Networking Concepts, Network Roles, NOS, Proposal, And Management

Task 1: Network Roles

In the present world, communication has experienced tremendous growth in all of its angles dimension. The whole world has been reduced to a small village as a result of impressed technology. Area of networks has been part of the drive of all these changes. In this task assignment, I will be looking at network concepts its broad scope. These will include network roles, advantages disadvantages, network operating system, a comparison of network operating system, installation of network operating system, network proposal for a scenario case, and network management.

Computer networking refers to the interlinking of computing devices form a network. For success of every organization, information and communication are important aspects that eliminate isolation of resources computing resources. Isolation of resources results to under-utilization of resources.  To overcome the isolation problem, computer networking is the saviour. Computer networks merges the isolated areas and resources. The convergence of resources does away with unnecessary resources required to process and store data. Computer networks for sure provides us with borderless communications (Kizza, 2017).

Computer networks will permit a client to have access of remote databases and programs. This eliminates the unnecessary movements amongst employees of an organization. Thus, improved productivity.  Besides the mentioned advantage of computer networking, the following are other core benefits of computer networks for an organization:

1. Reduced cost by sharing of resources e.g. a shared printer over the network can serve more than one employee.
2. High consistency due increased sources of supply
3. High flexibility of possibility connection of devices from the business partners
4. Files can be shared with ease
5. Networks improves communication structure of an organisation(Al-Bahadili, 2012 )

However, computer networks have also disadvantages. This include but are not limited to:

1. Purchasing of computer networking infrastructure is expensive
2. Virus are threats to organizations and can be spread over the networks.
3. Management of huge networks can be a complication which require training and network manager has to be employed.
4. Dangers of hacking are lurking outside there(Johnson, 2013).

Computer network is really necessary for a college and businesses.  For a college environment, tutors will be able to share learning materials over the network. Additionally, communications are made to college students via emails on the network. Distant learning is one of the learning dimensions which has been embraced by many colleges. Students are able take their classes while they are at their places of work. This is only enabled by use of networks.

For the business environment, all of the business processes have come to depend on Information technology. Indeed, information technology drives the business today. Computer networks is a primary component of information technology. I imagine of a business environment which has no elements then I imagine how do they communicate to their customers, how do they source information, how do they advertise their products.  We realize that today for every business activity to survive, networking has to be included.

A networking operating system purposed to support personal computer, workstations and terminals that are connected to a network’s LAN. The network operating system offers database and file sharing, printer sharing, application sharing and capability to manage network (Rajiv, 2016).

Computing environments consider NOS as multipurpose systems that perform a number of activities at certain time. However, they are only talked of in terms of networking rather than other activities they perform. Sample of these operating Systems include but are not limited to Windows OS, Linux OS, MAC OS and UNIX.  We tabulate a comparison of two of the above Network Operating systems below in table format

Feature	Microsoft Windows 12R	UNIX
Functionality	Server deployment: essentials can be installed on member servers of domain. The installation can be done physical or virtual server. Client deployment: client computers can be connected from a remote are to domain location. Pre-configured auto-VPN dialling: Pre-configured VPN allows access to an on – premise resource.	Manages communication between hardware and hardware environment
Performance	Supported HDD: up to 24 TB Supported Logical Processor:  up to 512 LPs Virtual Supported memory: up to 14 TB per Virtual Machine	CPU: 1GHz RAM:512MB Storage:1GB
Usability	Windows 2012r can used to perform tasks such as Active Directory, Hyper-V, IP address management, task management, ReFS	Unix supports programming, use of file abstractions, inbuilt networking, multitasking and persistent system service processing.
Cost	Windows Server 2012 R2 particular  Datacentre SKU can cost $6,155, add client-access license fees	Unix is an open source operating system and free to obtain.

Installation of Network Operating system takes the following steps:

1. Insert a bootable USB flash or CD in USB port or CD-ROM respectively.
2. Let the computer reboot
3. At the beginning of the boot process, continuous tap the appropriate functional key that lets you choose boot options. Most of the time, F12 allows you to enter into boot mode options.
4. Once boot selection has been done, press F10 to save changes and let the OS begin the Installation.
5. Select language of your choice.
6. Go through the Licence agreement, click “I agree”
7. Choose advanced installation to have an express installation
8. Proceed with Next, Next Next steps till you let installation continue on its own.
9. Once an installation has been finished, the NOS is ready for customization and use(Haldar, 2016 ).

A gaming café’ with 10 users is a small factor network environment. The areas to consider for the proposal are: hardware requirements, network requirements, and software

The requirements are tabulated as below:

Item	Quantity	Justification
HP ProLiant Server	1	Server will be required to host services such shared game application, DHCP, AD, and DNS
Standard Workstations	10	The computers will be used as clients accessing the server
Switch	1	Switch will be used to expand the network allowing each of the 10 PCs and the server to be interconnected
Router	1	Router will be used to route the network packet in and out of the LAN
CAT6 Network cable	1000m	The cable will be used for termination of patch codes and rest will be laid network access purpose.
Cabinet	1	For hosting the router, server, switch
RJ 45 connectors	50	For termination of patch codes
Patch panels	2	For cable management purpose
Windows server 2012r	1	For management of the windows services named above

We chose star network topology

                                 

To check the functionality of the implemented network, a test plan has to be done. For our implemented network, the test plan we will perform tests on performance, reliability, ease of use and usability of the network

Network management denotes to the observation and controllability of the network infrastructure. For our gaming’ network scenario the following will be Area of management key factors:

1. Cable management: the cabling environment should be well managed to avoid risk hazards of the clients falling due to hanging cables.
2. Uptime: the gaming’ ought to be available 99.9999 percent all time as needed by clients. It should be remembered that clients who come in and find the service they expected is missing they turn away frustrated and will never come back
3. Sitting arrangement should be put in a manner that is not tiring to clients.
4. Privacy: user information should remain private at all times(Ding, 2016 ).

The network management guide will always be referred to at all times to ensure that there is a smooth running of the gaming café network. It should good to mention that once the installation is properly done and tests performed, very minimal of faults will take place. The following will be our guide line:

Fault troubleshooting: this involves identification and the isolation of a problem providing a resolution for the problem. Common faults experienced are power losses and loose power cables. It is good to make sure power is availed. UPSes will be doing a good here.

Security: as an admin for the café’ user data will always remain private. In case of exposure, checks should be done to measure the loss caused

User and group management: network users and their activities must be known through user management.

All in all, below is our network management will power

                                                   

Conclusion: 

Conclusively, it is agreeable matter that no business organization will survive in the present market without deployment of network infrastructure. Network infrastructure has become an essential need for every organization for its services such communication, resource sharing and interconnection of computers are services that if missed by an organization, the organization will be down on its knees due to increased expenditure.

References:

Al-Bahadili, H., 2012 . Simulation in Computer Network Design and Modeling. 8th ed. Pennsylvania: IGI Global.

Ding, J., 2016 . Advances in Network Management. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Haldar, S., 2016 . Operating Systems (Self Edition 1.1.Abridged). 2nd ed. London: Sibsankar Haldar.

Johnson, A., 2013. CCENT Practice and Study Guide. 3rd ed. Indianapolis: Cisco Press.

Kizza, J. M., 2017. Guide to Computer Network. 2nd ed. New York City: Springer.

Rajiv, C., 2016. Operating System – A Practical Approach. 4th ed. New Delhi: S. Chand Publishing.