Week 4 Checkpoint

Ethernet or Token Ring Week 4 Checkpoint Raquel Barthelmes IT/242 Due: August 30, 2012 Randy Guin

Week 4 Checkpoint Ethernet or Token Ring Saguaro Federal has mainframes for all of its banks and businesses. Must the company use the Ethernet or Token Ring protocol? Explain your choice. Why is this choice appropriate? For this scenario, I would advise using an Ethernet connection as opposed to a Token Ring topology, depending on the type of equipment used. In this case, I will assume

that the mainframes are not IBM, which would make the Ethernet topology the best choice. I chose this option because of the speed an Ethernet topology can support. After connecting the hubs to the mainframes using a CAT 5 or CAT 6 cabling, I would enable a switch in the field for any workstations required. I feel that this choice is the most appropriate mainly because, with advances in Ethernet technology, the Token Ring topology has very nearly become obsolete.

XYZ Technology Consultants has offices on the second, third, and fourth floors of the office building it occupies. Must the company use the Ethernet or Token Ring protocol? Explain your choice. Why is this choice appropriate? Again, I would recommend Ethernet over Token Ring topology. In this case, with the offices spread out over multiple floors, the Ethernet is the better choice because Token Ring topology is meant mainly for units in close proximity. Using Ethernet in this instance, with CAT 5 or 6 cabling, would provide speed as well as reducing the probability of data collision or bottlenecks. Using Token Ring topology in this scenario would mean transferring data at much slower speeds, thus increasing downtime and decreasing overall productivity. Another option would be fiber optics, although that would possibly increase noise and decrease effective data transmission.

Week 4 Checkpoint

Week 4 Checkpoint References This is a hanging indent. To keep the hanging indent format, simply delete this line of text using the backspace key, and replace the information with your reference entry.