UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2018/2019
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREES OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN
DATA COMMUNICATIONS/ DATA ANALYTICS/ INFORMATION
SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
MDA5102 MDC5103 MISM5102 DATA STORAGE AND CLOUD
SERVICES
ORDINARY EXAMINATIONS
DATE: DECEMBER, 2018 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question One & ANY OTHER TWO questions.
QUESTION ONE [20 MARKS]
a) Discuss how the following are used to optimize disk and block access:
i) Disk-arm scheduling
ii) File organization
iii) Nonvolatile write buffers (3 Marks)
b) Storage technology and architecture have undergone significant evolution over the years.
Discuss in detail TWO basic forms of network storage architectures. (6 Marks)
c) Discuss the following characteristics of cloud computing:
i) Rapid elasticity (2 Marks)
ii) Resource pooling (2 Marks)
iii) Measured Service (2 Marks)
iv) Resiliency. (2 Marks)
d) Discuss any THREE common backup methods. (3 Marks)
QUESTION TWO [15 MARKS]
a) Explain the concept of ILM and discuss the relevance and implications of ILM. (6 Marks)
b) Why is storage virtualization necessary? Explain (2 Marks)
c) Distinguish between LUN and LBA in block-level virtualization of data (2 Marks)
d) What are the pros and cons of host-based virtualization? Discuss. (5 Marks)
QUESTION THREE [15 MARKS]
a) Discuss the data access process in an ideal data center infrastructure. (4 Marks)
b) Explain the data back-up process, clearly outlining the devices involved. Also create a
diagram to illustrate this process (7 Marks)
c) Unlike with data backup operations, a restore process must be manually initiated. Discuss the
activities that the administrator must do to initiate this process. (4 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR [15 MARKS]
a) Explain and illustrate the following terms as they relate to RAID:
i) Striping
ii) Parity
iii) Hot swapping (6 Marks)
b) Discuss the value of information to a business. (4 Marks)
c) Explain and illustrate the virtuous cycle of information processing. (5 Marks)
