COT410 LAN Fundamentals
Week 1 Worksheet (WS1)
Unit 1 / Unit 2 Assignments
Name: Tabatha M. Lakkala
The worksheet is a guide you should use to assure that all work for the week is completed properly. You should complete the assignment worksheet, then, post the worksheet in the proper Bb weekly folder. Please label all submitted files using the format: [first initial & last name]-[COT410WSx]. Example: nstudent-COT410WS1
Unit 1 Network Basics
Preparation
Unit time: 150 minutes
Preparation: CompTia Network+, read pages 1-1 through 1-57
Assignments
Topic A: Network Concepts
Complete A-1: Describing networking models and protocols, questions 1, 2 and 3 on page 1-7. (6 points)
Item / Answer1. / Peer to peer-all communication is between client computers and client/server communication is between clients and servers
2. / You can administer computers/users as a group, so it is easier
3. / A small office/company
Complete A-5: Describing wireless networking, questions 1and 2 on page 1-19. (4 points)
Item / Answer1. / Radio waves or infrared light
2. / Security and access points
Complete A-6: Comparing network protocols used on Windows clients, questions 1-5 on page
1-22. (10 points)
1. / C. IPX/SPX
2. / A. TCP/IP
3. / B. NetBEUI
4. / Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,802.11a and WiMAX
5. / No they are not compatible
Topic B: Network architectures
Complete B-1: Describing physical network topologies, questions 1-6 on page 1-31. (12 points)
Item / Answer1. / Star topology
2. / Bus topology
3. / Bus topology
4. / Mesh topology
5. / Minimum wiring
6. / Point to point there is dedicated connection between two nodes, point to multipoint there are multiple connections
Complete B-2: Describing Ethernet standards, questions 1-6 on page 1-36. (12 points)
Item / Answer1. / 10 gigabit Ethernet
2. / Base-x, base-r, base-w
3. / STP
4. / 10GBASE-ZR/ZW
5. / UTP
6. / 1000BASE-T: UTP uses all four wire pairs//100BASE-TX: Twisted pair copper runs over two pairs
Complete B-4: Discussing WAN bandwidth technologies, questions 1-8 on page 1-51. (16 points)
Item / Answer1. / The difference between T line and E line, E line is the European equivalent to T line
2. / 6,000 feet
3. / Fractional T1 line allows businesses to lease some of the channels
4. / Packet-switching divides data into packets and sends them separately
5. / X.25 and frame relay
6. / Asynchronous Transfer Mode, a very fast network technology that can be used with LANs and WANs
7. / They can achieve a throughput of 622 Mbps
8. / Highly reliable and added security
Topic C: The OSI Model
Complete C-1: Analyzing the OSI model questions 1-6 on page 1-55. (14 points)
Item / Answer1 Down / Data link
2 Across / Physical
2 Down / Presentation
3 Across / Application
4 Down / Session
5 Down / Network
6 Across / Transport
Complete Unit 1 review questions, pages1-56 through 1-63 (88 points)
1. / B / 23. / false2. / A / 24. / Mesh
3. / C / 25. / Point to point
4. / segments / 26. / C
5. / C / 27. / D
6. / C / 28. / B/D/E
7. / B / 29. / Bonding
8. / A / 30. / false
9. / D / 31. / A/D
10. / backbone / 32. / CSMA/CA
11. / composite / 33. / Token
12. / E / 34. / Relatively short
13. / B/C / 35. / True
14. / Filtering / 36. / F
15. / B / 37. / C
16. / D / 38. / D
17. / A / 39. / B
18. / C / 40. / A
19. / B / 41. / F
20. / False / 42. / D
21. / True / 43. / C
22. / bus / 44. / A
Unit 2 Wired computer-to-computer connections
Preparation
Unit time: 135 minutes
Preparation: CompTia Network+, read pages 2-1 through 2-56
Complete Unit 2 review questions, pages 2-51 through 2-55. (46 points)
1. / D / 13. / plenums2. / B / 14. / D
3. / E/F/G/H / 15. / false
4. / B / 16. / C
5. / Multi-mode / 17. / B
6. / B/D/E / 18. / DNS
7. / C / 19. / NetBIOS
8. / D / 20. / True
9. / A / 21. / A
10. / A/B/C/F / 22. / true
11. / B / 23. / false
12. / B
LabSim Labs
Preparation
- Using the Quick Start Guide for Students located in the Week 1 folder of Blackboard, access LabSim either through a Web Browser or by Installing the Client.
- Go to to directly access your LabSim account through a browser or download the LabSim Windows client software at .
- Create a LabSim Account
- Log In
- Activate Additional LabSim Courses
- Associate Your Student Account with a Campus and a Class
Complete the following LabSim Resources and Labs
0.0 Introduction
0.1 Course Introduction
0.1.1 Network+ Introduction
0.2 Using the Simulator
0.2.1 Using the Simulator
0.2.2 Explore the Lab Interface (2 points)
0.2.3 Working with Internal Components
0.2.4 Install Expansion Cards (2 points)
1.0 Networking Basics
1.1 Networking Overview
1.1.1 Introduction to Networking
1.1.2 Network Types
1.1.3 Networking Terms
1.1.4 Networking Facts
1.1.5 Exam Questions-Section 1.1 (4 points)
1.2 Network Topologies
1.2.1 Network Topologies
1.2.2 Topology Facts
1.2.3 Exam Questions-Section 1.2 (20 points)
1.3 Protocols
1.3.1 Network Architectures
1.3.2 Network Architecture Facts
1.3.3 TCP/IP Protocol Suite
1.3.4 Common TCP/IP Protocols
1.3.5 Exam Questions-Section 1.3 (16 points)
1.4 Network Connections
1.4.1 Network Connections
1.4.2 Configuring TCP/IP Properties
1.4.3 Configure TCP/IP Settings
1.4.4 Configure TCP/IP Settings (8 points)
1.5 The OSI Model
1.5.1 The OSI Model
1.5.2 OSI Model Facts
1.5.3 OSI Model Layers
1.5.4 OSI Model
1.5.5 OSI Layer Facts
1.5.6 Exam Questions-Section 1.5 (26 points)
2.0 Cables and Connectors
2.1 Twisted Pair
2.1.1 Twisted Pair
2.1.2 Twisted Pair Facts
2.1.3 Connect a Modem (2 points)
2.1.4 Connect to an Ethernet Network (2 points)
2.1.5 Exam Questions-Section 2.1 (10 points)
2.2 Coaxial Cable
2.2.1 Coaxial
2.2.2 Coaxial Cable Facts
2.2.3 Connect a Cable Modem (6 points)
2.2.4 Exam Questions-Section 2.2 (12 points)
2.3 Fiber Optic
2.3.1 Fiber Optic
2.3.2 Fiber Optic Facts
2.3.3 Connect Fiber Optic Cables 1 (8 points)
2.3.4 Connect Fiber Optic Cables 2 (8 points)
2.3.5 Exam Questions-Section 2.3 (16 points)
Case Projects – Critical Thinking
Case Project 1 (20 points)
You are employed as a network consultant at Network Design Consultants. Your company consists of 15 consultants who assist all types of organizations with issues involving network planning, design, installation, and troubleshooting. The company works on national and international projects, depending on the currently active pool of clients.
Your present assignment is to help a small advertising firm, Harrison and Associates, to consider their options for designing a network. There are eight people in the firm: seven advertising consultants and one office coordinator. Each person has a computer at her or his desk and every computer has a printer. Harrison and Associates represents a classic small-office situation.
Question 1-1: A Preliminary Design Step
As a first step in the design process, what information would you gather about Harrison and Associates?
Answer: (provided as an example)
A preliminary design step is to ask questions and strive to understand as much as possible about this firm, its business needs, and what the firm wants to accomplish with its network. Here are some general steps:
- Determine the types of computers in use and their locations.
- Determine what software applications are used and what network resources are needed to run those applications.
- Learn the business patterns in the organization and how those business patterns are associated with network use.
- Estimate the anticipated high and low network use periods for the firm.
- Consider what features can be designed into the network to make troubleshooting and maintenance easier.
- Assess what type of security is needed.
- Determine the growth that is anticipated in the organization, and in what areas that growth will affect network resources.
Question 1-2: Creating a Report About Network Topologies (10 points)
To help prepare the way for the design you plan to suggest, discuss with the firm’s management the concept of network topology and the different types of topologies available.
Answer(s):
A network topology is basically the design of your network, how your network is laid out physically or logically. A network be laid out in physically one way but operate different logically. There are several different ways to lay out your network and it can vary based on size, needs and how you would like to be able to administer your network. The main types of topologies are: star, bus, ring, and mesh.
Star: a central device controls the network
Advantages: If one connection fails it will not affect communication with other devices
Disadvantages: If the central device fails, all devices will not be able to communicate
Bus: each device is connected to central line
Advantages: simple and inexpensive
Disadvantages: if there is a break in the line, devices on that segment will stop
Ring: each device is connected to central device by two wires
Advantages: equal access to resources, does not need central device to control
Disadvantages: packets travel through all devices until the reach destination (slower), if one device goes down the network will be affects
Mesh: all devices have independent connections to each other
Advantages: very fault-tolerant
Disadvantages: can become complex and expensive
Question 1-3: Recommending a Topology for the Network Design (10 points)
Which topology do you recommend for Harrison and Associates’ network and include why you recommend it.
Answer:
I would recommend using a Star topology for Harrison and Associates network. It is one of the easiest topologies to manage. It is easy to detect faults, add and remove devices without disrupting the network. Due to the nature of star topology, increasing the network size as the company grows is easy. Managing devices are easier due to a central hub handling the majority of the overhead and centralization helps troubleshoot errors such as traffic and malicious behavior.
Case Project 2 (24 points)
In the following assignments, you consult for the newsroom of the Franklin Daily Herald, a newspaper in a mid western city. All 17 of the news reporters have computers, and now their management has funded a project to network their computers and provide Internet access to the network. Having a network will enable the reporters to more easily collaborate on stories and exchange information. And it will save time for the news editor who checks all news articles before they are printed. The newsroom network will also connect to an existing network in the pressroom.
Question 2-1: Implementing a Network Transport Method (10 points)
One member of the newspaper’s management wants to implement token ring for this network. What is your recommendation and how would you explain it to the management?
Answer:
I would not recommend a token ring topology for the office. The reason is the token/packet must pass through all the computers between source and destination, this slows down the network. If one workstation goes down, the entire network gets affected. I would recommend a hybrid topology due to the ability to expand and connect to the network in the pressroom. It takes less wiring and easy to manage.
Question 2-3: Questions about the OSI Model (14 points)
Brett Mason, a new colleague with whom you are working at Network Design Consultants, is unsure about some aspects of the OSI model. He has a list of questions for you and asks that you develop a table that he can use as a reference for the answers. Create a table containing two columns and seven rows. Label the left column “Network Function,” and label the right column “OSI Layer.” Enter each of the following functions in its own row under the left column and then specify the OSI layer that performs that function under the right column. Brett’s questions about functions are as follows:
Which layer resizes frames to match the receiving network?
Which layer performs data compression?
Which layer ensures data is received in the order it was sent?
Which layer handles the data-carrying signal?
Which layer provides file transfer services?
Which layer enables routing?
Which layer enables the receiving node to send an acknowledgment?
Network Function / OSI LayerWhich layer resizes frames to match the receiving network? / Session
Which layer performs data compression? / Presentation Layer
Which layer ensures data is received in the order it was sent? / Transport
Which layer handles the data-carrying signal? / Physical Layer
Which layer provides file transfer services? / Application
Which layer enables routing? / Network Layer
Which layer enables the receiving node to send an acknowledgment? / Data link
Answer:
Case Project 3 (15 points)
Prairie Press is a publishing company that produces books of fiction. The company employs 32 people and has offices on three floors in a downtown building. Each employee uses Windows XP Professional on a desktop or laptop computer. Prairie Press has two servers running Windows Server 2003 plus a Linux Web server. Currently, each floor in their building is wired using Category 5e UTP cable. Their communications devices are older half-duplex hubs and switches employing 10BaseT throughout the building—on each floor and between floors. The building is scheduled for renovations and Prairie Press hires you through Network Design Consultants to assist in a new network design for a cabled network.
Question 2-1: Desktop Cabling (5 points)
You recommend 100 Mbps communications to the desktop and laptop computers on each floor. What cable medium can be used?
Answer:
The cabling that can be used to have at least 100Mbps is CAT5 or higher or fiber optic cabling. There are some coaxial that can reached 100 Mbps but I wouldn’t recommend it, especially since they are upgrading.
Question 2-2: Fat Pipe Cabling (5 points)
What cabling do you recommend for linking the networks on each floor of the building? What are the advantages of the cabling that you recommend?
Answer:
Since the company is looking to upgrade the most logically way is to go to fiber. Since running it through floors and connecting networks, fiber is thinner and lighter and non-flammable. It is most secure, less interference and signal degradation which could be helpful in the future with expansion.
Question 2-3: Connecting the Servers to the Network (5 points)
What cabling options do you recommend for connecting the three servers to the network?
Answer:
Fiber in my option is the way to go when connecting servers to a network. Servers have a heavy work load so the carrying capacity alone is reason enough, depending on where your servers are stored.
Additional Assignment Requirements
____ Participate in DQ 1.1 and DQ 1.2
____ Complete Unit 1 Quiz
____ Complete Unit 2 Quiz
February 10, 20111 | Page