Web Server deployment: Challenges in Developing Countries Presented By Mohammed Bashir Sani Directorate of Information

1. Web Server deployment: Challenges in Developing Countries Presented By Mohammed Bashir Sani Directorate of Information and Communication Technology Umaru Musa Yar’adua University Katsina Nigeria At the 2nd Open Access Workshop at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 2nd – 4th November, 2009 mbsani@umyu.edu.ng

2. What is a Server? • a computer that stores information that can be accessed by many users • It runs a special software to make its contents viewable to users • may provide one or more services on an intra/extra network

3. What is a web server? (1) • a computer connected to the Internet that makes web pages available to the world. • any server that implements HTTP can be classified as a web server

4. What is a web server? (2) • a program that runs on a host computer (also, confusingly enough, called a web server) that serves up web pages • (the program accepts requests from visitors' web browsers for objects (HTML documents, plain text, images, sounds, video, and other forms of data) resident on the sever, and then sends these objects back for the visitor's viewing pleasure)

5. Web server- General Process • Accept connection from the client • Parse the request • Send the request to the "request processor" • Processor processes the request • Convert data into a format the client can render (if possible). • Send response to client.

6. Client-Server scenario

7. Web Server ….(History) • Earlier versions of web servers supported only HTML and images • Current versions do much more..  • dynamic content generation • hosting web applications • authentication • Secure Socket Layer Support • etc.

8. Web Server :Characteristics • various specifications (? needs) • run under a variety of operating systems • (licensed/open source) • have varying levels of power and complexity, (e.g. webhosting,e-mail and FTP ) • range in price ($$$, - $0!)

9. Web Server: Typical propertiesEvery Web server has1. an IP addressthe IP (Internet Protocol) address looks something like this: 69.93.141.1462. possibly a domain nameso that other computers connected to the internet know how to find it the IP address maps to a more human friendly address, such as; www.mysite.com

10. Why deploy a Web Server? • visibility • branding • community • share resources/info. • collaborate • trend • etc…

11. Web Server : the ups! The choice of which software powers your Web site or intranet can make as big a difference: • performance • reliability • security • interface (with legacy technology) • meeting needs • resilience

12. Web Server: the downs! • instability • numerous maintenance tasks • lack of options • distraction from organization‘s core mission

13. Web Server: key elements • Operating System • Unix/Linux • Windows • MacOs • Security (alerts, patches, upgrades…) • Scalability (site growth….) • Support (Help!) • Cost ($K, N0 !)

15. Web Server DeploymentThe Challenges in Developing Countries

16. Deployment : issues - 1 • T e c h n i c a l • Planning • goal(s) ;service delivery • budget • specifications • hosting (Onshore/Offshore) • personnel • support

17. Deployment: issues 2 • M a n a g e m e n t • buy-in • funding/budget • monitoring • sustenance

18. Deployment ; issues – 3 • Local Infrastructure • Data Centre • Network Centre • Digital Centre • E-Library • Wired connectivity • Wireless connectivity

19. Deployment; issues - 4 • Domain; Awareness • Registration • Agency • Registrar • Name; what? • TLD; which? (.com; net; org; gov; edu….)

20. Deployment : issues - 5 • Going Live!!!! • Power supply ; choice • National Grid • UPS • Inverter • AES (alternative energy sources) • Generator • ?= 99.99999% uptime?!!!

21. Deployment ; issues – 6 • Local Asset • user community • content dissemination • feedback • stakeholder participation • …………

22. Deployment; issues - 7 • Web Hosting;self /outsourced • benefits (objective(s)) • advantages(uptime, audience….) • disadvantages ( $$, business, audience)

23. Deployment; issues -8

24. Deployment; issues - 9

25. Deployment; issues - 8 • Internet Service Provider; • reliability; • choice; • transparency • support…..

26. Deployment; issues - 9 • Network management • user management • services • traffic ;(sanitisation…..) • optimisation

27. Deployment; issues - 10 • Security • Installing a high-quality deadbolt lock on the door of your house won't do much good if you leave the key right under the mat. • exploits/vulnerabilities • safeguard corporate data/resources

28. Deployment; issues -11a • web security Tips • Practice good password habits • Don't run unnecessary services or interpreters • Subscribe to your server vendor's security alert list.  • Or at least monitor vendor’s Web site regularly for patches (and apply them immediately)

29. Deployment; issues -11b • Web security Tips • adopt regular network scan • monitor your logs • observe strict OS user permission mechanism • segregate public and private data • be careful with your server configuration • check programs for security holes

30. Food for thought on ICT

31. in Education teaching methodology in some of the leading universities is also changing. This involves a shift in the teaching methodology from teacher-centered learning to student-centered learning.

32. in the future ICT will change everything as it is starting to do in developed countries. We are witnessing the rise of a new global digital medium that will be the single most important global driver of business, economic, and social change in the 21st century.

33. Thank you for listening