Management Systems in Company, Lan Technologies

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Network approaches
Connections
Hardware requirements
Component justifications
References

Introduction

Networking involves the interconnection of computers, other devices, and communication channels to enable the sharing of resources, such as printers, and scanners, and at the same time, ensures effective communication between different elements across any network. The elements that are required for the networking are as follows; servers or workstation, network cards and cables, network operating system (Windows-NT, 2000, 2003, XP, and 2008 ), among others. There are various classifications of computer networks; these depend on the size, distance covered, and the architecture of the network involved. Such include Local area networks (LAN) covering a small region, like in an office or company connecting two or more computers and other resources; Metropolitan Area networks (MAN), spanning across a metropolitan or city, and connecting computers and resources of two or more locations within one city. Others include Wide Area Networks (WAN), connecting two or more LANs, and spanning over a large geographical area, using modern networking technology and architecture to enable communication and sharing of resources (Singh, 2007).

For this case, the company should adopt a LAN because of the small geographical area. LAN technologies are recommended for the apartment building because of the following reasons. First, the organization is small, meaning that there are not so many activities and people involved, and the services provided by adopting LAN technology will ensure efficient and reliable sharing of resources, communication, and eventual productivity of the company. The cost of acquiring and installing the LAN technology is minimal compared to adoption of other technologies. In terns of costs, the network cards and cables are cheaper. Maintenance costs are also low because the technology uses less sophisticated elements in networking. The technology ensures that all the elements within the network are monitored easily and efficiently, especially with the adoption of the star, or ring topology. In this case, the star topology is preferred because of lower cost of installation and low maintenance costs involved.

The LAN technology will ensure faster transfer of data and information, especially through the use of fast Ethernet, and hence reduce traffic across the entire network. The devices required for the entire networking process are less and cheap within the market; for example, network cables and cards are relatively acquired at low or favorable price. There will be minimal attenuation of signals because of the small size of the company, which will ensure maximum and efficient usage of bandwidth acquired from the Internet service providers (ISPs). The technology allows addition of more computing resources without necessarily affecting the entire company; hence, there are minimal chances of reduced productivity. Because of the small size of the company, LAN technologies are flexible in case of future expansion plans within the company; in addition, changes will be made more easily on the network architecture due to flexibility and dynamic nature of the technology.

Network approaches

LAN is the type of network architecture and technology to be used because of the smaller size of the networking area. The devices are interconnected together over a common transportation medium. The topology (logical and physical connection of all the elements within the network) of the network describes the entire arrangement of the elements on the network. Given that the company is small, it is obvious that it will use the star or ring topology. Star topology defines the arrangement of computers, printers, and other shared resources via a central hub where all the network traffic flows. The topology will consist of a central hub, where all the hardware will be connected. The server, workgroups, and network printers will be connected via this point to ensure communication and optimal resource sharing. This type of topology is simple to implement, and it ensures efficient and effective network monitoring of all the devices connected from the central point. In addition, failure of one of the machines connected will not affect the functioning of other hardware on the network, except when the hub fails that is when the entire connection is affected. For the ring topology, the various physical elements are connected to a ring, usually the FDDI (fiber distribution digital interface). This allows the elements to share resources across the network without the fear of failure of a central collection point.

Ethernet technology is used in LAN connections. Ethernet describes the entire connections in terms of both physical (cables and network devices used) and logical (protocols) that govern the communication across the networked elements. A protocol refers to the defined standard rules and procedures that usually govern the way networked elements are supposed to communicate across the network. Such protocols in Ethernet consist of TCP/IP-transmission control protocol/ internet protocol, which control the mode of transmissions across the entire LAN (Miller, Cummins, 2000).

The company will adopt fast Ethernet technology standards, which carry bandwidth and traffic at rates of 100Mbps to 1000Mbps (megabytes per second). Such standards will ensure fast internet connection and flow of traffic across the entire network in this case, it is the 100BASE-TX Ethernet standard for the twisted pair cables for networking.

Connections

The networking resources and other elements should be connected together physically using cables. Fast Ethernet requires 100BASE-TX cables, which are unshielded twisted pairs (UTP) of cables to connect between the computers. These cables reduce the signal interference and attenuation; indeed, they are of variable length of 100m meters, a length that will ensure connection over a large area.

Logical connections should include the protocols applicable for LAN networks. These protocols will work at the two layers of the OSI model, that is the physical and the data link layers. Transmission control protocol provides reliable transmission of data in an IP environment. This protocol offers reliability by providing connection oriented delivery and flow control (Cisco Systems Inc, 2004).

Hardware requirements

The following are the hardware requirements that will enable and ensure efficient and effective network connections within the organization. 1) Network operating system (NetBIOS) will be installed on the server machine to ensure efficient resource allocations and sharing across the networked elements. 2) Windows server 2008 will be installed on the server, also to ensure efficient sharing of resources. 3) there will be need fore routers, which are networking hardware device that forwards data packets, filter traffic, choose between the best routes for data packets across the network. They come in various standards such as wireless router, switch or hub, and operates at the data link layer and create separate collision domains for each ports. Hubs work at the physical layer of the OSI model, connecting network segments together. 4) Networking cables (fast Ethernet cables) connect the computers and workstations from the backbone transmission medium. Standards to be used are 100Base-T, which provide faster flow and greater bandwidth. 5) Straight through cables connects the personal computers (PC) to hub. 6) Crossover cables connect PCs together. The last is network interface card, which is a circuit printed chip that enables physical connection of PC to a network media, network printers (Mansfield & Antonakos, 2009).

Figure showing the physical arrangement of interconnected elements on a company lan

the physical arrangement of interconnected elements on a company lan

Component justifications

The components required for an efficient and effective network connection and sharing of all the resources in an optimal way are described as follows. The server is a computer that stores a collection of shared resources such as files, databases, mails, and so on. It has the server software (for example Windows 2008 server and network software), and must be there to enable optimal sharing and allocation of resources to all the network elements. The router is a mandatory networking device, which has a network operating system that enables filtering of traffic, creation of routing tables, and choosing the best path to forward data packets across the network. The Ethernet cables used are the cross over cables, and must be present for the physical connection of computing devices together. Moreover, the network switch is used to connect the different segments together and provides collision detection measures.

The network printer is connected to the network to allow each member to access printing services, other than moving from place to place. It provides spooling that allows printing job queues on a first-come-first-serve basis. The personal computers are nodes that are used individual employees to perform different tasks such as data entry, transaction processing and so on. All the cables used provide a physical medium through which information and data from all the computers travel or pass through, and allow sharing of resources.

References

Cisco Systems Inc. 2004. Internetworking technologies handbook. Indianapolis: Cisco Press. Web.

Mansfield, C, K. & Antonakos, L, J., 2009. Computer Networking from LANs to WANs: hardware, software and security. OH: Cengage Learning. Web.

Miller, P. & Cummins, M., 2000. LAN Technologies Explained. MA: Digital Press. Web.

Singh, B., 2007. Networking. New Delhi: Firewall Media. Web.

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