Question

1) Shearwater company has been hired you to make the network up and running. Company asked you to configure the network which that allows the employee to share files through the network. Employees must also be able to control resources on their machines. The company wants the most inexpensive solution and only minimal training for employees. The company needs to expand, and its LAN has grown to include several servers and more than 60 workstations. Shearwater has recently purchased another company and needs more space and computers. Expansion plans include leasing another floor four stories above. The current offices in the same building and adding 35 workstations and at least one more server immediately, with additional equipment purchases expected. Would you choose a peer-to-peer network or a server-based network? Write a list of supplies you might need to purchase to accomplish this task. What computer configuration tasks might you need to perform? What type of network is called for LAN, WAN, MAN, or internetwork? What additional devices might be needed to ensure efficient network communication? [10 marks ]

Answer 1

Solution:

Q. Would you choose a peer-to-peer network or a server-based network?

Answer:

Server-Based Networks

Since the files are centrally located, consistent file backups are more conveniently accomplished. File duplication is no longer an issue and the security difficulties of peer-to-peer are avoided because each person on the network only require access to the central server.

A client server can be scaled up to many services that can also be used by multiple users. Security is more advanced than a peer-to-peer network, you can have passwords to own individual profiles so that nobody can access anything when they want.

A server is a computer used in a network and which provides a service to a client. Servers usually have more processing power memory and storage than client computers.

The main advantage that they get is in terms of enhanced work productivity, improved data security, simplified file sharing, smart saving and backup options. It also makes the business more accessible for the employees, since they can store vital business data in one location and then access it from anywhere.

In this case another LAN setup in the new office would be useful. Once the LAN is set up, it can be connected to the LAN in the other offices using a switch. Once the two LANs are connected, then it becomes an internetwork. To ensure efficient network communications, 2 switches and 2 Network Attached Storages, a router, and Ethernet cables will be needed. That way the computers can be attached to the switch, then the switch can be connected to the other switch, then switch to the server, the server to the NAS and finally the NAS to the route. This will allow communication throughout the entire building no matter where you are.

Disadvantages of peer to peer:

• Easy access to any computer.
• Security is only as strong as whatever security is in place on each computer.
• Backup has to be done on each computer.
• No control of access to data as there is no server.
• Easy remote access can lead to compromised systems.

Q. Write a list of supplies you might need to purchase to accomplish this task.

Basic Supplies :-

Secured equipment room
Electrical service with redundant circuits, as needed
Universal Power Supplies (UPSes)
Generator
Computer racks with shelves
Fireproof backing board for one or more walls
Air conditioning
Patch panels
Switches and routers
Fire suppression equipment
Telecommunications lines
Ethernet cabling to equipment room for all office and warehouse locations
Firewall setups
IDF (Intermediate Distribution Frame), patch panels, and switches in the warehouse or manufacturing space for warehouse equipment beyond the maximum Ethernet transmission distance
Ethernet cabling for connecting all equipment
Cable or Internet modems for telecom lines (usually vendor provided)
Wireless modems for wireless network
Production servers hosted at facility (application, domain authentication, file and print serving, email, special purpose servers)
Telephone systems, if not using VoIP
Phones
Computing devices (desktop, laptops, tablets, terminals, other devices)
Wireless scanning for inventory and production activities
Time clocks
Office printers and copiers
Warehouse printers for multi-part forms and older green-bar printing
Internet of Things (IoT) devices
Vendor-supplied devices

Telecommunication lines

Regardless of where you host your servers (locally or in the cloud), you’ll still need telecom lines for production server access, Internet access, telephone, and other special service lines. Be sure to spec out and order your telecom lines early in the process, as installation can take many weeks. Telecom installation can consist of one or two phases: 1) Delivery to the Demarcation Point (DMARC) into the building, which may or may not be in the equipment room; and 2) DMARC extension to the equipment room. Either phase can consist of additional cabling through your new location to the Computer Room. If you’re renting a location, you may also have to get permission from your landlord to run the new lines.

Once the telecom lines are in your equipment room, you’ll want to mount modems from your telecom provider on either the fireproof backing board or in the rack.

Basic networking equipment and cabling

• Ethernet cabling and network jacks for all office and warehouse locations, to connect your facility locations (offices, printer rooms, warehouse locations) to the patch panel in the equipment room. Be sure each cable drop at user locations has at least two Ethernet jacks to accommodate one or more wired devices and one phone. Don’t forget that warehouse lines need to be run through the warehouse ceiling (which can be 20 feet or higher) and dropped at their locations, which will increase their maximum Ethernet transmission distance.
• One or more firewall setups (depending on how many Internet lines you’re running), for protecting your network from unauthorized access.
• Switches and routers for connecting workstations, servers, network equipment, and telecommunications lines together. Switches allow the different devices and servers on your network to reach each other (or isolate different devices and servers from each other). Routers and gateways provide the basic policies and rules that route traffic to servers, Internet lines, and other locations inside and outside your network. Devices outside the equipment room will reach the equipment room through a port on the patch panel, which can be connected to a switch via a short Ethernet cable, while devices inside the rack are connected directly into switch. The router is also connected to a switch, and the router regulates and directs network traffic to its destination. If you’re also setting up a wireless network that feeds into your switches, make sure the switches have as many power over Ethernet (Poe) ports as you need, so that you won’t have to run electrical to power your wireless modems, wherever they are installed (usually in or on the ceiling).
• An Intermediate Distribution Frame (IDF) in the warehouse. An IDF is generally a locked cabinet in the warehouse that houses at least two components: 1) a patch panel where other warehouse equipment can connect to the IDF; and 2) a switch that can route equipment from the warehouse patch panel to the main switch in the equipment room. Since warehouse Ethernet connections may not be able to connect to the equipment room patch panel (because they are out of the maximum transmission distance for Ethernet cable, 100 meters or 328 feet), they can connect to the patch panel in the IDF and then be routed to the equipment room through the IDF switch, which is usually hardwired to the equipment room patch pane. An IDF isn’t needed for all warehouses, but it’s useful in larger warehouse that can’t reach the equipment room in one Ethernet run.
• Lots of Ethernet cables. You’ll need short and medium Ethernet cables for attaching all devices, servers, network equipment, etc., to their local Ethernet jacks. Since patch panels and switches are generally in the same rack or IDF, you’ll need plenty of short Ethernet cables (2-3 feet) to attach each patch panel port to the nearest switch.
• Cable or Internet modems for attaching your incoming telecom lines to your network. Your telecom service provider generally provides the modem to attach to their incoming service line.
• Wireless modems for your warehouse and office. Your wireless modems should have Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports for powering the modem using its Ethernet line rather than an electrical outlet. People generally use a single wireless modem (or a clustered wireless setup) for four purposes: 1) Connectivity movable wireless warehouse equipment (such as scanners and telephones) to the network: 2) Allowing visiting employees with laptops to access the company network; 3) Setting up a guest network to provide Internet access to your vendors, guests, and business partners, without allowing their devices to access your domain; and 4) Providing a network bridge between two wireless modems to extend your network to another location that’ s impossible or impractical to wire. Wireless modem placement can be an art form in a warehouse or production facility, where racks can be stuffed with product from floor to ceiling (blocking signal reception). Plan carefully for wireless modem placement in a warehouse environment.

And now the stuff you want to connect

• Servers for domain authentication, file and print serving, or special purpose servers, such as time clock servers, email servers, backup servers, etc. Using a product such as VMWare on a large Intel server, for example, one server can be partitioned into several VM to accommodate most of your server needs.
• Telephone systems and phones, either a physical phone system or a Voice over IP (VoIP) system.
• Special purpose appliances, such as Web filtering servers, security appliances, etc.
• User devices, such as PCs, laptops, tablets, and cell phones
• Wireless scanners for order processing, warehouse inventory, item tracking, and other barcode processing.
• Time clocks
• Office printers and copiers for printing plain paper documents and reports, and for scanning and emailing documents.
• Warehouse printers for printing multi-part forms and older large green-screen format reports
• Internet of Things (IoT) devices for collecting and analyzing data.
• Vendor-supplied devices that allow vendors access to machines in your facility

Cloud, and MSP considerations:   For cloud access, you’ll still need most of the items described in the Beginning Pieces, Telecommunications lines, and Basic networking equipment and cabling sections. You will also need any item in the And now for the stuff you actually want to connect section that requires local installation (printers, scanners, time clocks, users, PCs, IoT devices, etc.). Even when every application your facility needs is hosted in the cloud, you will still need to set up a local infrastructure that allows your users and devices to access the cloud. So, the task of setting up a remote facility network gets a little easier with the cloud, but you’ll still need most of the things listed in this checklist.

Q. What computer configuration tasks might you need to perform?

• Processor: Intel Core i3 4150. ...
• Motherboard: Asus H81M-V3. ...
• Monitor: LG 22MP56HQ. ...
• RAM: 4GB DDR3. ...
• Price: Around Rs 2,200. ...
• Graphics card: AMD R7 250X 1GB DDR5. ...
• Power supply unit: Corsair VS 450.

Q. What type of network is called for LAN, WAN, MAN, or internetwork?

Basically , LAN for the same building but if there is a chance of expanding the company I wouls suggest MAN. (no sure though).

here's a clear explanation.

Local Area Network (LAN)

If more than one computer is to be connected to a network, this usually takes the form of a Local Area Network (LAN). Networks like these can include two computers in a private household or several thousand devices in a company. Networks in public institutionsm such as those used by public authorities, schools, or universities, are also implemented as LANs. A widely-used standard for wired Local Area Networks is Ethernet. Networking technologies such as ARCNET, FDDI, and Token Ring are less common and widely outdated. Data transmission is either electronically based on copper cables or via fiber optic cables.

If more than two computers are to be connected in one LAN, additional network components such as hubs, bridges, and switches are needed, which act as coupling elements and distribution nodes. The network type LAN was developed to enable fast transmission of large amounts of data. Depending on the structure of the network and the transmission medium used, a data throughput of 10 to 1,000 Mbit/s is normal. LANs enable convenient information exchange between the various devices connected to the network. In a business context, it’s common to share files, network printers, and applications via LAN with several computers.

If a local network is implemented via radio, it is referred to as a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The WLAN standard’s technical basis is defined by the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. Wireless local networks offer the ability to easily integrate devices into home or corporate networks, and are compatible with wired Ethernet LANs. However, the data throughput is lower than for an Ethernet connection.

The range of a LAN depends on the standard and the transmission medium, but can be increased by signal amplifiers, known as repeaters. Regarding gigabit Ethernet via glass fibers, a signal range of several miles is possible. However, Local Area Networks rarely stretch across more than one building complex. Multiple LANs can be connected to a superior Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN).

SilverStar – Sample Network Diagram via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a broadband telecommunication network that connects several LANs in close proximity. As a rule, these are individual establishments in a company that are connected to a MAN via leased lines. High-performance routers and high-performance fiber-based connections are used, which enable a significantly higher data throughput than the internet. The transfer speed between two remote nodes is comparable to that of communication within a LAN.

The infrastructure for MANs is provided by international network operators. As a Metropolitan Area Network, wired cities can be integrated nationally into Wide Area Networks (WAN) and internationally in Global Area Networks (GAN).

With Metro Ethernet, a special transmission technology is available for MANs, which can be used to build powerful Metro Ethernet networks (MEN) based on Carrier Ethernet (CE 1.0) or Carrier Ethernet 2.0 (CE 2.0).

A standard for larger regional radio networks, known as Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WMAN), was developed with IEEE 802.16. This technology known as WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) makes it possible to set up WiFi hotspots. These are several WiFi access points working together in different locations. The current transmission standard DSL is technically only available where copper cables have been laid.

Q. What additional devices might be needed to ensure efficient network communication?

Entuity is efficient by design. It’s not a collection of products bolted together—it’s a unified solution with all the core functionality you need to run the network in a lot less time. Entuity creates a layer of abstraction between users and the underlying architecture, shielding them from the complexities of managing servers, interconnections, and databases for a virtual view of the network.

Unlike other solutions that require installing, integrating, and managing multiple products, Entuity all-in-one network management includes everything you need to manage your network with ease and peak efficiency, including:

• Auto Discovery and Inventory
• Live Topology
• Events Management
• Root Cause Analysis
• Configuration Management and Monitoring
• Seamless and Massive Scalability
• Elemental Performance
• Integrated Application Flow
• Customizable Reporting/Dashboards
• Integrated Virtual/Physical Management
• Cloud Support

Worked so hard on this..Please upvote..!!! ;) Thank you...