Class Project The purpose of this project is to gain familiarity and experience with a remotely-accessible services architecture running on the Linux platform. Web services are by far the

Columbus State Community College Information Systems Technology Department

CSCI 2790 – Linux Administration (Linux +) Class Project The purpose of this project is to gain familiarity and experience with a remotely-accessible services architecture running on the Linux platform. Web services are by far the most common type of service offered in this manner. Aside from web pages that we visit through our browsers, most connected mobile applications utilize a back-end web service as a means for commuinication. These services typically expose an API which allows applications to submit and request specific information. You may find yourself needing to deploy, assess, support or design a large web application. Whether your role involves support of the server directly, the network it resides on, or the security of the solution as a whole, understanding how the services work is pivotal. You will need to work independently to turn in this project, though collaboration with fellow students is permitted. We will have discussion time for this project alotted weekly after the midterm exam. You are responsible for ensuring the working arrangements for your project. You are responsible for the following:

• Creation of two virtual machines as outlined in the section below. o These machines will need to be used in the presentation.

• Creation of a research paper documenting your results. o Follow standard professional / collegiate writing guidelines. o Document sources for your research.

 Ensure the use of at least 10 unique sources within your paper. o Researched topics should include at least:

 Linux, web servers, databases, virtualization technologies, and CMS. o Include details about the technology used, available alternatives, and viability for

a corporate environment.  You should compare the technology used and at least two alternatives

within each category (Linux, web servers, databases, virtualization technologies, and CMS).

 This is the main research for your paper. Be sure to cover each of the five major categories in your paper along with a comparison of at least two additional technologies within each category (e.g. within the Web Server category, you could use Apache, nginx, and IIS and your three technologies to research, compare, and discuss).

o Your research paper should not be a copy of your presentation, and your presentation should not be a copy of your research paper.

• Creation of a presentation describing your solution and any unique challenges you discovered.

o Research each major component and determine:  Is it commonly used in production environments?  Is it considered to be suitable for enterprise use?

• If not, what is an alternative?  How many installations exist today (estimates are OK)?

You will be graded on each item listed and whether your systems are functional. You will not, however, be graded on the design or aesthetic of your WordPress website. Additional requirements can be found in the following section. If you have any questions, please reach out to your instructor for clarification.

Requirements Linux systems (60% grade):

• Create two Linux systems running the distribution of your choice. • The two systems will need to be able to communicate on a network

o You may create both systems in a virtual environment on the same physical host. • On both servers:

o Install the OS using the best practices discussed, including users, passwords, timezone, etc.  Do not use a simple password as we have seen in lab.

o Ensure both systems are configured to not automatically update. o Ensure both systems are configured to have a static IP address, and that the

interface is started on boot. • On server A:

o Install the MySQL database software.  Take note of the administrative username and password.  Be sure to use a secure password.

o Ensure the MySQL software is configured to start automatically on boot. o Create a database as described under the Using the MySQL Client heading of

this web page:  https://wordpress.org/support/article/creating-database-for-wordpress/

• On server B: o Install the Apache web server software. o Install / enable the PHP module for Apache o Download the lastest WordPress installation bundle from

http://www.wordpress.org and extract it to the base directory for the Apache web server.

o Perform the configuration of the WordPress software.  You may want to use the installation document from WordPress as a

guide. • https://wordpress.org/support/article/how-to-install-wordpress/

 Keep in mind that the guide provided by WordPress assumes that all components are installed on the same server. Your solution has the database component on a new server, and will require some alterations to the step-by-step guide. It is up to you to determine what these alterations are based on the project requirements and skills learned in this course.

Presentation (10% grade): • Make use of a slide deck (PowerPoint or any viable alternative) • Speak to your slides, do not read from them.

o Your presentation material should not be verbose. • Describe the problem you set out to solve, then talk about the solution and the individual

components. o Be sure to talk to the reasons these specific components were chosen, and whether

they would be a good choice for a larger organization. • At the end of your presentation, be prepared to show your virtual environment in a

working state. You are graded on having a working environment. Research Paper (30% grade):

• Use professional / collegiate writing standards. • Cite all sources, and be sure to include at least 10 unique examples. • Include at least 3 original graphics to illustrate the technology and/or solutions you

derived o Do not include your slides from the presentation.

• Be sure to outline the scenario for the project, speak to the solution, and compare / contrast the various components and their alternatives.

o Be descriptive. Explain distinct advantages of one choice over another. o Describe why one choice may or may not be a good solution for a large

organization. • Be sure to capture each technology and at least two alternatives from each technology

group (Linux, web servers, databases, virtualization technologies, and CMS). • Many of the choices were made for you in terms of the technology being implemented

(as there is only a limit number of components which are supported by WordPress). Would you recommend WordPress as a platform for businesses to use for their content management systems?

o Why or why not? Defend this point in your paper.  If so, why does this solution stand out from the alternatives?  If not, what makes a particular alternative more viable?