Routine maintenance

1. Routine maintenance Unit objectives • Discuss the necessity of applying software patches and fixes • Discuss viruses and anti-virus strategy

2. Topic A • Topic A: Keeping NOS software up to date • Topic B: Virus protection

3. Support packs and service packs • Guidelines: • Make a backup of your system before using the service pack • Upgrade your system only when the service pack’s updates apply • Make sure you have the service pack that applies to your hardware, especially if a vendor-specific version is needed

4. Hot fixes and patches • Released to fix one specific problem • Designed to take care of a specific problem on a specific application • Included in a support pack or service pack release

5. Updating a device driver • Launch the Device Manager • Right-click the device and select Properties • Select the Driver tab • Click Update Driver • Specify whether you want to update the driver automatically or from a list or specific location • Click Next and then follow the prompts to install the new driver. If a newer driver is not found, the wizard informs you that you already have the most updated driver

6. Application updates • Fixed by patches • Visit the manufacturers’ Web sites regularly to check for product updates and fixes • Common application Web sites include: • www.novell.com • www.microsoft.com • www.adobe.com • www.symantec.com • www.lotus.com

7. Activity A-1 Discussing software patches and updates

8. Routine maintenance • Topic A: Keeping NOS software up to date • Topic B: Virus protection

9. Virus protection • Computer viruses • Can spread easily across a network • Might infect every node on the network

10. Viruses • Software programs that have the ability to reproduce by modifying other programs or duplicating themselves • Types of viruses: • Program • Boot • Multipartite • Specialized

11. Specialized viruses • Use the macro language of the specific application to spread • Also known as macro viruses • Include: • Word macro viruses • Excel macro viruses • CMOS virus

12. Activity B-1 Discussing viruses

13. Virus protection • Involves the following measures: • Avoiding infection • Keeping viruses from spreading

14. Anti-virus programs • Programs that can be run periodically to check for viral infection • Include: • Symantec’s Norton Anti-Virus • Network Associates’ McAfee Anti-Virus • Computer Associates’ eTrust

15. Virus recovery • Has to be tailored according to the virus type: • Boot sector • Executable files • FAT or directory tables

16. Anti-virus software on the network • An important element of a comprehensive security program • Includes a variety of safety measures such as: • Regular backup schedules • Meaningful password protection • Training • Awareness

17. E-mail protection • E-mail protection program: • Included in most anti-virus software suites • Integrates itself with the e-mail system on the network by scanning incoming mail and attachments • Stops viruses before they enter your network

18. Updating virus signatures • Accomplished by configuring the anti-virus software to retrieve and install the updates from the manufacturer’s Web site automatically • Can also be done manually by logging in to the Web site and downloading the latest updates to the anti-virus package you’re using

19. Activity B-2 Discussing virus protection

20. Unit summary • Discussed the necessity of applying support packs and service packs • Discussed viruses and anti-virus strategies