Long Title:Computing Infrastructure
Language of Instruction:English
Module Code:H8CINF
Credits: 5
NFQ Level:LEVEL 8
Field of Study: Software and applications development and analysis
Module Delivered in 1 programme(s)
Module Coordinator: Vikas Sahni
Module editor: Vikas Sahni
Teaching and Learning Strategy: The learning strategy involves the use of lectures, tutorials and practical work as appropriate. Lectures will include active learning components such as discussions, demonstrations, problem solving and feedback sessions. Practical sessions will comprise of PBL, group work, and individual self-directed learning. Learners will also have access to web based support. This module is suitable for blended delivery. Techniques such as online videos showing step by step instructions, links to extra material available on the Internet, lecture notes available online on Moodle, Moodle lesson, social media may be used. Learners may also use collaborative tools for the development of the project. The continuous assessment can be done though online moodle quiz and the practical work submitted online on Moodle. This module is suitable for blended delivery. Techniques such as online videos showing step by step instructions, links to extra material available on the Internet, lecture notes available online on Moodle, Moodle lesson, social media may be used. Learners may also use collaborative tools for the development of the project. The continuous assessment can be done though online moodle quiz and the practical work submitted online on Moodle.
Learning Environment: Learning will take place in workplace environment (company) with access to IT resources. Learners will have access to NCI library resources, both physical & electronic and to an academic supervisor where required.
Module Description: The module aims to enable learners to describe the strategic and operational aspects of provisioning, implementing and managing cloud based infrastructural components. The module will enable learners to configure and implement secure infrastructure environments.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
LO1 Examine architectures for implementation of cloud infrastructure solutions.
LO2 Configure and manage infrastructure resources to support cloud computing deployment models.
LO3 Appraise the availability, scalability, reliability and energy efficiency of cloud infrastructure solutions.
LO4 Evaluate, configure and manage the security of infrastructure resources.
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is required before enrolment on this module. While the prior learning is expressed as named NCI module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
Architecture of Infrastructural Components – 20%
• Describe infrastructure architectural models • Implementation of cloud architectures in the data-centre • Public, Private and Hybrid Cloud Deployment
Infrastructure Management – 30%
• Identification of physical server, networking and storage in terms of requirements, configuration and management • Identification of hardware requirements to support virtual server, networking and storage • Describe strategies for operating in an energy efficient manner • Investigate deployment of applications onto cloud based platforms. • Describe capacity management strategies for infrastructure resources • Analyse control & monitoring metrics in a dynamic infrastructure • Frameworks for Infrastructure Operations Management (e.g. ITIL, MOF etc.)
Security Management – 15%
• Classify server and Networks related security topics • Implementation of User & Group authentication and authorisation policies
High Availability, Reliability and Scalability Management – 10%
• Assess failure detection mechanisms and resolution strategies • Assess distributed resource management & load-balancing solutions • Vertical and horizontal scaling of resources
Backup and Restore – 10%
• Backup approaches and procedures • Data Retention policies • Procedures and processes for restoring Data
Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Recovery – 15%
• The Business Continuity Planning Cycle • Disaster Recovery – goals and strategies
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework70.00%
End of Module Assessment30.00%

Full Time

Coursework
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Continuous Assessment (0200) Continuous Assessments. The following is a sample of one of the assessments (CA 10%): Configure an OpenStack Compute cloud fabric controller that has been set-up to use the Xen hypervisor in conjunction with the OpenStack Compute instance. The following tasks must be completed: 1)Configuring Logging 2)Configuring Hypervisor 3)Configuring Authentication and Authorization 4)Validating that the configuration has been successfully implemented through execution of a series of tests. 1,2,3,4 70.00 n/a
End of Module Assessment
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Terminal Exam End-of-Semester Final Examination 1,2,3,4 30.00 End-of-Semester
No Workplace Assessment
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.
Reassessment Description
Learners will be afforded an opportunity to repeat the final examination and all learning outcomes will be assessed in the repeat sitting.

NCIRL reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Workload Description Hours Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture No Description 2 Every Week 2.00
Tutorial No Description 1 Every Week 1.00
Independent Learning Time No Description 7.5 Every Week 7.50
Total Hours 10.50
Total Weekly Learner Workload 10.50
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Workload Description Hours Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture No Description 24 Every Week 24.00
Tutorial No Description 12 Every Week 12.00
Independent Learning Time No Description 89 Every Week 89.00
Total Hours 125.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 125.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 36.00
 

Module Resources

Recommended Book Resources
  • Enrique Castro-Leon et al 2011, Creating the Infrastructure for Cloud Computing, An Essential Handbook for IT Professionals, Intel Press
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Sjaak Laan 2013, IT Infrastructure Architecture - Infrastructure Building Blocks and Concepts, Second Edition Ed., Lulu Press Inc [ISBN: 9781291250794]
  • Venkata Josyula 2011, Cloud Computing: Automating the Virtualized Data Center, Cisco Press
This module does not have any article/paper resources
This module does not have any other resources
 

Module Delivered in

Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
BSHC BSc (Honours) in Computing 8 Optional