Faculty Of Higher Education Assignment One Part I HS1011 D

FACULTY OF HIGHER EDUCATION Assignment One (PART I) HS1011 Data Communication and Networks Trimester 1 2017

The purpose of this assignment is to exercise and develop skills required to analyse and design networks to address the need of clients. In this assessment, students will be able to understand the basic concepts and principles of technology relating to electronic data communications and computer networking, demonstrate a basic understanding of terminology of network communications technology, network operating systems and network applications, articulate the difference between different types of network configurations and indicate the situations in which various options are best/most appropriate, understand and explain different roles of networking and network operating systems for information systems, and appreciate the need for different types of networks.

All three scenarios should be addressed. Use the instructions within each scenario to prepare a report.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The following report addresses three distinct scenarios related to data communication and network design, integrating the selection and evaluation of freeware tools suitable for each context. The objective is to analyze network monitoring, Wi-Fi scanning, and performance evaluation tools, aligning their features with the specific requirements of each scenario. This comprehensive approach emphasizes understanding the practicality and application of various computer networking tools in real-world settings, fostering skills in network analysis, design, and troubleshooting.

Scenario 1: Network Installation and Monitoring for a Small Business

In the first scenario, a network consisting of 20 computers is to be installed for a new business aiming to implement TCP/IP protocol and internet access. Given only two public IP addresses assigned by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), the internal network will utilize the private IP range of 172.16.1.1/16 to 172.16.1.125/16. Part of this setup involves selecting an appropriate freeware network monitoring tool to oversee network activities and monitor the status of each computer.

After evaluating several freeware network monitoring solutions, PRTG Network Monitor (Freeware Edition) emerges as a suitable choice. Though the full version of PRTG is commercial, its free version allows monitoring up to 100 sensors, which is more than sufficient for this setup. PRTG provides comprehensive network monitoring features such as device status, bandwidth usage, network traffic, and system health. Its user-friendly interface and flexible configuration make it ideal for small to medium-sized networks.

Exploring PRTG involved installing the software on a central server and configuring sensors for each connected computer. The tool's dashboard offers real-time status updates through colorful and intuitive visualizations, highlighting any irregularities or issues within the network. Screenshots of the PRTG interface display various sensors monitoring individual PCs, network traffic patterns, and overall network health charts.

Key features include:

• Device detection and automatic sensor provisioning
• Real-time network activity monitoring
• Customizable dashboards and alerts
• Historical data analysis for troubleshooting

These functionalities align with the scenario's needs by providing a centralized view of network performance, identifying bottlenecks, and ensuring reliable operation.

Scenario 2: Wireless Network Planning and Monitoring for Public Wi-Fi

The second scenario involves deploying a Wi-Fi network supporting 50–60 users, with two servers provisioned for web and email services. A critical requirement is to scan the surrounding area for nearby wireless access points (APs), identify their specifications, and monitor signal quality.

For this, NetSpot (Free Version) is an effective freeware tool for Wi-Fi scanning and site surveys. NetSpot enables detailed mapping of wireless signals, offering insights into SSID, MAC addresses, 802.11 standards (a/b/g/n/ac), and signal strength. It provides a user-friendly interface suitable for non-technical users to visualize Wi-Fi coverage, detect interference, and assess signal quality across the environment.

Installation involved downloading and running NetSpot on a compatible laptop, conducting surveys across the designated area, and analyzing the heatmaps generated. The process included identifying the nearest and strongest access points, distinguishing their standards (802.11a/b/g), and observing interference sources through the signal quality charts.

The key features of NetSpot include:

• Comprehensive Wi-Fi scan with detailed access point info
• Signal strength visualization via heatmaps
• Channel interference and coverage analysis
• Capability to export survey results as reports or images

These features enable the network designer to optimize placement of APs, ensure sufficient coverage, and prevent overlapping channels or interference, thereby improving service quality for end-users.

Scenario 3: Network Design and Performance Monitoring for a Multi-Floor Organization

The third scenario involves designing a network for CNT Books, spread over three floors, with 300 user workstations and 10 servers. Users are assigned to various projects but are distributed across all floors. the key needs are fault tolerance between floors and tools to evaluate network performance and quality of service (QoS).

For performance and QoS evaluation, Nagios Core stands out as a comprehensive, open-source freeware network monitoring tool suitable for large-scale environments. Nagios provides extensive monitoring capabilities, including host and service status, network utilization, and fault detection. Its modular architecture allows monitoring of multiple network segments, interfaces, and critical infrastructure components.

During installation, Nagios was configured to monitor all switches, routers, servers, and workstations using plugins and SNMP protocols. The dashboard offers real-time visual alerts, detailed logs, and customizable reports that help analyze network performance and detect bottlenecks or failures. The tool's ability to generate performance data and support QoS metrics makes it valuable for ongoing network management.

Key features include:

• Fault detection with notification alerts
• Bandwidth and traffic analysis
• Customizable dashboards with graphs
• Historical reporting for trend analysis

These capabilities support ongoing network health monitoring, ensure fault tolerance between multiple floors via redundant links, and facilitate performance optimization aligned with organizational requirements.

Conclusion

The selection of freeware tools such as PRTG Network Monitor, NetSpot, and Nagios Core is driven by their comprehensive features, user-friendliness, and suitability for the specific scenarios presented. These tools assist in effective network analysis, monitoring, and troubleshooting, enabling organizations to maintain robust, efficient, and well-managed network infrastructures. Proper deployment and utilization of these tools allow network administrators to proactively identify issues, optimize coverage, and ensure quality of service, which collectively contribute to organizational success in data communication and network management.

References

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