Designing a Local Area Network (LAN) You are to design a basic and workable comp

Question

Designing a Local Area Network (LAN) You are to design a basic and workable computer network for the school district's Central High School. The School Board's supports and encourages integrating technology in the classroom to create an empowered learning community for the students. But, the School Board has also made a committment to the community to keep taxes down. So, in today's tough economic times, it is extremely important to lease or purchase high quality equipment at a reasonable cost. The high school's staff would like to see at least 2 computers in each classroom, and 1 computer for each of the administrative staff members. The school will have 48 computers in an interactive learning center and 24 computers in the student success center. Your presentation will include: 1. Comparative Costs - use Microsoft Excel (may use graphs) to compare costs from at least three different vendors and reasons to accept specific bids. 2. Mapping of the Local Area Network (LAN) - present your diagram of the mapping of the Local Area Network throughout the building using any medium that best enhances the presentation. 3. Responsiblities and Recommendations - present the responsibilities of students, administrators, parents, and the Technology Coordinator within the district along with your recommendations using any medium that best enhances the presentation. 4. A narrative in a Word document will accompany your presentation

Explanation / Answer

Local Area Network (LAN) is a data communications network connecting terminals, computers and printers within a building or other geographically limited areas. These devices could be connected through wired cables or wireless links. Ethernet, Token Ring and Wireless LAN using IEEE 802.11 are examples of standard LAN technologies. Ethernet is by far the most commonly used LAN technology. Token Ring technology is still used by some companies. FDDI is sometimes used as a backbone LAN interconnecting Ethernet or Token Ring LANs. WLAN using IEEE 802.11 technologies is rapidly becoming the new leading LAN technology for its mobility and easy to use features. Local Area Network could be interconnected using Wide Area Network (WAN) or Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) technologies. The common WAN technologies include TCP/IP, ATM, Frame Relay etc. The common MAN technologies include SMDS and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. LANs are traditionally used to connect a group of people who are in the same local area. However, the working group are becoming more geographically distributed in today's working environment. There, virtual LAN (VLAN) technologies are defined for people in different places to share the same networking resource. Local Area Network protocols are mostly at data link layer (layer 2). IEEE is the leading organization defining most of the LAN protocols. Local Area Network Diagram Software Edraw Network Diagram is ideal for network engineers and network designers who need to draw wan diagrams. It had defined some common used WAN symbols in drawing WAN diagrams. Just drag and drop pre-drawn shapes representing computers and network devices. Double click and set equipment data. Local-area network (LAN) switches are at the core of all networks, providing high-speed connectivity, applications and communications systems. Today’s networks not only need to efficiently and securely transmit bandwidth-intensive data, voice, video and wireless applications, they also need to provide for evolving traffic patterns, new services, and optimized application performance. Leveraging our partnerships with the best companies in the industry, Windstream offers a suite of switch designs that offer enhanced functionality and intelligence that allow businesses to deploy the most demanding of applications. ADTRAN NetVanta Switches ADTRAN provides a full line of powerful, business-class switching solutions for all your network needs. NetVanta Ethernet Switches address today’s highest networking priorities from bandwidth expansion and VoIP migration, to network security and wireless LANs. Choose from managed Fast Ethernet, Power over Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet product lines. Our switches are differentiated by their security, ease-of-use, and management features like MAC-based port security, Web-based GUI with configuration wizards, and cable diagnostics. Avaya Ethernet Routing Switches The Avaya Ethernet Routing Switch portfolio (formerly Nortel) includes a broad collection of Ethernet switching products designed to securely deliver Layer 2 and 3 connectivity for converged networking. Avaya's VoIP and WLAN portfolio are enabled over modular and stackable Power over Ethernet (IEEE 802.3af) switches in a variety of densities. The portfolio offers 10/100 and 10/100/1000 interfaces for a wide range of customer budgets and performance requirements. With 10/100/1000Mbs to the desktop and in the data center, 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks on stackables and high density 10 Gigabit Ethernet aggregation ports on the modular designs offer the flexibility, performance and cost effectiveness to deploy next generation technology today. CISCO Catalyst Ethernet Switches The Catalyst Ethernet network switches from Cisco offer some of the industry’s most intelligent and advanced technologies. These switches are designed to extend the value of network throughout the infrastructure. Catalyst Switches from Cisco are part of a continuously expanding portfolio of offerings that can strengthen and simplify your network performance, thereby helping to deliver the greatest investment protection available. Available in modular, stackable and stand-alone configurations, Catalyst switches can be used anywhere they are needed in the network. The Cisco network switch portfolio provides enhanced functionality and intelligence to help organizations automate complex tasks while supporting new application and business requirements. By better understanding your business, Windstream can work with you to identify opportunities for communications-enabled devices, leading to improved agility, accuracy and speed, as well as higher productivity. Our dedicated personnel help you every step of the way with your customer premises equipment decisions. Bus Topology: This LAN topology is a very simple way of connecting computers. In this type of layout, all computers are hooked on a single transmission medium, usually a coaxial wire, using T-connectors. A terminator is also placed at the wire's end in order to absorb free signals so that the computers can send data. Let's look at the disadvantages and advantages of this local area network. Advantages: Simple installation. Economical use of cable. Media is inexpensive and easy to work with. Simple and reliable. Easy to extend Disadvantages: Can slow down in heavy traffic. Difficult to troubleshoot. Cable break can affect many users. High EMI (electromagnetic interference). Star Topology: In this network topology, computers are connected by cable segments to a centralized component called a hub. Signals are transmitted from the sending computer through the hub to all computers on the network. Advantages: Low EMI. Easy to troubleshoot. Easy to modify and add new computers. Centralized management.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse D
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.