Οι ενσωματωμένες συσκευές αποτελούν μια κατηγόρια υπολογιστών ειδικού σκοπού με ραγδαία αύξηση τα τελευταία χρόνια. Σε αντίθεση με τους γνωστούς σε όλους υπολογιστές γενικού σκοπού που μπορούν να επιτελέσουν σχεδόν οποιαδήποτε λειτουργία, οι ενσωματωμένες συσκευές επιτελούν μόνο συγκεκριμένες λειτουργίες, οι οποίες είναι προκαθορισμένες κατά τον σχεδιασμό τους. Η διαχείριση τέτοιων και μη συσκευών αποτελεί ένα τεράστιο κεφάλαιο αφού η διαφορετικότητα των λειτουργιών τους, δημιουργεί ένα διαφορετικό τρόπο αντιμετώπισης τους κατά την πρακτική της διαχείρισης. Υπάρχει περιορισμός στα διαθέσιμα εργαλεία για την διαχείριση όλων των ενσωματωμένων συστημάτων με ένα εργαλείο, αλλά η ερεύνα μας επικεντρώνεται στη διαχείριση οικογενειών τέτοιων συσκευών με κριτήριο τη λειτουργία του ειδικού σκοπού που επιτελούν. Σκοπός λοιπόν της εργασίας είναι ο σχεδιασμός και η ανάπτυξη λογισμικού για την ομαδική διαχείριση οικογένειας ενσωματωμένων συσκευών και κοινών υπολογιστών γενικού σκοπού οπουδήποτε λειτουργικού συστήματος. Η συνεισφορά της υπάρχουσας εργασίας συνοψίζεται στις εξής συνιστώσες: 1. Οι ενσωματωμένες συσκευές στις οποίες επικεντρωθήκαμε αφορούν δικτυακές συσκευές (ασύρματες ή ενσύρματες) πολλών λειτουργιών (Access Points, Clients, Repeaters,Points to Points, WDS, Transparent Clients, Routers). 2. Το λογισμικό για υπολογιστές ειδικού σκοπού που δημιουργήθηκε μπορεί να εκτελεστεί τόσο σε λειτουργικά συστήματα MS Windows όσο και σε *ΝΙΧ. 3. Η ανάπτυξη του λογισμικού έγινε βάση του συστήματος ORSM, το οποίο είναι ένα εργαλείο ανοικτού κώδικα για την απομακρυσμένη διαχείριση συστημάτων και δικτύων. (Με αστερίσκο * τόσο στα περιεχόμενα όσο και στο κύριο μέρος της εργασίας δείχνουμε τις δυνατότητες του νέου λογισμικού σε σχέση με το σύστημα ORSM). Συνοπτικά οι δυνατότητες διαχείρισης αφορά τις παρακάτω λειτουργίες: • Ανακάλυψη περιουσιακών στοιχείων (Inventory Process). • Παρακολούθηση απόδοσης συστημάτων (Monitoring). • Εγκατάσταση και απεγκατάσταση λογισμικού (Software Deployment). • Απομακρυσμένο έλεγχο (Remote Desktop). • Εκτέλεση εντολών κελύφους (Remote Command). / An embedded system is a special-purpose computer system designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions, often with real-time computing constraints. It is usually embedded as a part of a complete device including hardware and mechanical parts. In contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal computer, can do many different tasks depending on programming. Embedded systems control many of the common devices in use today. Managing infrastructure with such devices (embedded and general purpose computers) is usually demanding and expensive but nevertheless essential for organizations. There is a limit in tools which achieve effective management to those infrastructure topologies. At present, open management solutions are few and immature however there are tools such as OpenRSM aiming to deliver lightweight, remote and customizable management, easily customizable to cover the needs of small organizations. OpenRSM implements a generic management framework that models generalized use cases that can be exploited by users to adapt the tool to their needs. However, given maturity of the tool, it is unclear how easy it would be for users to extend it in order to include management of new types of devices. As network environments grow to digital ecosystems, the management targets increase in number and diversity. Wireless active elements, handheld systems or embedded devices are becoming common and need to be brought under standard management practices in the same manner as routers or workstations. This paper describes how the OpenRSM management functionality can be extended in order to provide customizable management of embedded devices and more specifically of wireless access points (the symbol * shows the new extension of ORSM). In general the management capabilities which are embed to OPENRSM system and target to wireless active elements are: (Inventory process, monitoring, firmware upgrade, save/reload configuration settings, remote commands, and discovery process).

This research conceptualises IT infrastructure management at secondary schools in the WCED (Western Cape Education Department). This includes whether or not secondary schools in the WCED make use of a full time, on-site network administrator or whether a teacher acts as on-site network administrator. The literature review studied the effectiveness of IT infrastructure management which includes hardware, software, policies, computer network, security; staff management and BYOD (bring your own device). The management of IT infrastructure at secondary schools within the WCED differs widely from school to school, and its functionality depends on many factors. The quantitative study revealed problem areas within IT infrastructure management at secondary schools in the WCED. Furthermore the quantitative study also revealed that there is a need for best practice guidelines with regards to IT infrastructure management in order to improve service delivery. The literature review provided sources for best practice IT infrastructure management. / Rekenaar infrastruktuur by sekondere skole in die WKOD (Wes Kaapse Onderwys Departement) word in die navorsing beskryf. Die studie ondersoek verskillende strukture naamlike skole wat 'n voltydse netwerk administrateur het en skole waar 'n onderwyser die verantwoordelikheid aanneem van 'n netwerk administrateur. Die effektiewe beheer van rekenaar infrastrukture word bespreek. Dit sluit hardeware, sagteware, beleid formulasie, rekenaar netwerk, sekuriteit, personeel bestuur, en BYOD (bring jou eie toestel). Die bestuur van rekenaar infrastruktuur verskil van skool tot skool en die effektiewe bestuur daarvan word deur baie faktore beinvloed. Die kwantitatiewe studie het probleem areas vir die bestuur van rekenaar infrastruktuur by sekondere skole in die WKOD uitgewys. Die kwantitatiewe studie het verder die behoefte vir beste praktyk riglyne uitgewys om sodoende better dienslewering te verseker. Die literere studie het beste praktyk riglyne vir rekenaar infrastruktuur bestuur genoem. / Educational Leadership and Management

Infrastructure is presenting significant national and global challenges. Whilst often seen as performing well, infrastructure tends to do so against only limited terms of reference and short-term objectives. Given that the world is facing a new infrastructure bill of ~£40T, improving the benefits delivered by existing infrastructure is vital (Dobbs et al., 2013). This thesis investigates strategic intent and the management of infrastructure systems; how factors such as organisational structure and business practice affect outcomes and the ways in which those systems — not projects — are managed. To date, performance has largely been approached from the perspective of project investment and/or delivery, or the assessment of latent failures arising from specific shocks or disruptive events (e.g. natural disaster, infrastructure failures, climate change). By contrast, the delivery of system-level services and outcomes across the infrastructure system has been rarely examined. This is where infrastructure forms an enduring system of services, assets, projects, and networks each at different stages of their lifecycle, and affecting one another as they develop, then age. Yet system performance, which also includes societal, organisational, administrative and technical factors, is arguably the level relevant to, and the reality of, day-to-day public infrastructure management. This research firstly investigated industry perceptions in order to test and confirm the problem: the nub of which was the inability to fully deliver appropriate and relevant infrastructure outcomes over the long term. Three detailed studies then explored the reasons for this problem through different lenses; thereby providing an evidence-base for a range of issues that are shared by the wider infrastructure industry. In confirming its hypothesis that “the strategic intent and the day-to-day management of infrastructure systems are often misaligned, with negative consequences for achieving the desired long-term infrastructure system outcomes”, this research has increased our understanding of the ways in which that misalignment occurs, and the consequences that result. It found those consequences were material, and frequently not visible within the sub-system accountable for the delivery of those outcomes. That public infrastructure exists, not in its own right, but to be of benefit to society, is a central theme drawn from the definition of infrastructure itself. This research shows that it is not enough to be focused on technical outcomes. Infrastructure needs to move beyond how society interacts with an asset, to the outcomes that reflect the needs, beliefs, and choices of society as well as its ability to respond to change (aptitude). Although the research has confirmed its hypothesis and three supporting propositions, the research does not purport to offer ‘the solution’. Single solutions do not exist to address the challenges facing a complex adaptive system such as infrastructure. But the research does offer several system-oriented sense-making models at both the detailed and system-level. This includes the probing methodology by way of a diagnostic roadmap. These models aim to assist practitioners in managing the transition of projects, assets, and services into a wider infrastructure system, their potential, and in (re)orienting the organisation to the dynamic nature of the system and its societal imperative.

This research conceptualises IT infrastructure management at secondary schools in the WCED (Western Cape Education Department). This includes whether or not secondary schools in the WCED make use of a full time, on-site network administrator or whether a teacher acts as on-site network administrator. The literature review studied the effectiveness of IT infrastructure management which includes hardware, software, policies, computer network, security; staff management and BYOD (bring your own device). The management of IT infrastructure at secondary schools within the WCED differs widely from school to school, and its functionality depends on many factors. The quantitative study revealed problem areas within IT infrastructure management at secondary schools in the WCED. Furthermore the quantitative study also revealed that there is a need for best practice guidelines with regards to IT infrastructure management in order to improve service delivery. The literature review provided sources for best practice IT infrastructure management. / Rekenaar infrastruktuur by sekondere skole in die WKOD (Wes Kaapse Onderwys Departement) word in die navorsing beskryf. Die studie ondersoek verskillende strukture naamlike skole wat 'n voltydse netwerk administrateur het en skole waar 'n onderwyser die verantwoordelikheid aanneem van 'n netwerk administrateur. Die effektiewe beheer van rekenaar infrastrukture word bespreek. Dit sluit hardeware, sagteware, beleid formulasie, rekenaar netwerk, sekuriteit, personeel bestuur, en BYOD (bring jou eie toestel). Die bestuur van rekenaar infrastruktuur verskil van skool tot skool en die effektiewe bestuur daarvan word deur baie faktore beinvloed. Die kwantitatiewe studie het probleem areas vir die bestuur van rekenaar infrastruktuur by sekondere skole in die WKOD uitgewys. Die kwantitatiewe studie het verder die behoefte vir beste praktyk riglyne uitgewys om sodoende better dienslewering te verseker. Die literere studie het beste praktyk riglyne vir rekenaar infrastruktuur bestuur genoem. / Educational Leadership and Management