UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2017/2018
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREES OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN
DATA COMMUNICATIONS/ DATA ANALYTICS/ INFORMATION
SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
MDA 5102/ MDC 5103/ MISM 5102: DATA STORAGE AND CLOUD
SERVICES
ORDINARY EXAMINATIONS
DATE: NOVEMBER, 2017 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question One & ANY OTHER TWO questions.
QUESTION ONE [20 MARKS]
a) Apply an ideal order processing example to explain how the elements in a data center
participate in executing a customer’s order. (5 Marks)
b) Explain the following strategies for effective data storage:
i) Storage resource mapping table
ii) Multipath
iii) Tiering (6 Marks)
c) Define the LVM and cite its key characteristics (4 Marks)
d) Explain the challenges involved in managing information in the current digital age (5 Marks)
QUESTION TWO [15 MARKS]
a) Discuss the characteristics of a level-5 RAID configuration (3 Marks)
b) i) What is storage virtualization and why is it necessary? (3 Marks)
ii) Explain the following common storage architectures: (6 Marks)
DAS
NAS
SAN
c) Identify and briefly explain any THREE data center management activities (3 Marks)
QUESTION THREE [15 MARKS]
a) Striping, parity and mirroring are terms commonly used with reference to RAID. Explain
each of these terms (3 Marks)
b) Storage technologies are now using the magnetic disk to emulate tape storage. What
characteristics of the magnetic disk makes it more preferable to magnetic tapes? Discuss.
(6Marks)
c) Explain any THREE ways in which block access in a disk can be optimized (6 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR [15 MARKS]
a) Explain in detail the following characteristics of cloud computing:
i) Resiliency
ii) Homogeneity
iii) Elasticity
iv) Measured service (8 Marks)
b) Briefly explain any SEVEN technologies that are relevant to cloud computing
(7 Marks)
