Assignment 1 OMDE 632 Divine M.

Eseh Whassamatta U Network March 5, 2006

Networking , Internetworking and Technical Infrastructure of Whassamatta U Network.

Abstract
This paper proceeds in 3 stages. First it begins with an infrastructure analysis of the hardware components identified from the Whassamatta U Network(WUN) diagram. The analysis includes a description of each component identified and the role it plays within the WUN infrastructure. Next the paper proceeds by describing the network topologies as identified, with an account of their strengths and weaknesses. Lastly, the paper concludes by suggesting three changes that could be implemented to improve the overall network performance and security.

Basic Network Architecture

The Whassamatta U Network (WUN) is a 100Base-T Ethernet Wide - Area Network (WAN) with an extended star topology. The Ethernet WAN is connected to the Internet by Quest (the ISP) through a Cisco router (Cisco 1801 Router) at a T-3 dedicated phone connection speed (Webopedia 2006). A student is able to connect to the university network resources by Verison cloud (the ISP ) through a standard broadband DSL connection. The WAN is controlled by a 100Base-T Cisco Ethernet switch (Cisco Catalyst 2940-8TF) to which the following five devices have been attached: The first two Local - Area Networks (LAN ) consisting of seven work stations combined are each connected to a central hub or repeater which is a shared Ethernet Belkin device (Belkin 7Port USB 2.0.Model F5u237) Level 2 support and developer groups run at 100Base-T. The last LAN is a super fast enhanced 100Base-T Cisco, content services Ethernet switch(Cisco CSS 11500) . It controls four servers that supply student course content over the network. A security firewall device (CheckPoint Firewall-1) to protect the network from intruders A 256K VPN wireless connection from an outsourced contractor providing university level 1 support Lastly a direct connection from a fast Student Administration Systems server.

Hardware Components and Functions The Hub / Repeater ( Belkin 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub model:F5U237 )
SHARED ETHERNET HUB Network hubs serve two purpose First they provide an easy way to connect network cables ( UTP category 5 ).A hub can be thought of as a junction box, permitting new computers to be connected to the network as easily as plugging a power cord into an electrical socket. Second, hubs, can act as repeaters or amplifiers. On the WUN diagram the Belkin 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub model:F5U237 performs these functions. Protocol and Capacity: The Belkin 7-Port is supposed to run at 100 Base-T on shared Ethernet protocol. However, the documentation from a reliable source indicates that it has a data transfer capacity of up to 480 Mbps( Dealtime, 2006). Switched Ethernet Hub (Cisco Catalyst 2940-8TF) Unlike the shared Ethernet hub above the Cisco catalyst runs at 100BaseT switched Ethernet to connect segments of subnets to form an extended star topology. With switched Ethernet, a switch replaces the hub or repeater but otherwise all other components are identical. to the hub .The Cisco Ethernet switch is sometimes called a workgroup switch because it will support up to 24 devices

Assignment 1 OMDE 632 Divine M. Eseh Whassamatta U Network March 5, 2006

On LANs conventional hubs simply rebroadcast every packet to every port. While switching hubs can perform point to point access and load balancing (Webopedia 2006) Advanced CSS Switch : Cisco CSS 11500 On this WUN the CSS Ethernet switched perfoms the same functions like a repeater except that it does everything bigger and better. The Cisco CSS11500 IS HIGH PERFORMANCE web infrastructure optimized for content delivery of web pages by activating HTTP headers.(Cisco Systems,2006). Routers: Cisco 1801 Router Function: these are connecting devices that are used to link different networks together. And, in this case the Cisco 1801 performs this function to connect the WUN network to the Internet, Quest, and Verizon. This router works at the network layer and connects to the internet at T-3 speeds with a memory capacity of 384MBON ONE SLOT.. (Cisco Systems,2006). Firewall Protection:(CheckPoint Firewall -1) Firewalls protect network data by controlling the information that passes between a private network and the Internet.So essentially they are designed to prevent unauthorized access to network devices and data. Firewall-1 on this diagram performs this function. In fact Firewall-1 is the industrys number firewall solution delivering the very best first line of defense on network security.(CheckPoint 2006).

Types of Network Topologies

From the diagram the LANs controlled by the Belkin 7-Port hubs / repeaters have a physical star topology but use shared Ethernet protocol or bus topology. On the other hand the LANs controlled by Cisco Catalyst and Cisco CSS a switched Ethernet protocol and a star topology. And this makes these LANs or subnets very different in performance. Before I show the differences let me list the general features of a star topology.

STAR TOPOLOGY: PHYSICAL LAY OUT DIFFERENCIES

As is evident in the diagram, in a star topology all the devices are connected to a central unit called a hub or switch.. Each station has its own direct cable connection to the hub/switch. Advantages: Adding or moving computers becomes a relative easy task Trouble shooting a defective station.is also easy Star topologies can accommodate different wiring A switched Ethernet star is faster Disadvantages: Failure of the hub cripples attached stations More cabling is required than other set ups.(Teach-ict, 2006)

STAR TOPOLOGY: LOGICAL LAY OUT DIFFERENCES AND PERFORMANCE

Shared Ethernet protocol ,BELKIN f5u237 LANs. Switched Ethernet This LAN uses a logical bus topology because of the shared multipoint circuit used by all attached computers and devices. As a result performance is slow on this LAN because of the CSMA/CD or contention based media access technique. Switched Ethernet protocol, Cisco Catalyst and Cisco CSS 11500

Assignment 1 OMDE 632 Divine M. Eseh Whassamatta U Network March 5, 2006

The switched Ethernet LAN by contrast provides a series of separate point-to-point circuits to the attached devices, so that no device needs to wait for another device before it transmits data. Switched Ethernets perform address reading and so deliver better performance than traditional shared Ethernet.

IMPROVING NETWORK PERFORMANCE AND SECURITY: THREE AREAS Security : From the diagram Level 1 support (outsourced) connects to the Whassamatta WAN behind
the firewall. This is dangerous because this access to the WUN WAN can not be captured by the firewall. So I recommend moving the position of the Cisco Catalyst2940-8TF from its present position to between the Cisco1801 router and the CHECKPOINT firewall. i.e. in front of the firewall.. Developer 4 should be checked for a personal firewall availability. If absent that needs to be installed. C

Performance Improvements
Replace the Belkin shared Ethernet hubs with Cisco catalyst switched Ethernet protocol. Why? Because the WAN is a 100Base-T .switched Ethernet .AND 1) those Belkin hubs are not running at full capacity, 2) do not support load balancing and 2) the protocol is slow since there is multipoint sharing. Up grading to a Cisco Catalyst will yield performance improvements through out the WAN. Lastly its always a good idea to stick with the same manufacturer through out the network as much as possible.

Conclusion
Once these changes are made I believe the WUN student WAN be faster and safer.

REFERENCES
Cisco Systems,2006. retrieved from http://www.cisco.com./ reteived March 05, 2006 Dealtime,2006. retrieved from http://www.dealtime.co.uk/ reteived March 05, 2006 Teach-ict,2006. retrieved from http://www.teach-ict.com/ reteived March 05 ,2006 Webopedia,2006. retrieved from http://www.webopedia.com/ reteived March 05, 2006 Checkpoint Firewall-1,2006. retrieved from http://www.checkpoint.com/ reteived March 05, 2006