View source for User:Chris Tyler/OPS235 Updates

{{Chris Tyler Draft}}

= Intro =

:*OPS235 is due for another update, to Fedora 16 + current practices. This page is a scratchpad for recording proposed changes for implementation in Winter 2012.

= Course Structure =

:*Brian has proposed a number of changes to the course structure. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Mercury is down so I can't check them, but IIRC:
:*Murray has added comments in the "discussion section" with feedback and suggestions from Chris. Murray will tend to add comments (date/timestamp) at bottom of discussion page..

== Tests ==

:*Drop written test #2. OK by Murray.

== Assignments ==

:*Use one larger assignment. Murray likes two stages with related assignments (as opposed to two SEPARATE assignments - reduces marking - less complex)

== Labs ==

:*Drop lab #1. Murray likes lab1, but he sees that it (or parts of it) may fit better in a later lab (like lab #5).

= Course Content =

== Anaconda Changes ==

:*The Anaconda UI has changed, especially for storage configuration.

== SysVInit -> Systemd ==

Systemd has replaced the sysvinit system. Since systemd has been accepted by other distros, we should teach it as the primary init system. However, we should touch on the POSIX/sysvinit tools as well because they're still common in the wild.

* Add:
** systemctl
** unit files
** service levels
* Reduce:
** chkconfig
** service
* Discuss:
** Bind mounts (ugly mount table)
'''
msaul:''' Which lab would SysVInit -> Systemd  affect?

== ext4 ==

:*Use ext4 as the standard filesystem. Add some discussion of btrfs.

== Interface Names ==

:*Interfaces are now named according to BIOS/EFI device labels. This is important for server-class systems which are rackmounted. In the past, "eth0", "eth1", "eth2" were hard to line up with back-panel connectors; now, if the BIOS/EFI says that the ports are labelled "network-A", "network-B", and "network-C", that's what the interface names are. If there are no names in the BIOS/EFI, embedded ports come up as emX and PCI ports come up as pXpN (PCI slot X port N).

== Loopback Mount Option ==

:*No longer required -- loopback is assumed if the mount source is not a block device.

== netstat ==

:*Command is obsolete according to the documentation. Change coverage to the 'ip' command.

== git ==

:*Add coverage of the ''git'' version-control system.

msaul: '''would this be placed in lab5?'''

== sudo and the 'wheel' group ==

:*The 'wheel' (admin) group is enabled by default in F15+, and Anaconda provides a checkbox to add users to this group. Users in this group can execute commands as root using their regular account and password.

:*We should teach the use of sudo alongside su.

= Course Page Layout =

== Refactor Web Pages ==


Students are doing the labs without, in some cases, really understanding what they're supposed to be understanding from the lab. Proposed structure:

# Challenge - outline the task that needs to be performed
# Background - background information for the task
# Resources - links to resources related to the task
# Before You Begin - preparation and warnings before starting
# Steps - how to perform the task
# Debugging - debugging guidelines for this type of task (e.g., for network connectivity issues, guide through "IP, routing, nameservice" debugging)
# Observations - things which the student should note or think through
# Submitting the Lab - how to get the lab marked -- '''Question:''' Should this be based more on the Observations and less on the Steps section above?
# Preparing for the Quizzes - additional questions to be answered

== Use graphics more extensively ==

* Create some templates for graphics for sections and notes
* Break the page up visually so that it's not one massive bunch'o'scrolling