Networking Papers revisons (2 papers) for Sirleem

Course

2 July 2014

Professor

Identify hardware and software needed to secure your choice of networks against all electronic threats.

A network that helps a workstation to connect with each other is called a Networking hardware. If a company uses both routers and firewall, the company is assured protection of both wireless and cabled networks that are used in the company. Network hardware is suitable in any organization in the keeping of the organizations network safe. In the software part I will choose to use McAfee Anti-virus security software. This software in conjunction with firewall is a sure way of protecting a company. Routers when used along with hardware are the best security hardware needed if the company needs to increase the security of their network to a level where none of the intruders can be able to access it (Radu, 2002). The function of the firewall in an organization is to ensure that all unwanted activities are blocked including hackers that can retrieve important and delicate information of the company. Hacking will be a very dangerous exercise where criminal can access the important information that a company has and use this information in blackmailing the company and its customers. Networking software’s also plays a major role in securing an organizations network security. The software has the capabilities of detecting viruses that may attack an organization and make an organization loose its critical information. McAfee is one of the top manufactures in ensuring that network security is maintained. The virus apart from detecting viruses, it is able to use internet firewall and detect any malware that an organization may be suffering from. It is true that an organization must have both hardware and software to ensure that they secure their information from hackers and viruses.

Distinguish between local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and wireless technologies.

A local area network is a network that has a shared group of computers and the distance between the computers is generally small. The computers within this distance share the same network, this helps the Local area network to easily share printers and do exchange of files within the same facility or network. When Local areas network is connected to other networks and also other local networks, they can turn to be called Wide Area network. Local area networks are connected using Ethernet cables, adapters and also hubs. Wide area networks (WAN) are very different from the LAN. The internet is an example of a wide area network because it usually links computers that are outside the local area network and all over the world (Zhang, 2010). The internet is considered the most popular wide area network. When on has a personal computer that is connected to the internet he/she is using wide area network. Personal computers can also connect to local area network and also metro area network. WAN is more expensive than the LAN because it uses leased lines in transmitting the network to users. Wireless local area network is a connected local area network but without a cable and wires. The condition of a local area network not using a cable in connection makes it a WLAN. Some of the advantages that are associated with the wireless local network is that they have low installation costs because they do not use wires during transmission. The wireless local network are also very mobile as compared to Wide area network and the local area network (Rainer & Cegielski, 2010). Wireless local area network can only be connected by the use of Wireless Access Point (WAP) which is transmitted by radio waves over a long area connected by the internet hub. The difference between the local area network and the wireless local area network is that the wireless local area network runs on IEE 802.11 standard. Wi-Fi connection is shared amongst people in buildings and those that live together in a neighborhood. It is the cheapest of all networks as it can be transmitted without costs. It has some disadvantages of delaying video calls and it is highly susceptible to security risks.

Explain the concepts and building blocks of today’s data communication networks, such as switches, routers, and cabling.

A network router is a more refined device as compared to the network switch or the network hub. Routers are typically very small in size just as switches and the hubs. They are shaped in a box-like shape, many computers can connect through them. The routers has features on the front and the back where one can establish connections from. They also have a connection to electric power and many a number of LED lights that blink whenever it is turned on. All of the three, routers, switches and hubs have the same physical appearance. Apart from the physical appearances routers have different inner functions (FitzGerald & Dennis, 2009). Traditional routers all have connections from where the local area network can be connected from. Routers are majorly used as intermediate destinations in all network traffics. Routers receive incoming network packets, they also have the role of looking inside each packet in identifying the source and target network addresses. A network switch is a device that serves as a controller that enables network devices to talk to each other efficiently. This helps the businesses money and also increases employee’s productivity. Switches are responsible for creating a network while a router is responsible in the connection of the network for users to be able to share to the network.

Self-assess your work against the Peer Evaluation Rating Scale

In the part of team involvement, the student is very active and very substantive in team discussions. He is also very good in time management, he supported the team timelines and he was able to meet all the assignments due date. He sacrificed and to a lead on establishing and following the goals, the roles and the responsibilities of the team. He was also a professional communicator in that he interacted with other team member of the team in a respectful and professional tone. Communication was clear with no typographical or grammatical errors.

References FitzGerald, J., & Dennis, A. (2009). Business Data Communications and Networking. John Wiley & Sons, 2009. Radu, C. (2002). Implementing Electronic Card Payment Systems. Artech House, 2002. Rainer, R. K., & Cegielski, C. G. (2010). Introduction to Information Systems: Enabling and Transforming Business. John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Zhang, P. (2010). Advanced Industrial Control Technology. William Andrew, 2010.