Running head: Smith, Smith, Smith

Week 3: Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith Regina Varnado MSN Keller Graduate School of Management Professor Alstrom

Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith is a regional accounting firm that is putting up a new headquarters building. The building will have a backbone network that connects eight LANs (two on each floor). The company is very concerned with network errors. What advice would you give regarding the design of the building and network cable planning that would help reduce network errors?

I would first advise that the backbone network is the correct for the organization setup. I would stress that errors occurs in all networks. The primary sources of errors are impulse noises, cross talk, echo and attenuation. Errors can be prevented or at least reduced by shielding the cables, moving the cables away from sources of noise and power sources; using repeaters, amplifiers and improving the quality of the equipment, media, and their connections (Fitzgerald & Dennis, 2009). A backbone is a means of connecting two or more LANs. It provides a transmission channel for packets being transmitted from one LAN to another. After connection to a backbone, a LAN may remain distinct or be merged with another. Individual LANs are connected to the backbone network using some type of device. The type of device used to connect to the backbone may vary; it may be hub, a repeater, a bride, a router, or a gateway, depending on the purpose of the backbone. Backbone networks can be applied to a single building environment as well as to campus environments (BICSI, 1996). I would recommend using the most up to date hardware for high speed, reliability and the ability expand or downsize when needed. I would recommend the use of a fiber optic based network with interconnected multiswitch virtual LANs that uses a router. When speaking with

the builder is sure to get the data cables installed away from power sources and lights and ensure they are separated to prevent noise on the lines. I would advise to use 1 Gbps multimode fiber over Cat 6 STP to prevent cross talk, impulse noise, and white noise. The virtual LANs will allow the computers to communicate with each other through the core router. I would conclude with advice that the set up will prevent or greatly reduce network errors at the organization and have a high performing network and reliable one too.

References Fitzgerald, & Dennis, A. (2009) Business Data Communication and Networking. (10th ed.) John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: Danvers, MA. BICSI. (1996) Chapter 8: Backbone Design Overview. Retrieved from: http://etidweb.tamu.edu.