Mini Case Week 3

Networking Concepts & Apps WEEK 3 Homework

Mini Case 1

I. Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith

Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith is a regional accounting firm that is putting up a new headquarters building. The building will have a backbone network that connects eight LANs (two on each floor). The company is very concerned with network errors. What advice would you give regarding the design of the building and network cable planning that would help reduce network errors?

Advice:

The advice that I would give regarding the design of the building and network cable planning that would help reduce network errors is one of a Star topology. Using a Star topology to connect each LANs directly to the backbone will allow for continuity. Therefore, if one LAN goes down or is experiencing errors there will not be an entire building network outage if you have LANs feeding off other LANs as a daisy chain.

Another aspect we need to focus on is the distance between network cables and power cables. Having cables in a close proximity can cause serious errors to the network once it is up and running. One of the sources of error we talked about in chapter four is impulse noise. In addition, it is the “primary source of error in data communications” because of such considerations are not taken when initially setting up a network. Furthermore, the correct cables like plenum cables or cat 5 or 6 shielded cable can play a huge benefit in having a structure that will protect from unforeseen noises that may affect continuity. From the cable drop, I would recommend a router running to a switch to get access to the nodes on all the floors.

References:

Business Data Communications and Networking – 10th Edition, Fitzgerald, Jerry, Dennis, Alan.,