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ASSIGNMENT 1 FRONT SHEET
Qualification BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Computing Unit number and title Unit 2: Networking Infrastructure Submission date 22/12/2021 Date Received 1st submission Re-submission Date Date Received 2nd submission Student Name Tran Xuan Sang Student ID GCC Class GCC0903 Assessor name Le Huynh Quoc Bao Student declaration I certify that the assignment submission is entirely my own work and I fully understand the consequences of plagiarism. I understand that making a false declaration is a form of malpractice. Student’s signature Tran Xuan Sang Grading grid
P1 P2 P3 P4 M1 M2 D
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LO1 Examine networking principles and their protocols. LO2 Explain networking devices and operations. Assignment Brief and Guidance: Assignment scenario You are employed as a network engineer by Nguyen Networking Limited, a high-tech networking solution development company, which has branches in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang and Can Tho. The company has been contracted to implement a networking project from a local educational institute. The specification of the project is given below: People: 200 students, 15 teachers, 12 marketing and administration staff, 5 higher managers including the academic heads and the programme managers, and 3 computer network administrators. Resources: 50 student lab computers, 35 staff computers, and 3 printers. Building: 3 floors, all computers and printers are on the ground floor apart from the IT labs – one lab located on the first floor and another located on the second floor. Task 1 The CEO of the company, Mr. Nguyen, has asked you to investigate and explain networking principles, protocols and devices and submit a report. You will need to produce a report that includes the following: An introduction to provide an overview of your report. Benefits and constraints of different types of networks and networking standards. The impact of network topology, speed of communication and bandwidth requirements. Effectiveness of networking systems. Discussion on operating principles of networking devices and server types and networking software. Discuss the relationship of workstation hardware with networking software. Explore a range of server types and justify the selection of a server, considering a given scenario regarding cost and performance optimization. For the given specification, identify the topology protocol for the efficient utilization of a networking system.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria (Assignment 1): Learning Outcome Pass Merit Distinction LO1 P1 Discuss the benefits and constraints of different network types and standards. P2 Explain the impact of network topology, communication and bandwidth requirements. M1 Compare common networking principles and how protocols enable the effectiveness of networked systems. D1 Considering a given scenario, identify the topology protocol selected for the efficient utilization of a networking system. LO 2 P3 Discuss the operating principles of networking devices and server types. P4 Discuss the inter- dependence of workstation hardware with relevant networking software. M2 Explore a range of server types and justify the selection of a server, considering a given scenario regarding cost and performance optimisation.
Chapter 1: Benefits and constraints of different network types and
standards (P1).
1. Discuss the benefits and constraints of different network types. 1.1 local area network (LAN) : A local area network (LAN) is a collection of devices connected together in one physical location, such as a building, office, or home. A LAN can be small or large, ranging from a home network with one user to an enterprise network with thousands of users and devices in an office or school. Regardless of size, a LAN's single defining characteristic is that it connects devices that are in a single, limited area. In contrast, a wide area network (WAN) or metropolitan area network (MAN) covers larger geographic areas. Some WANs and MANs connect many LANs together. Benefits of a LAN : The advantages of a LAN are the same as those for any group of devices networked together. The devices can use a single Internet connection, share files with one another, print to shared printers, and be accessed and even controlled by one another. (cisco, What Is a LAN?) Constraints of a LAN : High Setup Cost : The initial setup costs of installing Local Area Networks is high because there is special software required to make a server. Also, communication devices like an ethernet cable, switches, hubs, routers, cables are costly. Privacy Violations : The LAN administrator can see and check personal data files of each and every LAN user. Moreover, he can view the computer and internet history of the LAN user. Data Security Threat : Unauthorised users can access important data of an office or campus if a server hard disk is not properly secured by the LAN administrator.
LAN Maintenance Job : Local Area Network requires a LAN Administrator because there are problems such as software installations, program faults or hardware failures or cable disturbances in Local Area Network. A LAN Administrator is required to maintain these issues. Covers Limited Area : LANs are restricted in size they cover a small area like a single office, single building or a group of nearby buildings. (Jahejo, Local Area Network | Advantages and Disadvantages of LAN) 1.2 Wide-Area Network (WAN) : In its simplest form, a wide-area network (WAN) is a collection of local-area networks (LANs) or other networks that communicate with one another. A WAN is essentially a network of networks, with the Internet the world's largest WAN. (Cisco) Benefits of a WAN :
- Covers large geographical area.
- Centralized data.
- Get updated files and data.
- A lot of application to exchange messages.
- Sharing of software and resources.
- Global business.
- High bandwidth.
- Distribute workload and decrease travel charges. Constraints of a WAN : Security problems: WAN has more security problem as compare to MAN and LAN. WAN has many technologies combined with each other which can create a security gap. Needs firewall and antivirus software: As data transferred on the internet can be accessed and changed by hackers so firewall needs to be enabled in the computer. Some people can also inject a virus into the computer so antivirus software needs to be installed. Other security software also needs to be installed on different points in WAN.
1.4 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) : Stands for "Wireless Local Area Network." A WLAN, or wireless LAN, is a network that allows devices to connect and communicate wirelessly. Unlike a traditional wired LAN, in which devices communicate over Ethernet cables, devices on a WLAN communicate via Wi-Fi. Benefits of a WLAN : The most obvious advantage of a WLAN is that devices can connect wirelessly, eliminating the need for cables. This allows homes and businesses to create local networks without wiring the building with Ethernet. It also provides a way for small devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to connect to the network. WLANs are not limited by the number of physical ports on the router and therefore can support dozens or even hundreds of devices. The range of a WLAN can easily be extended by adding one or more repeaters. Finally, a WLAN can be easily upgraded by replacing routers with new versions — a much easier and cheaper solution than upgrading old Ethernet cables. Constraints of a WLAN : Wireless networks are naturally less secure than wired networks. Any wireless device can attempt to connect to a WLAN, so it is important to limit access to the network if security is a concern. This is typically done using wireless authentication such as WEP or WPA, which encrypts the communication. Additionally, wireless networks are more susceptible to interference from other signals or physical barriers, such as concrete walls. Since LANs offer the highest performance and security, they are still used for many corporate and government networks. (techterms, 2020) 1.5 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) : A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a large computer network that usually spans a city or a large campus. A MAN Network is optimized for a larger geographical area than a LAN, ranging from several blocks of buildings to entire cities. MAN Networks are formed by connecting multiple LANs. Thus, MAN Networks are larger than LANs but smaller than wide-area networks (WAN).
The purpose of MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) is to provide the link to the internet in the long run. MAN Network provides Internet connectivity for LANs in a metropolitan region, and connect them to wider area networks like the Internet. It can also be used in cable television. Benefits of a MAN : 1: Less Expensive: It is less expensive to attach MAN with WAN Network. MAN gives you good efficiency of data. All data on MAN is easily manageable in a centralized way. 2: Sending Local Emails: You can send local emails fast and free on MAN. 3: High Speed than WAN: The speed of data can easily reach 1000 Mbps, as MAN uses fiber optics. Files and database transfer rates are fast. 4: Sharing of the Internet: With the installation of MANs, users can share their internet connection. In this way, multiple users can get the same high-speed internet. 5: Conversion of LAN to MAN is Easy: MAN is a combination of two or more LAN network. So it is a faster way to connect two LAN networks together. It is possible by the fast configuration of links. 6: High Security: MAN’s has a high-security level than WAN. Constraints of a MAN : 1: Difficult To Manage: It is very difficult to manage if the size and number of LANs network increase. This is due to security and extra configuration problems. 2: Internet Speed Difference: As it cannot work on phone copper wires. Copper wires affect the speed of MAN.So high cost is needed for fiber optics. 3: Hackers Attack:
(Rehman) 1.7 Virtual Private Network (VPN) : A virtual private network, or VPN, is an encrypted connection over the Internet from a device to a network. The encrypted connection helps ensure that sensitive data is safely transmitted. It prevents unauthorized people from eavesdropping on the traffic and allows the user to conduct work remotely. VPN technology is widely used in corporate environments. (cisco) Benefits of a VPN : Secure your sensitive data: If you are using the internet on public places through free Wi-Fi then hackers may leak your data. Sensitive data may include bank account details, credit card details, email credentials. If you use VPN then all the data is encrypted before transferring to the internet and your data becomes safe from hackers. Downloading torrent: Some countries have restriction to access to torrent sites. Also, torrent sites may get your information like IP address, country and city details. So, in this case, VPN plays an important role by hiding your identity and give you access to a torrent site. Hiding bandwidth from ISP: By using VPN you can trick internet service provider. ISP will not know which sites you are visiting and how much bandwidth you are consuming. This is because data is encrypted and not detected by your ISP. Detecting Geolocation: Most websites use the geolocation feature to track user location and get user real IP. They use this information to license their products and they will not allow the products to be accessed in some countries. VPN changes your IP address and by-pass this identity layer and give you access to that website. Buying online tickets: There is a variation in prices for buying airline tickets online. The ticket prices are a little higher for developed countries. You can use VPN of less developed countries and get a discount in price. Sometimes this trick not works because some websites store cookies in your browser when you first time visit the website. So it is good practice to clear your cache and then using a VPN. Playing online games: By using a VPN, you can bypass geolocation and will not get banned from playing any game.
Bypass firewall: VPN bypass your computer firewall and give you access to websites that are blocked by the government. Cost effective for companies: Some companies want to make the dedicated private network for their use and it is costly to make. So the companies buy VPN which has less cost and is more secure for their work. By using a VPN within the company, it can make a virtual LAN. So if the employee is not at the office can still access company data through a remote location. Constraints of a VPN : VPN is sometimes costly: Due to high-quality service, some VPN’s are costly i.e. $12/month. But normal VPN’s cost less than $5/month. Data transfer over the internet becomes slow: If you use VPN over slow internet package then browsing websites becomes slow. This is because of routing web traffic from ISP to VPN and VPN to ISP. Due to the large distance, your internet connection becomes slow. Not all devices support VPN: Some operating system and devices don’t have VPN software made. So they have to configure manually VPN connection. For example Linux, Boxee Box and Chromebook don’t have VPN software support. Also, some smartphones and gaming console have not to support for VPN software. Free VPN’s have security problem: If you use free VPN then your data can be given to third party companies. Also, free VPN is not good at making encryption and hackers may attack your device/computer easily. Moreover, you will get many ads on using free VPN’s. Some low cost or free VPN’s give you limited countries VPN’s and may frequent discounts you from the server. (Rehman)
1.8 System Area Network (SAN) :
A system area network (SAN) is a high-performance, connection-oriented network that can link a cluster of computers. A SAN delivers high bandwidth (1 Gbps or greater) with low latency. A SAN is typically switched by hubs that support eight or more nodes. The cable lengths between nodes on a SAN range from a few meters to a few kilometers. Unlike existing network technologies such as Ethernet and ATM, a SAN offers a reliable transport service; that is, a SAN guarantees to deliver uncorrupted data in the same order in which it was sent. Connection
Networking standards define the rules for data communications that are needed for interoperability of networking technologies and processes. Standards help in creating and maintaining open markets and allow different vendors to compete on the basis of the quality of their products while being compatible with existing market products. During data communication, a number of standards may be used simultaneously at the different layers. The commonly used standards at each layer are : Application layer − HTTP, HTML, POP, H.323, IMAP Transport layer − TCP, SPX Network layer −IP, IPX Data link layer − Ethernet IEEE 802.3, X.25, Frame Relay Physical layer −RS-232C (cable), V.92 (modem) (Reddy, 2018) Some of the noted standards organizations : ISO: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ISO has three official languages: English, French, and Russian. Its membership comprises national standards organizations, one from each of 163 countries. Each member represents its country’s standardization activities to ISO and, in turn, represents ISO back to its own country. ANSI represents the United States (more on ANSI later). Even Fiji is a member, participating in 10 ISO technical committees and represented by its Department of National Trade Measurement and Standards. IEC : The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) creates and publishes standards for electrical and electronic technologies. It was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Members of the IEC are called National Committees. Each country can have just one National Committee in the IEC. There are 82 members. ANSI represents the United States. Countless electronic and electrical products around the world use IEC standards and their corresponding conformity assessment systems. IEC standards help ensure that these products work properly, connect to each other, and perform safely. ITU : The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Its original name was the International Telegraph Union, and it was founded in Paris in 1865. It serves the field of information and communications technology. Now headquartered in Geneva, it has a
membership of 193 countries and over 700 private-sector entities and academic institutions. It operates using the six official languages of the United Nations: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The ITU allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits. It also develops technical standards for interconnecting networks and other technologies in international telecommunications. Some of its standards work deals with economic and policy issues as well. ANSI :The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) was founded in 1918 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with an operational office in New York City. Its mission is “to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity.” (Bartleson, 2013)
Chapter 2: The impacts of network topology, communication and
bandwidth requirements (P2).
1. Network topology : Network topology refers to how various nodes, devices, and connections on your network are physically or logically arranged in relation to each other. Think of your network as a city, and the topology as the road map. Just as there are many ways to arrange and maintain a city—such as making sure the avenues and boulevards can facilitate passage between the parts of town getting the most traffic—there are several ways to arrange a network. Each has advantages and disadvantages and depending on the needs of your company, certain arrangements can give you a greater degree of connectivity and security. Physical – The physical network topology refers to the actual connections (wires, cables, etc.) of how the network is arranged. Setup, maintenance, and provisioning tasks require insight into the physical network. Logical – The logical network topology is a higher-level idea of how the network is set up, including which nodes connect to each other and in which ways, as well as how data is transmitted through the network. Logical network topology includes any virtual and cloud resources. (Contributor, 2019) Difference between physical topology and logical topology
Advantages of Star Topology : Star topologies are common since they allow you to conveniently manage your entire network from a single location. Because each of the nodes is independently connected to the central hub, should one go down, the rest of the network will continue functioning unaffected, making the star topology a stable and secure network layout. Disadvantages of Star Topology : On the flipside, if the central hub goes down, the rest of the network can’t function. But if the central hub is properly managed and kept in good health, administrators shouldn’t have too many issues. The overall bandwidth and performance of the network are also limited by the central node’s configurations and technical specifications, making star topologies expensive to set up and operate. Bus Topology : A bus topology orients all the devices on a network along a single cable running in a single direction from one end of the network to the other—which is why it’s sometimes called a “line topology” or “backbone topology.” Data flow on the network also follows the route of the cable, moving in one direction. Advantages of Bus Topology : us topologies are a good, cost-effective choice for smaller networks because the layout is simple, allowing all devices to be connected via a single coaxial or RJ45 cable. If needed, more nodes can be easily added to the network by joining additional cables. Disadvantages of Bus Topology : However, because bus topologies use a single cable to transmit data, they’re somewhat vulnerable. If the cable experiences a failure, the whole network goes down, which can be time-consuming and expensive to restore, which can be less of an issue with smaller networks. Dual-Ring Topology :
. A network with ring topology is half-duplex, meaning data can only move in one direction at a time. Ring topologies can be made full-duplex by adding a second connection between network nodes, creating a dual ring topology. Advantages of Dual-Ring Topology : The primary advantage of dual ring topology is its efficiency: because each node has two connections on either side, information can be sent both clockwise and counterclockwise along the network. The secondary ring included in a dual-ring topology setup can act as a redundant layer and backup, which helps solve for many of the disadvantages of traditional ring topology. Dual ring topologies offer a little extra security, too: if one ring fails within a node, the other ring is still able to send data. Tree Topology : The tree topology structure gets its name from how the central node functions as a sort of trunk for the network, with nodes extending outward in a branch-like fashion. However, where each node in a star topology is directly connected to the central hub, a tree topology has a parent-child hierarchy to how the nodes are connected. Those connected to the central hub are connected linearly to other nodes, so two connected nodes only share one mutual connection. Because the tree topology structure is both extremely flexible and scalable, it’s often used for wide area networks to support many spread-out devices.
