IT employee at your company. Your boss wants the company to migrate away from using the current, paid-for chat application and use something free, insead. What options could you use? Check all that apply.
- IRC (CORRECT)
- Open IM Chat applications, like Pidgin or Adium (CORRECT)
- Emails
- HTTP
Well done! For instance, companies today make a lot of use of free alternatives to chat, such as IRC and open-source IM applications.
10. Let’s say that you’re the sole IT employee at your company. Your boss wants the company to migrate away from using the current, paid-for chat application and use something free, insead. What options could you use? Check all that apply.
- IRC (CORRECT)
- Open IM Chat applications, like Pidgin or Adium (CORRECT)
- Emails
- HTTP
Wonderful! These days in business, free open chat alternatives such as IRC or open-source instant messaging are really popular.
11. Which email protocol is capable of sending emails?
- MX DNS
- IMAP
- SMTP (CORRECT)
- POP3
Well done! SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, is the sole email protocol responsible for sending emails.
12. HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP. Which statements are true about HTTPS and security protocols? Check all that apply.
- SSL is more secure than TLS.
- HTTPS can be secured with Transport Layer Security protocol (TLS). (CORRECT)
- An HTTPS connection is authenticated by getting a digital certificate of trust from an entity called a certificate authority. (CORRECT)
- HTTPS can be secured with Secure Socket Layer protocol, or TLS. (CORRECT)
Nice work! HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure is what HTTPS stands for; it can be secured either with SSL or TLS.
Well done! A certificate authority shall provide a certificate for your website that declares that you own the web server and certifies your identification. This document will then be downloaded so as to provid
13. Which of these is a valid method of managing printer services in a commercial environment?
- Managing multiple printers separately
- On a Windows server, enable Print and Document Services, and add printers (CORRECT)
- Using a cloud service provider to manage your printers through a web browser (CORRECT)
- On Linux, use CUPS to manage printing services (CORRECT)
Amazing! With Print and Document Services in Windows Server OS, you’ll add network printers and install their drivers.
Extremely good! In that also, you can manage the printers through a cloud service provider so that the management of printers can be done through a web browser.
Well done! Printer management made simple through CUPS by simply providing a URL for configuration.
14. Which statements are true about setting up a web server? Check all that apply.
- Apache is the most used web server on the Web. (CORRECT)
- Web content is stored on the server’s localhost. (CORRECT)
- DNS needs to be set up to allow outside access to the server via the Internet.
- Web server setup does not require DNS. (CORRECT)
Great! Apache is by now the most popular web server in the world.
Great! What you need to do is move to the localhost directory and upload your files to bring your own web content up.
Exactly! Because all the content is hosted on your local machine, you need to configure the DNS for the world to be able to access your web server!
15. Which of these are examples of database software? Check all that apply.
- Apache
- MySQL (CORRECT)
- CUPS
- PostgreSQL (CORRECT)
To you, well done! Existing popular databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL are widely used in application development, web development, and data analytics.
16. If you don’t want to set up your own dedicated hardware to use for network file storage, what are your other options?
- Use a cloud file storage provider. (CORRECT)
- Set up a NAS.
- Set up an HTTP server.
- Use a database server.
Excellent! File storage in the cloud is really a simple option for those who do not wish to handle their file storage services.
17. True or false: You can purchase a domain name localhost.
- True
- False (CORRECT)
“Localhost” is a reserved name that’s said to refer your local machine itself. Accessing the machine is easy and doesn’t require a network to do so.
18. What is the main function of a database system?
- Databases allow us to store, query, filter, and manage large amounts of data. (CORRECT)
- Databases store and retrieve files over a network.
- Databases are a way of securing communication between a web server and client.
- A database is a physical server that stores web files and the HTTP server software
The brilliant task! Customer information, such as news articles, videos, or more tightened documents, images, or audio are usually stored in a database: Databases are the safest and the most efficient means for managing large volumes of data.
19. You’re the sole IT employee at your company. Most of the computers in your fleet are Windows machines. Your boss wants you to set up a network file storage. What file service should you use?
- Samba server (CORRECT)
- NFS server
- HTTP server
- Database server
You’ve done a great job! NFS servers are great portable network storage solutions, but they don’t work too well with Windows. What most Windows users want instead is Samba, which is far more compatible with a Windows environment.”
20. Company B is setting up commercial printing services on their network. Which of these are advantages of centrally managed commercial printers? Check all that apply.
- It provides a central interface to collect diagnostic reports, such as low toner levels. (CORRECT)
- Printers can be managed one at a time.
- It allows the ability to deploy printer driver software so that your users can print from their computers. (CORRECT)
- Physically distant printers can be more easily managed. (CORRECT)
Fantastic work! In a commercial context, you typically have to work with commercial printers that can also be functional on the report diagnostic functions like low toner indication.
Awesome! It’s great to have printer driver software installed to give your users the ability to print from their computers without any complications.
Well done! Managing printers from a central location means you can control them regardless of their physical distance-very convenient!
21. Where does customer information, such as news articles, videos, large amounts of text, images, or audio files, generally get stored for web services?
- On a file transfer protocol (FTP) server
- On a database (CORRECT)
- On the local machine only
- On a web server
Excellent! Typical customer information, including articles, video files, large text files, images, and audio files is securely kept in a database for efficient management.