Web server management, performance and tuning
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This twelve-week course is the sixth and final module of the Certificate in Web Applications Development. A web server is the key to dynamic and responsive applications, so it’s essential to monitor its performance and tune its configuration. Server configuration is also critical to application security through the use of access controls and security protocols. This course explores the role of server administration and its contribution to planning, deployment, and management of a web application. It introduces tools and techniques to assist with capacity planning, monitoring of workloads, identification of performance bottlenecks, and security failures. You’ll also learn about the role of routers, firewalls, and proxy servers in building network architectures.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | TT382 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
This course requires that you have a good understanding of the role of the web server in the application development process, such as that provided by The server-side of application development (TT282) (now discontinued), together with a range of techniques used for authorisation and authentication, as provided by Databases within website design (TT380). You should also be familiar with using a command line interface to execute and control services.
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- explain the role of web server administration in relation to application security, and describe the use of firewalls and proxy servers, access controls and permissions, and application performance monitoring
- describe the goals of capacity planning and utilise it to assess system requirements at the planning stage of development
- explain the range of tests employed during the life of an application and use appropriate tools to ‘stress test’ a single web server
- discuss a goals of performance monitoring of a web server
- analyse and interpret activity logs and reports and utilise them for troubleshooting and tuning
- assess the requirements for and applicability of digital certificates to specific types of application
- combine these concepts, skills, and strategies into an overall application deployment plan.
The course includes an online forum where you can ask for help and advice. Please note that the teaching material and assignments for this course are available from the website three weeks before you need them. Therefore, if your circumstances do not allow you to study over the whole 12 weeks please consider carefully before registering for this course.
Visit the dedicated website to learn more about the details of the Certificate in Web Applications Development.
Entry
The course will appeal to a wide variety of people, for example:
- those who have already taken Web basics: design, development and management (TT280), The client side of application development (TT281), The server-side of application development (TT282) (now discontinued), Databases within website design (TT380), and Open source development tools (TT381), or:
- those who have some experience of configuration, administration, and performance tuning of a web server and a good understanding of all the web application tools and protocols covered by the other modules in the Certificate (for information see the individual course descriptions).
Although you are not prevented from registering for TT382 without any previous experience, we would not recommend this as you will need to have an understanding of the technicalities of the related subject area. We therefore strongly recommend that you complete the preceding five modules (TT280, TT281, TT282, TT380, TT381) in the Certificate before starting this one. A student who fulfils the entry requirements should expect to devote 10 hours’ study per week. Students with less experience will need more time.
TT382 is a Level 3 course and as such places certain academic requirements on you. For example, you will need to be able to complete a 3000-word report at the end of the course and construct arguments in support of critical judgements, with minimal help or advice. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service. We strongly advise against studying two or more courses at the same time.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course requires extensive use of the internet and electronic communications. If you use special hardware or software you must find out whether it will work with the course software, well before the course begins. The study materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Access to the website and Web Certificate DVD-ROM containing specialist software and multiple web browsers. In addition you will have access to a single national forum via your website.
You will need
You should be prepared to spend significant amounts of time online (at least three hours a week). This may mean extra charges to your telephone bill unless you have a package which provides unlimited access to the internet.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities and course software provided on DVD – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 or an Apple Mac (OS X 10.4 or later) or Linux computer, it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Study support
The course is taught entirely online. You will not have an individual tutor, but you can use the online forum to ask for help and advice about any aspect of the course. The forum will be moderated by experienced tutors.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your computer-marked assignments (CMAs). The end-of-module assessment (EMA) is also submitted online.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May 2012 when it will be available for the last time. A replacement course is not planned.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | TT382 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
For me personally, this was one of those courses you do just to complete a block of study. The topics ...
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I found the course vaguely useful, but I have severe doubts about the assessment criteria. In the ECA report we ...
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