Officers employed by telecommunications companies and IT networking provisioning companies who carry out installation, maintenance and upgrade of ICT networks apply the skills and knowledge in this unit when working on:

server installation, configuration and testing in field work

server operating systems, protocols and diagnostics required for integrating new and converging functionalities to the network.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare to install a server

1.1. Prepare for work in line with site specific safety requirements and enterprise occupational health and safety (OHS) processes and procedures

1.2. Notify customer to arrange access to site

1.3. Obtain server applications and features from appropriate person

1.4. Choose the most suitable server with reference to required server application and server features

1.5. Choose the most suitable network operating system features with reference to required server solution and technical requirements

1.6. Provide alternative server solutions with reference to required server application and server features

1.7. Review required installation options

1.8. Analyse data migration requirements

1.9. Apply backup and recovery requirements with reference to organisational policy

1.10. Analyse education and training requirements for support staff and in line with client, requirements and relevant enterprise policies

1.11. Create and document a deployment plan

1.12. Advise user group of deployment and potential down times

2. Install and configure the server

2.1. Backup and restore local data in preparation for installation

2.2. Install and configure the server as required by technical requirements and functional specifications

2.3. Install and undertake configuration activities using relevant operating system and application upgrades

2.4. Reconnect and reconfigure relevant connectivity devices

3. Test the server and reconfigure the network

3.1. Run the system testing for benchmarking against client specification and requirements according to test plan, and record outcomes

3.2. Analyse the error report and make changes as required

3.3. Test required changes or additions

3.4. Validate changes or additions against specifications

4. Complete documentation and clean up work site

4.1. Make and document server configuration and operational changes

4.2. Tabulate test results and complete all documentations for users

4.3. Complete client report and notify of status of the network

4.4. Clean up and restore worksite to client's satisfaction

4.5. Secure sign-off from appropriate person

Required skills

communication skills to liaise with internal and external personnel on technical, operational and business related matters

literacy skills to interpret technical documentation and write reports in required formats

numeracy skills to take test measurements, interpret results and evaluate performance and interoperability of network

planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work

problem solving and contingency management skills to adapt configuration procedures to requirements of network and reconfigure depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

research skills to interrogate vendor databases and websites to implement different configuration requirements to meet security levels

technical skills to select and use server diagnostic test, application software and hardware to suit different network applications

Required knowledge

Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics

common network:

cable types and connectors

topologies

compatibility issues and resolution procedures

desktop applications and operating systems as required

documentation skills for networks

enterprise communication/training systems in relation to training and advising staff involved in the deployment

features of:

current network operating systems (NOS)

current server applications compatibility issues and resolution procedures

implementation and configuration of servers

system backup procedures

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

analyse server and network operational issues

apply user applications and relate user needs when configuring a server

create technical and user documentation

install and configure server

test server and reconfigure network

troubleshoot server and network failures.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

site where server installation may be conducted

relevant server specifications:

cabling

networked (LAN) computers

server diagnostic software

switch

technical requirements for a network

WAN service point of presence

workstations

relevant regulatory documentation that impacts on installation activities.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct observation of the candidate installing or updating network

oral or written questioning of required skills and knowledge

evaluation of report prepared by the candidate outlining testing procedures, test results and recommendation to network changes.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

ICTTEN4198A Install, configure and test an internet protocol network.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Server applications may include:

database and data warehousing

directory services

file sharing

line of business applications

management

messaging

network and remote access

printer sharing

terminal services

web services.

Appropriate person may include:

authorised business representative

client

IT support manager

network administrator

network manager

small or medium enterprise (SME) customer

small office home office (SOHO) customer

supervisor.

Server may include:

application or web servers

BEA Weblogic servers

email servers

file and print servers

firewall servers

FTP servers

IBM VisualAge and WebSphere

Novell NDS servers

proxy or cache servers.

Network operating system may include latest versions of:

Apple OS

Linux OS

Unix OS

Windows OS.

Requirements may be in reference to:

business

database

network

people in the organisation

platform

system.

Client may include:

external organisations

individuals

internal departments

internal employees.

User may include:

department within the organisation

person within a department

third party.

System may include:

application service provider

applications

databases

gateways

internet service provider (ISP)

operating systems

servers.

Configuration may include:

access control needs

cache sizes

consumers and suppliers

database cache

directory configuration

domain name system (DNS)

entry cache

hostnames

IP addresses

large objects

lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) clients

log file rotation

NetBIOS naming

network connectivity issues

port numbers

root domain name (DN)

search and write performance

server domains.

Unit sector

Telecommunications

Telecommunications networks engineering

This unit contains employability skills.