INF4015NSA – Systems Automation and Scripting
Course description
Course content
This course will cover the most common forms of automating tasks in an operating system and service. The student will get a deep familiarity with the Linux command line and how they are leveraged together with scripting languages to build robust and effective tools that support the system administrator. The same concepts are also applied to other operating systems in order to provide a perspective on automating the same task in a heterogeneous environment.
Learning outcome
The student should have the following outcomes upon completing the course:
Knowledge
Upon successful completion of the course, the student should:
- have a deep understanding of how scripting is utilised to automate common tasks such as inventory population and large-scale user management
- have advanced knowledge of scripting strategies that allow their scripts to be robust against unforeseen failures and erroneous user input
- have an advanced knowledge of the command line interface in the Linux operating system
- have a deep knowledge of the command line interface in the Windows operating system
Skills
Upon successful completion of the course, the student:
- can design and implement script-based tools for the Linux and Windows command line
- can evaluate and discuss how scripting may or may not facilitate system automation
- can explain and discuss how system automation forms a part of system administration best practices
- can apply systems automation techniques to new areas in system administration
General competence
Upon successful completion of the course, the student:
- can analyse automation approaches with regard to robustness and in relation to their intended tasks
- can explain how systems automation and scripting is used to facilitate modern operating systems and general management tasks to a technical audience as well as non-technical IT professionals
Admission
Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
This course is primarily for students enrolled in the Master programme Network and System Administration. Students outside of this programme who are interested in taking this course can be admitted if there are available places. This course has 25 places.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
10 credit overlap with MS015A Systems Automation and Scripting from OsloMet—Oslo Metropolitan University.
Teaching
This course have weekly lectures and lab work to provide both theoretical and hands-on content. Students will work in groups and complete assignments given to them. The student will supplement the lectures and lab with their own reading. 9 out of 12 compulsory assignments have to be satisfactory completed in order to qualify for the exam. Rules for mandatory assignments The lectures is given at OsloMet—Oslo Metropolitan University.
Examination
3 hours written exam, Mandatory assignments must be passed prior to the exam
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.