itm case study
... 3 and 4. 2. General overview of key concerns and how the proposed LAN will address those concerns. Work with pairs 3 and 4 to determine equipment costs. Create a chart that summarizes network costs (both hardware and software). 3. Specific recommendation and rationale re topology, cabling and server(s). Determine which topology or combination of topologies best suits the circumstances in the case. Having decided on a topology, recommend (and justify) the ideal network architecture(s) (e.g. Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, etc.) Choose the cable best suited to your client case and appropriate to the network architecture recommended. Decide on server requirements. Work with pair 2 to estimate equipment costs. 4. Specific recommendation and rationale re peripherals. Determine what peripheral devices, such as repeaters, bridges, printers, hubs, switches, UPS, back-up system, etc., need to be attached to the LAN. Emphasize the general purpose of each type of peripheral device and critical factors in choosing a product. Work with pair 2 to estimate equipment costs. . 5. Specific recommendation and rationale re network operating system. Decide which type of network operating system (client-server or peer-to-peer) best suits the situation, then recommend a particular product. Estimate the cost of the network operating system you choose and pass your information to pair 2. WRITING GUIDELINES Each consulting firm is expected to produce a single cohesive response to its case. The response should include a section from each student pair (3 to 4 double-spaced pages per section). Be certain to provide justification or rationale for your decisions by making clear and specific reference to the details of the case. Remember, the reader/client may not understand technical terms. Your writing should be clear and concise. In the absence of specific information in the case, feel free to make assumptions - just be certain to state your assumptions. Use lots of headings and subheadings to help organize your work. Each student is responsible for proofreading the work of other students in the group. Consult with other student pairs to ensure that the format of the final submission is consistent throughout. Your instructor will keep the original copy, so make a copy for yourself if desired. Include a bibliography that includes websites and other sources. Students are encouraged to reference materials beyond those prescribed for the course to inform their response to the case. A good reference article entitled Designing and Building the Best Small Office Network From the Ground Up by Marshall Breeding, will be distributed. This article and others related to network design can be found at http://www.networkcomputing.com/netdesign/series.htm The following websites may be useful in estimating network costs: www.microsoft.com www.ariesdirect.com www.sanbour.com www.novell.com www.baynetworks.com www.shillsdata.com www.3com.com www.anixter.com www.m-i-c.com www.compusa.com http://ausoladcacm.us.dell.com www.cdw.com www.warehouse.com/datacomm www.futureshop.com www.dell.com www.altecon.com WRITING GUIDELINES (continued) Several networking companies devote a section of their Websites to the networking needs of small business: www.intel.com/businesscomputing/small/...