剛剛收到的阿賽門題目！

十二月，很忙碌的一個月，不再如中小學時的年終假期；大學、學院可都是考試、作業、報告，也真稀罕一些博友還能頻密地更新。

如我，上個月剛經歷（解決?）了兩個科目的測驗、一個編程作業、兩個語文理解文測驗、兩個作文測驗。十二月剛開始，就有一個編程作業和預定在這個星期舉行的兩個測驗。雖然那個編程作業很快地做完了（會被還在苦苦奮鬥、苦苦思索的系友給兩個極端的‘代身’吧 ^^ 1. 變態（這麼快做完） 2. 神（哇勞！太強大了））可還沒準備應對那兩個測驗。

將測驗的其中一個科目…… Computer Organization and Architecture 是很重要的課程，除去可修得相當的學分外，畢竟其中仔細地探討電腦的架構、功能；包括各系統、處理器、記憶體等等，可說是電腦系的學生必須理解的科目，也是接下來這個系其它課程理所當然的‘基本’知識。

一個理論居多的課程，不像編程般是“看得到”的；CPU 怎樣運作、記憶體怎樣把資料傳來傳去、緩存是幹啥用的，這些在後台運作、我們“看不到”的東西，對很多學生來說（當然我也是）都很頭痛。

我要說的是這樣一個很重要但很‘難’的課程，除了測驗外，這下也送來了作業題目；這不打緊，但大致看了問題後：

As the trainee system administrator, you are asked by your manager to propose configuration of a server that will run below services and full fill below user’s requirement. Use the attached pricelist, propose a good server configuration with budget of RM 15,000 in mind. Please give argument for the configuration that you have proposed. Explain the rational for each of the configuration. You will be graded based on your argument and also your effort to help company to get the best configuration with cheapest cost. Remember to show the cost involved and make sure all interfaces are compatible.

Services & user requirement:

1. Linux based Apache Web server with MySQL database.
2. Redundancy for hard disk.
3. Tape backup.
4. At least 16GB of RAM required.
5. At least dual-core processor.
6. Data size is expected to accumulate at the rate of 5GB per month.
7. No specific requirement on server size, it can be rackmount or tower configuration.

You are assigned to R&D department. Your company has an upcoming project of developing a video processing system. You are given below motherboard to start with. The choice of motherboard is mandatory. Using online search, propose complete components that will fulfill user requirement below (brand & technical detail, please include print screen of the product info page for reference). Explain the rational for each of the configuration. You will be graded based on your argument and also technical details provided. Remember to make sure all interfaces are compatible.

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H
Video Camera: Minrray VHD A910 HD camera. (Camera shall connect to video processing system using HDMI interface)
Human Interface Device: Wireless keyboard and Mouse
Memory requirement: High
Video Memory: High (prefer onboard video)
Storage: Prefer solid state hard disk
Processor: High Processing power
Others: Whatever seem necessary

並附上一份價錢表。簡單來說，就是要做出一份解決以上需求的提案。但是我……
完全沒有概念啊啊啊！雖說明白這才是將來若在這行工作，真正的工作內容，但是至今從未接觸這樣的問題，也沒在課堂上學過。

當然，上網搜索自己研究也並非不可能解決，問題在於時間，是否能在限期內從完全不理解到理解並趕出一個像樣的提案？忙碌的十二月，我還有其它測驗和作業，我知道時間像乳溝一樣、像看起來用完的牙膏管一樣，擠一擠就有；但是緊湊的時間我會失去我最依賴的心情和靈感，也似乎預見將會在這課程“死得很慘”……


順帶一提，另一個我做得並不好（好保守的說法，根本就是很糟糕！）的科目是馬來文（偏偏是必修課啊…）