There isn't much configuration that network administrators have to do at the transport layer. However, since the transport layer is the primary location for segmentation, this is a good place to estimate data-rate requirements for long-haul network links. In this exercise, you will estimate the data-rate requirements for the link from Amsterdam to Mumbai. Assume that the traffic on the link from Amsterdam to Mumbai primarily consists of the data required to support a call center in Mumbai. Traffic from the Mumbai call center has two components: a. Database transactions to pull customer data from the data center in Amsterdam. Each customer transaction takes an average of 3 minutes, during which time the agent typically makes three queries to the database. Each query generates about 3,000 bytes of data. b. Customer support calls to a 1-800 number routed to Mumbai from Tampa through Amsterdam. The calls use a G.728 codec, and each call requires a 31.5 Kbps bit rate.

Answer the following questions: 1. What is the average data rate in bits per second required to support the database queries with no unnecessary delays? To do this, you would like to have enough capacity so that all agents can run queries simultaneously. Remember that 1 byte = 8 bits, and carriers report data rates in bits per second because this gives a larger number, which is useful for marketing purposes (10 megabits per second is more marketable than 1.25 megabytes per second). 2. What is the data rate required to support the voice traffic? 3. Considering both of the above, what is the total data rate required on the Amsterdam-Mumbai link (in bits/second)? What fraction of this traffic is data, and what fraction is voice?