NETW410, Professor’s Name
Lab 4: Connecting Point A to Point B

Lab Report

1. How should an Internet connection be made for the current campus? Why did you select this option over the others? AT&T is the carrier providing service to the existing campus as well as the new campus. Examine the offerings for Internet access to select the one that should be used. (10 points)

I think internet connection should be made using (DSL) and Broadband. I decided on this option because AT&T’s Digital Subscriber Line service (DSL) offers highly secure, high-speed, cost-effective business Internet connectivity over existing landlines without interrupting voice services. AT&T Broadband Internet Services Provides a single point of contact for business’ connectivity needs, access the Internet and Intranet, stream audio and video and transfer large amounts of data and provide access to remote workers.

2. How should the existing and new campus locations be connected to each other? (10 points)

The Existing and new campus can use a fiber optic cabling in order to connect the two campuses. Fiber optic cables are less expensive, there is less signal degrading, non flammable and the best option compared to other competitors. On the other hand the campuses can request a static IP address through the internet provider. Through this the two campuses can connect on a network via WAN

3. Should the two locations share an Internet connection? (10 points)

Yes, for this scenario sharing a single internet connection between the two with be sufficient and will turn out to be less cost effective.

4. Compare the advantages, disadvantages, and cost of fiber optic cable, 5 GHz wireless bridges, and free space optics as a means to interconnect the campus buildings to the IT wing of the Administration Building. (10 points)

Fiber optics is what it is - fast, safe, secure, and expensive data transmission. For short distances and in urban areas, fiber has its place.

Network bridge connections can be in a Point to Point or Point to Multi-Point configuration and can provide fast, secure connectivity for data, voice and video applications. Wireless bridges are especially suited to organizations with large campus sites and multiple buildings where traditional connection methods may be difficult.
5GHz Wireless Bridge: * Better for higher data rate applications and where there is no clear line of sight between the base station and subscribers. * Can be the back-bone connection to multiple wireless ‘Hot-spots’ around a town or area. * Used to deliver community-wide broadband in urban and rural areas where a Point of Presence is then extended to a number of subscribers - typically businesses around the town or area. * Antennas are usually sector type, typically 120 degree beam width. * Can deliver both IP Ethernet data and E1 voice (including IP based CCTV).

FSO is a line-of-sight technology that uses invisible beams of light to provide optical bandwidth connections that can send and receive voice, video, and data information. FSO can transmit voice, data, and video at bandwidths up to 1.25 Gbps which is perfect for smaller networks. This optical connectivity doesn't require expensive fiber-optic cable or securing spectrum licenses for radio frequency (RF) solutions. FSO technology requires light.

5. What would be required to interconnect the existing campus and the new campus to each other using fiber optic cable laid within the hiking trail right of way? (10 points)

A single IP addressing scheme for both campuses and a open wireless network.

6. Examine the data shown on the DSL Line Utilization Report found in Doc Sharing. This is a typical bandwidth utilization report for the ADSL line used to connect each building on the campus to the Internet. Keeping in mind that there are eight of these DSL lines connecting the campus buildings to the Internet; will a higher speed connection be needed when these are consolidated into one connection? (10 points)

Yes a higher speed connection will be needed. The DSL Line Utilization Report show the bandwidth of each DSL line and each line bandwidths are incredibly low. When consolidating them into one connection a higher speed connection will be needed in order to raise the bandwidth.

7. If the two locations share an Internet connection, will a single connection suffice for both sites? (10 points)

No I do not believe a single connection will suffice for both sites. The reason for this is connection and speed problems may arise. The bandwidth that is currently residing on the campus will just be lowered. By being connected to another location the current network will be even slower than it already is.