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In this scenario, you have been hired as networking consultant by a nonprofit organization that needs to relocate their main office to a new building across town. The new location will consist of 40 users. The organization has a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy, so workers will need both a wired network for their desktop computers and a wireless network for their mobile devices.

The network will also consist of one IBM iView Document Center and two HP 4230 LaserJet printers, which need to be networked and accessible using both the wired and the wireless network.

Before the physical work can begin, you will need to make several recommendations to the client. Your recommendations should include the elements listed below. ·

Beneficiaries: Write a description of who will derive direct benefit from the project and how they will benefit. ·
Deliverables: Write a description of the computer network hardware necessary to set up the computer network and the necessary software and protocols. Your deliverables will contain the following features:
type of NIC (wired or wireless),
routers or wireless access points or both,
cables and connectors to implement a physical network,
any other needed network hardware,
physical and logical network topologies,
Internet Protocol (IP) version (IPv4 or IPv6) and the reason it was selected,
IP address pool for the network,
Domain Name System (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and
any other network software component.
Ensure your case study is at least three pages in length, not counting the title and reference pages. Your paper should be double-spaced, use 12-point Times New Roman font, and contain one-inch margins. Section headings are encouraged to help organize your paper. Your paper must be written using APA format.

Cite a minimum of three sources, two of which should be peer-reviewed, academic, or scholarly to support your responses. At least one source should come from the CSU Online Library. All sources used, including the e-textbooks, must be cited.

ANSWER

Introduction

A computer network is an organization’s most important infrastructure and the backbone of the business. Everything else, including software, devices, applications, operation, communication, and even management of human labor, is dependent on the efficiency of a computer network. An effective computer network is a benefit to everyone in the office, from senior management who oversees all the operations of the organization to the support staff who really on the accuracy of the petty cash system. In this paper, a process to set up a proper and functional computer network, both wired and wireless to support 40 users, and consist of one IBM iView Document Center and two HP 4230 LaserJet printers is described.

Deliverables

Setting up the computer network will consist of hardware, software, and protocols. The list of devices is as follows:

1. Modem – Facilitates connection to the internet by transforming digital data to analog data for transmission.
2. Router – Assists in communication between networks through the transfer of packet data. The type of router to choose depends on the number of devices on the network.

• Firewall – A security measure designed to control incoming and outgoing traffic based on the company’s policy. Acts like a filter keep unwanted traffic out.

1. Switch – Designed to allow communication between devices, including routers, PCs, and phones.
2. LAN Cable / Patch Cable / Patch cord – These are basically the highways of information between devices in the network.
3. Access Point – Facilitates connection by wireless devices

• Repeater – Regenerates WIFI signal on the same network to reach 40 users.
• Patch Panel – Allows for later expansion of network by leaving space for additional devices and enabling some order in the network closet.

Figure 1. Main Hardware Components of an Office Computer Networks

Source: https://www.itjones.com/blogs/2020/3/15/how-to-build-a-computer-network-for-your-small-business-part-1-the-basics

Setting up the Internet

The process to set up the network is as follows:

1. Installation of the Internet by the service provider.
2. Setup of the modem, switch and router through the LAN cables to facilitate both wired and wireless connections. A switch is necessary since the design is to serve 40 users.
3. Install the firewall to monitor network activity.
4. Add computers. All computers must have the Network Interface Card, which is often inbuilt.
5. Add the server and the printers. A server is plugged into a router or a switch on a secure location to centralize operations of the organization (Ahlers et al., 2013). The two printers will also be plugged in onto a switch or router in a convenient location.

Software Setup

Operating System – Could be Windows, Mac, or Linux depending on the company policy. The server works best with a Linux Operating System.

Protocols

All the devices in the network must have an Internet Protocol (IP) address. An IP address is provided by a server called a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). The IP address provided by the DHCP is known as the dynamic address and could change. However, it is possible to set up addresses manually referred to as static addresses that required port forwarding. In this case, when computers connect to the Internet, setup will have the DHCP assign then an IPv6 address while in the local area network, static IPv4 addresses will be applied (Ferrari et al., 2009)

References

Ahlers, T. F., Averbuch, A. H., Marl, C. B., Owens, J. A., Furlan, J. L., Kaplan, J., & Braunstein, A. (2014). U.S. Patent No. 8,649,297. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Ferrari, J., Holt, N., Peterson, R., & Averbuch, A. (2009). U.S. Patent No. 7,565,418. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Jone IT. How To Build A Computer Network For Your Small Business. Retrieved on 21^st November 2020 from https://www.itjones.com/blogs/2020/3/15/how-to-build-a-computer-network-for-your-small-business-part-1-the-basics