IST 220 Networking and Telecommunications

PROJECT 1

Getting Familiar with Networking Devices

Due date: Sept. 22, 2009

Project Objectives

In this project, you will be introduced to IST network lab, where you will get to know some networking devices and practice with them to understand how a network is constructed. In this project, you are expected to

  • Get familiar with networking devices,
  • Practice with these devices,
  • Get warm on your group activities.

What you will do

In this project, each group will be assigned 2 tasks. You are required to finish your tasks in IST networking lab using the devices we provided.

Task 1: Get to Know

In this task, you are expected to know some networking devices. The TA will show the devices to you, and briefly introduce their functions. The networking devices include

  • Network Interface Card (NIC),
  • Router,
  • Switch,
  • Computer,
  • Network Cable.

Task 2: Get to Understand

You are expected to understand the functions of these networking devices through available resources, such as device manual or website. For example, you can go to to search information of Cisco routers, or you can go to to search demonstrations of their usages. Please record in your report important device properties, such as device types, model numbers, etc.

You need to take pictures of these devices and put these pictures in your report. Either you can use a camera, or you can copy the corresponding pictures from available resources. Be sure that your pictures can demonstrate the properties of these devices.

What to deliver

Report Overview

The group report is to show what you did in the project. Please clearly state your results of this project, and carefully proofread and edit the paper before submission.

You are expected to hand in a final report in the following formats:

a)Major sections organized as Introduction, Network Interface Card, Router, Switch, Cable, Computer, NetworkBuilding, Experiment Log, and necessary Appendixes.

b)A cover page (including project title) with group name and group members

c)A table of contents with page numbers

d)Using double-spaced typing for convenient grading

e)Hard copies only, Font size 12, Single column

f)A bound or stapled document, with numbered pages

The report should have the following sections. Each section has multiple items. You need to write a report section by section that covers all required items. But you do not have to write the report item by item.

1. Introduction:

This section should serve as an “advance organizer” for the rest of the report. It should have the following part:

a)Describe the goal and motivation of this project. In addition to what has been stated in the project instruction, please tell your own expectation in this project.

b)Describe the network we study in the lab. For example, the types of the network, the network speed, the number of machines, servers, routers and switches, etc.

c)Give an outline of this report, in which the content of each section needs to be briefly described.

2. Network Interface Card:

This part should describe the function and properties of a NIC in a network as following:

a)Describe the main function of the NIC used in this project.

b)Give an example of another NIC (you may find it on any web site). Please discuss whether, why or why not it can be used in the same network as in this project.

c)The brand and model of the NIC.

d)A picture of the NIC. The picture should show the ports and lights of the NIC. In this picture, please describe the meaning of each port and light. For example, the NIC works if the light on the NIC is on. If the picture is taken from a website, please give the picture link as well.

e)List at least one protocol this NIC supports, and briefly describe what the protocol is.

f)A table that includes the specification of the NIC, such as data rate, type of network cable, etc.

g)A web link to the manual or user guide of the NIC, and a snapshot of this web page. You need to use this link to find how to use the NIC.

3. Router:

This part should describe the function and properties of a router in a network as following:

a)Describe the main function of the router used in this project.

b)Compare this router with a simple router that is usually used in home. Please briefly describe their difference, such as the type of the network they are used in.

c)The brand and model of the router.

d)A picture of the router. This picture should show the back panel of the router, and please describe the meaning of all ports on this panel. If the picture is taken from a website, please give the picture link as well.

e)A table that includes the specification of the router, such as data rate, dimension, weight, power consumption, etc.

f)A web link to the manual or user guide of the router, and a snapshot of this web page. You need to use this link to find how to use the router.

4. Switch:

This part should describe the function and properties of a switch in a network as following:

a)Describe the main function of the switch used in this project.

b)Describe the difference between a switch and a router.

c)The brand and model of the switch.

d)A picture of the switch. This picture should show the back panel of the switch, and please describe the meaning of all ports in the picture. If the picture is taken from a website, please give the picture link as well.

e)A table that includes the specification of the switch, such as data rate, etc.

f)A web link to the manual or user guide of the switch, and a snapshot of this web page. You need to use this link to find how to use the switch.

5. Computer:

This part should describe the function and properties of a computer in a network as following:

a)Describe the main function of the IBM server used in this project.

b)The brand and model of the server.

c)A picture of the server. This picture should show the front and back panels of the server, and please describe the meaning of all ports in the picture. If the picture is taken from a website, please give the picture link as well.

d)A table that includes the specification of the server, such as operation system, service, CPU, etc.

e)A web link to the manual or user guide of the server, and a snapshot of this web page. You need to use this link to find how to use the server.

6. Cable:

This part should describe the function and properties of a cable in a network as following:

a)Describe the main function of the UTP cable used in this project.

b)Describe the difference between the UTP cable and any other type of cable. For example, describe their different data rates, and the networks they are used in.

c)The brand and model of the cable.

d)A picture of the cable. This picture should show the two heads of the cable, and please describe the order of the lines in the heads. If the picture is taken from a website, please give the picture link as well.

e)A table that includes the specification of the cable, such as data rate, etc.

f)A web link to the manual or user guide of the cable, and a snapshot of this web page. You need to use this link to find how to use the cable.

7. Experiment Log:

This part should describe your activities in this project.

a)Clearly state the responsibility of each group member. If possible, give a table to tell who did which task, who collected information of which device, who wrote which part of the report, who coordinated the group work activities, etc.

b)Give a log of your group activity, such as what you did on which day, and how many people attend.

Grading Rubric

Project 1 has a number of specific requirements. The requirement for each section is documented in the above project instruction “What to deliver”.

Whether you will get credits depends on the following situations:

a)You will get full credits on one item, if it is correctly reported as required and well written.

b)You will get half credits on one item, if it is reported as required but there is something definitely wrong.

c)You will not get any credit for one item, if it is not reported.

The credits for each section are in the following. Each item in one section has equal credits.

1. Introduction (10%):

Each item has 3 credits.

2. Network Interface Card (14%):

Each item has 2 credits.

3. Router (12%):

Each item has 2 credits.

4. Switch (12%):

Each item has 2 credits.

5. Computer (10%):

Each item has 2 credits.

6. Cable (12%):

Each item has 2 credits.

The six items above will form the “team portion” of the score that each team member will earn. The team portion score of each team member is maximally 70 points.

The following item will determine the “individual portion” of the score that each team member will earn. Based on the rules stated below, a team member may earn up to 30 points.

7. Experiment Log (30%):

As stated on page 4, this section contains two items, and each item has 15 credits.

a)The total work in your group must be evenly partitioned among the team members. If you do your evenly partitioned portion of your group work, you get 15 credits. If you do nothing for your group work, you get 0. If your portion of work is less than the other team members, you get less than 15 points.

b)If you attend more than 90% of your group activities, you get 15 credits. If you attend between 70% and 90%, you get 10 credits. If you attend between 50% and 70%, you get 5. Otherwise, you get 0.

Related Links

Group projects:

Group index:

Note

This is a group project. Only hard copies of the report will be accepted. Be sure to include the names of all the teammates and email addresses in the report. The report should be turned in before class on the specified due date. Late grade will be deducted in case the submission is not made on time and prior permission is not obtained from the Dr Liu for submitting later than the specified due date.