Cody Mercer

NTC/360 Network and Telecommunications Concepts

Instructor: Ricky Chow

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Huffman Trucking
History
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A native of Cleveland, Ohio, K. Huffman founded Huffman Trucking in 1936 with a
single tractor-trailer. The growth of the company was the direct result of World War
II and the increased demand for carrier services between factories in the Midwest to
ports on the East Coast. By 1945, the fleet had increased in size to 16 tractors and
36 trailers. The business relationship forged with the U.S. Government continues
today. Huffman Trucking continued to grow from internal sales and the acquisition
of five Eastern regional carriers. This growth has enabled Huffman Trucking to
continue to be privately held (Apollo, 2010).
Huffman Locations
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Thee are four different geographic locations that are included in the Huffman
Trucking Company network. The corporate offices and service centers are located in:

Cleveland, Ohio
Los Angeles, California
St. Louis, Missouri
Bayonne, New Jersey
Huffman Topologies
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Huffman Trucking has locations in four states and currently has
three different topologies in place. Additionally, the office
locations and local plants in differing states do not have the
same topologies.
Office Location Physical Topology Logical Topology
California Bus Ethernet/Bus
Ohio Ring Token Ring
Missouri Ring Token Ring
New Jersey Bus Ethernet/Bus

Plant Location Physical Topology Logical Topology
California Star Ethernet/Star
Ohio Star* Token Ring/Star
Missouri Star* Token Ring/Star
New Jersey Star Ethernet/Star
*Also includes multistation access unit

Topologies
Recommendation
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Based on the review of Huffman Truckings current topology a mesh topology is
recommended. Switching from the current mix of topologies will increase
efficiency, capabilities, and features available to Huffman Trucking.

All of the cabling should be upgraded to Category 5

Older computers should be upgraded or replaced to ensure access to high speed Internet

California office should connect all computers to the Ethernet to increased communication
and productivity

New Jersey office should have an Internet security system in place and also upgrade the
Internet connection from dial-up to high speed internet
Huffman Current
Informations Systems
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Huffman trucking employs a wide variety of telecommunications and technology
systems to maintain daily business across their four sites. Moreover, the
information's systems infrastructure is not consistent throughout each site. These
differences in technology lead to communication and system break-downs that
greatly increases the maintenance cost across the organization. This Power Point
identifies a common solution for all facilities while developing a strategic model for
all sites to adopt the modern technologies available in today's industry.
Information Systems
Cont.
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Hardware/Software Protocol:

Cisco Routers
Lotus Notes Server
Cisco Hubs
Norton Firewall Server
Cisco Switches
Microsoft Operating System
Bar Code Scanners
Windows 2000 Database Server




Cat 5/Cat 3 Wiring
Printers
Scanners
Plotters
Apache Web Server
Novell Border Manager Server
Shipper Printers
Windows Exchange 5
Windows Proxy Server
Huffmans Network
Protocols Missouri/Ohio
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The Missouri and Ohio Office networks are currently using the IPX/SPX protocol in
their networks. This is because they are both using a Novell 5.1 NDS Server Novell
Border Manager Server. IPX/SPX Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) and
Sequenced Packet Exchange (SPX) are proprietary protocols unique to Novell 4.x
(and some of the earlier NetWare networks); therefore, the Novell servers that both
these networks carry are easily integrated with the IPX/SPX protocol.
Huffmans Network
Protocols Cont.
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The rest of the networks make use of the TCP/IP protocol. TCP/IP has been a
salvation for Huffman Trucking because the company needs to connect different
systems together and needs them to function as a unified whole. Huffman Trucking
carries many different systems on its networks, such as: Mac OS X, Windows 2000,
Windows XP, Windows NT, Microsoft Exchange, Plotter, printers, Raid drives, etc.
Because there are so many varied systems, a protocol that is standard, complete, and
accepted globally is the best option for Huffman Trucking.
Network Protocols
Recommendations
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The new network protocol that should be used at the Huffman Trucking company is
VoIP. VoIP continues to be the most popular choice for small, medium, and large
enterprises because VoIP can ride on the same physical network as data (Kim, 2010).
Huffman Trucking network utilizes several Windows desktops, macs, servers and
devices such as printers, scanners, etc. With a broadband connected to systems such as
a desktop, VoIP and workstation connections are able to share the same LAN
connection, which drives convergence. Convergence merges voice, video, and data
communications. (Kim, 2010).
Network Protocols
Recommendations Cont.
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VoIP provides the basis so that integration of enhanced voice communication services
and real-time messaging takes place. VoIP is able to support:

voice calls
audio conferencing
cut down on telephony expenses
instant-messaging applications
support real-time/multimedia communications
Huffmans
Telephone System
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There are several telephone systems in use at the Huffman Trucking sites and each
site uses Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) phones. These touch tone phones are
used for:

Intra-departmental calls (using 5-digit extensions)
Out-bound business calls
In-bound customer service calls


Telephone System
Cont.
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The systems to provide these services include:

PBX Systems
Nortel Digital Phone Systems (using Voice-over IP, or VoIP)
Avaya Digital Phone Systems
Dedicated lease lines (leased from the telephone provider)
Reverse billing Wide Area Telephone Services (IN-WATS) for the 800 customer service
number
Telephone System
Recommendations
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Voice over IP (VoIP) should be the primary means of telephone systems
communications. Quality of service, 911 support in the event of a network outage,
and security are all concerns associated with VoIP. However, using VoIP with a
hosted PBX solution such as a Nortel Digital Phone System helps mitigate those
concerns as the system enacts encryption and security protocols when transmitting
telephone calls over the network.

Cost Effective
VoIP telephone calls can be routed over the same lines as the data network, which
eliminates the need for a separate data and voice network
A backup power supply is necessary to ensure to the system to ensure emergency support
Telephone System
Recommendations Cont.
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tear down calls
carry information required to locate users
negotiate capabilities
VoIP telephone calls can be routed over the same lines as the data network
provides integration of data
voice and video on one network
new services created on the converged network
simplified management of end user and terminals (Tomsho, 2004).

Huffman Switches
Cleveland/St. Louis
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The Cleveland and St. Louis plant use a Multistation Access Unit to provide a
token ring network at each location; this MSAU connects the five different work
stations at the docks to a mainframe computer to process shipping and receiving.
In each of these parts of the network, there is an Internet connection that is routed
through a Cisco router and a firewall and then connected to a 10mb Cisco hub
which provides access to all other nodes in the LAN. There is a Cisco switch
between the hub and the Marketing department which uses seven Mac work
stations, a flatbed scanner and a plotter.
Huffman Switches
Los Angeles
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The Los Angeles plant uses a Bay Network router to route Internet services to an
Ethernet network via a 100mb Bay Network hub; this hub supplies connectivity to
three different servers, a VoIP phone system, 50 different work stations between
five different departments, a flatbed scanner, plotter and two different printers.
Switches Cont.
New Jersey
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The New Jersey office has a Thick Net Bus Topology with a IIS 4.0 Stand-Alone
web server providing connectivity for the network. This server is currently serving
21 workstations at the office along with the PBX phone system in the office as well
as the plant PBX. The network at the New Jersey plant is connected through a
patch panel that has an Internet connection with a main frame; there are three dumb
terminals connected through the patch panel, as well as a Green-Bar printer and an
additional work station with another printer attached. No switches are used in this
network.

Switches Recommendation
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In order to effectively improve reliability, scalability, equally distribute network
resources and improve network efficiency, it is recommended that a network switch
be used as the central connecting point for each of the Local Area Networks in the
Huffman Wide Area Network. This will make each of the necessary upgrades to the
hardware on the Networks much easier and also very easily allow for future
growth.
References
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ApolloGroup. (2010). Huffman Trucking. Retrieved from
https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/cist/vop/Business/Huffman/IT/HuffmanIT002a.h
tm
Demand Media, Inc. (1999-2011). The Advantages of a Switch Over a Hub Read more:
The Advantages of a Switch Over a Hub Retrieved April 11, 2011 from
http://www.ehow.com/list_7419233_advantages-switch-over-hub.html
Gilbert, H. (1995, Febuary). Introduction to TCP/IP. Retrieved from
http://www.yale.edu/pclt/COMM/TCPIP.HTM
Holme, D., & Thomas, O. (2006). MCSA/MCSE self-paced training kit (Exam 70-290):
managing and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment (2nd ed.).
Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press.
Javvin Technologies, Inc. (2007). Network protocols handbook. Unknown, CA: Javvin
Press.

References Cont.
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LabSim. (2011). 1.2 Network Topologies. LabSim interactive tutorial software. Provided
by University of Phoenix, NTC/360 course.
Microsoft. (April 16, 2007). TCP/IP Fundamentals for Microsoft Window. Retrieved
from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb726991.aspx
Shelly, G. et al. (2004). Business Data Communications Introductory Concepts and
Techniques, Fourth Edition. Thomson Course Technology. Retrieved April 1, 2011 from
eBook database.
Tomsho, G. et al. (2004). Guide to Networking Essentials, Fourth Edition. Thomson
Course Technology. Retrieved April 1, 2011 from eBook database.
Zimmermann, H. (April 1980). OSI Reference Model The ISO Model of Architecture
for Open Systems Interconnection. IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 28, no.
4, pp. 425-432. Retrieved April, 10, 2011 from EBSCOhost database.