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68 Chapter 2: Business and Technical Requirements
ZIP has an exclusive contractual agreement with Microhard to purchase and use its applications
exclusively. Microhard's e-mail system, Inlook, is robust, but it uses lots of network bandwidth.
Millie says that it is important to make sure that the e-mail system works properly. She says that
e-mail is the most important service that a network can render. After a discussion with the ZIP
help desk, Millie found out that ZIP allows its students to load whatever applications they want
on their PCs.
Peter, who visited the ZIP network, thinks that minimizing broadcasts and collisions on a shared
media network will be the key to success. He believes that this design is a perfect candidate for
Layer 2 switching. Megg thinks that RouteitRight should complete a site survey at ZIP before
discussing the technical requirements.
1
What technical issues must be taken into account when designing the network
infrastructure between the dormitories and the main campus?
2
What backbone would you recommend for the dormitories? (Each dormitory has seven
floors.) Why?
3
What changes should be made to ensure reliability and resiliency?
4
What type of cabling topology should be used to provide connectivity?
5
How can ZIP solve its performance problems?
6
How would you minimize broadcasts and collisions in your network design?
7
What protocol would you use for transport on the backbone between dormitories?
Scenario 2
For the past five years, ZIP has lost its homecoming game to SNAFU, its crosstown rival. After
last year's loss, 45-0, ZIP's president commissioned a study to determine what might help
recruiting at ZIP. One study recommended an upgrade of the facilities in the athletes' dormitory,
including an upgrade of the computer networks. As part of the directive to improve the athletic
quarters, the athletic director at ZIP, Joe Blough, has requested that the athletic dormitory have
its own file server and network. In addition, all ZIP athletes will have high-speed connectivity
to the Internet.
1
What upgrades would you recommend to facilitate these changes?
87200333.book Page 68 Wednesday, August 22, 2001 2:18 PM