Posted: September 6th, 2023

Networking basics

Networking basics

You are the IT manager of an Elementary School. The school is adding computers that have been donated by a local company. An extended star topology has been suggested, using some hubs that are available. The school agrees with your idea of adding a switch working as a backbone switch, as shown in the figure below. The plan is to replace the classroom hubs as the budget allows. Scenario: For now, the very basic details are as follows: the Elementary School is a four-year-old, single-level building with 12 classrooms and a library. Each classroom currently has 24 students but could possibly seat 32 students. There are currently no portable classrooms but a student enrollment growth is just starting to hit the school. Enough computers are available for six classrooms and the library immediately, and the intent is to outfit the remaining six classrooms next year. The plan is to make the Internet and some online services available to the students. The computers are current enough to be useful for at least two years. The library, which is somewhat centrally located, is where the server(s) and router connecting the school to the Internet will be located. Assume that all rooms will have 24 computers and that each room will use a stackable hub solution that combines a 12-port hub and a 24-port hub for 36 total ports. Being stackable units, the network will see each stack as a single 36-port device. Review the room requirements above. What type of network media is most appropriate for this situation? How many IP addresses does the school need immediately? How many might the school eventually need for the initial seven rooms? How many could it need if it gets enough computers for the entire school? Exact numbers aren’t expected, but you should be able to estimate pretty close from the data provided. What class(es) of IP address do you need now and in the future? The school district informs the group that it can afford 2 public IP addresses for the Internet access. Is this a problem if the school wants all the computers to access the Internet? Explain why or why not. Visit the Library and look up links to find the prices of routers, cable, and switches. In some sites, you may have to choose Networking on the site’s main page to get started. If you aren’t familiar with manufacturers, try Cisco, 3Com, Novell, D-Link, and Linksys. Write a 2-4 page paper using the APA style that answers these questions. Provide enough detail to fully support your opinion.

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Network Media:
Based on the information provided, the most appropriate network media for this situation would be Ethernet twisted-pair cables, specifically Category 6 (Cat6) cables. Cat6 cables can support gigabit speeds and provide reliable connectivity within the building. They are cost-effective, easy to install, and suitable for distances up to 100 meters, which should be sufficient for the elementary school’s requirements.

Number of IP Addresses:
To determine the number of IP addresses needed, we consider the immediate requirements, the initial seven rooms, and the entire school.

Immediately: Since there are enough computers for six classrooms and the library, which totals seven rooms, and assuming each room has 24 computers, the school would require 7 x 24 = 168 IP addresses.

Initial Seven Rooms: If we assume each room could accommodate up to 32 students, the school would need IP addresses for 7 x 32 = 224 students.

Entire School: If we assume the entire school, including the remaining six classrooms, would eventually have computers for each room with 32 students, then the school would need IP addresses for 12 x 32 = 384 students.

Class of IP Addresses:
The current and future IP address requirements would determine the class of IP addresses needed. In this scenario, the most suitable IP address class to use is Class C.
Class C IP addresses provide a large number of host addresses, which would be sufficient for the immediate and future requirements of the elementary school. Class C addresses have a default subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, allowing for up to 254 hosts on the network (256 minus the network address and broadcast address).

Public IP Addresses:
The fact that the school district can afford only two public IP addresses for Internet access may pose a problem if the school wants all the computers to access the Internet simultaneously.
With only two public IP addresses, the school would need to implement Network Address Translation (NAT) or use a proxy server to allow multiple devices to share the limited public IP addresses. NAT allows private IP addresses used within the school’s local network to be translated to the public IP addresses when accessing the Internet. This allows multiple devices to share a single or a few public IP addresses.

By implementing NAT or using a proxy server, the school can overcome the limitation of two public IP addresses and provide Internet access to all the computers in the network.

Price Research:
To find the prices of routers, cables, and switches, you can visit various online retailers or technology vendors’ websites. Here are a few popular manufacturers you can consider:
Cisco: Visit Cisco’s official website or authorized Cisco resellers to check their product offerings and prices.
3Com: Check the official website or authorized resellers for 3Com networking equipment.
D-Link: Visit D-Link’s official website or authorized D-Link resellers for pricing information.
Linksys: Check Linksys’ official website or authorized Linksys resellers for their product catalog and prices.
You can also explore online technology retailers such as Amazon, Newegg, or CDW, which offer a wide range of networking equipment from different manufacturers. By searching for specific product models or specifications, you can find prices for routers, cables, and switches that suit the school’s requirements.

Remember to compare prices from multiple sources to ensure you are getting the best deal and consider any additional costs such as installation, warranties, or support services.

Please note that the APA style requires specific formatting guidelines for papers, including title page, headings, citations, and references

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