Sally Wong is excited about installing a new LAN as a key element of the new International Services Division. She wants you to assist her in developing a plan and proposal for a departmental LAN. You see this as an opportunity to build a model LAN within NDAS. You can start from the beginning with new equipment and procedures. Wong is very well respected in the company. NDAS is committed to moving strongly into the international arena. A successful LAN (or for that matter, an unsuccessful one) in her department will get a great deal of attention at NDAS.
Now you need to revisit the issue of LAN protocols and configurations so that you can make a final recommendation. Other issues that need to be considered at this time include the LAN’s cabling, installation, security, anticipated growth, and access—who or which remote offices can access the LAN. You also need to consider the operational and managerial procedures that will have to be adopted to ensure the successful operation of the department LAN. And, of course, there
are cost considerations.
Wong is excited about starting off with a LAN in her department. She has told you that her group will be using specialized software and creating a departmental database of customers and vendors. The group will initially consist of eight people but is expected to grow rapidly to twice that number.
Exercises
1. Which is best for the International Services Division, a dedicated-server network or peer-to-peer LAN? Explain your choice.
2. Draw a network plan using Microsoft Visio that includes the general layout of the LAN (computers, servers, cables, hubs/ switches) and recommend what type of LAN to install (e.g., 10Base-2, 10Base-T, switched 10Base-T, wireless Ethernet 802.11b). Justify your recommendation.
3. Sally Wong has heard horror stories about LAN bottlenecks. Prepare a discussion of LAN bottlenecks and what can be done to improve LAN performance.
4. What safeguards do you recommend for NDAS to control the use of illegal copies of software on the LANs?