Network Management Labs

LAB ASSIGNMENT 1 - Network Installation
LAB ASSIGNMENT 2 - Designing a Computer Lab
LAB ASSIGNMENT 3a - Designing a Computer Network Plan
LAB ASSIGNMENT 3b - Designing a Computer Network Plan
LAB ASSIGNMENT 5 - Introduction to Windows NT
LAB ASSIGNMENT 6 - Introduction to Unix

LAB ASSIGNMENT 1 - Network Installation

You and your partner(s) have just been hired by the FishNet Computer Company. Your first assignment to install a network on three computers in the Dino Lab. You have two days to complete the assignment. Notify me when you have completed the assignment. You will need to:

a) install the provided network adapter cards in the Insight and the Infomatics PCS
b) connect the three computers using the cables, terminators and Ts provided.
c) install the correct drivers for the two network adapter cards from the disk(s) provided
d) ensure that the Windows for Workgroups network is setup for the three computers
e) move the file NET-MAN.FIL from the 486 tower computer to the two PCS that you have connected to it using the installed network.

Windows for Workgroups is a peer-to-peer network. That means that it does not need a dedicated server to operate the network. WFWG provides facilities for file sharing, print sharing, E-mail, groupware facilities like chat and group scheduling and security features like password facilities and a net watcher.

You will need to learn to use the Network Setup that allows you to select a network to use, set up file and print sharing and change network drivers. You will also need to use the Network option in Control Panel that allows you to change the computer name and workgroup, change the log on password and track how the shared resources are being used.

STEPS FOR SETTING UP A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK

1) Install a network card and connect the computer to the network.
2) Set up WFWG using the set-up program.
You need to know beforehand the following:

a) the type of network you want to run (if no other network software is installed, setup can install Microsoft Windows Network).
b) the type of NIC you are using
c) you may need to know the interrupt request level(IRQ), the base I/O port and the base memory address for your NIC (these will usually be detected by Setup)
d) type of printer and its port

3) To enable file and printer sharing -

a) choose the Network Setup in the Network Group
b) choose Sharing and then select the appropriate check boxes
c) after selecting OK, you will be notified that the SYSTEMS.INI file has been modified and then you will be asked to restart Windows.

4) To share file resources,

a) select the Connect Network Drive icon or choose Connect Network from the Disk menu [if the shared directories are not displayed, you will need to type the shared directory's path
[e.g., \\TRICERA\TRICERA_C ]
b) select the computer to be linked to and enter the password if necessary
c) click on the assigned drive for the connected computer
d) to disconnect from the network drive, click the Disconnect Network Drive button or choose Disconnect Network Drive from the Disk menu.

QUESTION: Describe other ways that the file NET-MAN.FIL could have been moved among the three computers.

LAB ASSIGNMENT 2 - Designing a Computer Lab
Your consulting firm Fishnet has been asked by the West Las Vegas Middle School to design a new computer lab. The students will need to be able to do word processing and spreadsheets as well develop classroom presentations. The computers should be able to run most of today's educational software and should be able to connect to the school's Internet gateway.

Write a description of the computer lab, including

type of software needed
operating system / network operating system
type of computers (processor, RAM, hardisk size, monitor & video card, additional internal hardware)
type of network (topology & protocol)
other hardware / software needed for the lab
approximate costs for above

LAB ASSIGNMENT 3a

Your consulting firm Fishnet has been asked by the Las Vegas school districts to assist in the design of a computer network plan for each of the two high schools and two middle schools. You will be expected to visit with at least one (preferably) two individuals at your assigned school. You will be expected to do a feasibility study identifying the schools needs and provide an estimate of the costs to implement your computer network plan.

Due by class time Feb. 21, 1996 - Who are you working with on this project?
Due by class time Feb. 23, 1996 - Provide a list of questions that you need to ask the contacts at the school. Also provide a list of tasks that you will need to accomplish in order to complete this project.

I will then compile your questions, along with some of my own and assign your group to one of the four schools the following week.

NOTES:
Final Project: Each of you will be expected to complete a final project. I am in the process of compiling a list of potential projects. A few that are available are:

1) Develop a computer network plan for Luna. (2-3 people)
2) Assign Legion Park Elementary School in writing an educational grant for network equipment that will provide Internet connectivity. I have grant proposal documents from CISCO and ASSANTE' that can be used. (1 person)
3) Same as #2 for another elementary school of your choice (1 person)
4) Same as #2 but for all elementary schools in one of the two districts (2-3 persons)

If you have any other suggestions, let me know ASAP.

LAB ASSIGNMENT 3b

(due April 3, 1996)

Following are some suggestions:

1) Visit with the principal, the librarian and any other teachers who are involved with computers.
2) Look over the location of the Internet connection and any classrooms that are currently connected.
3) Find out if a blueprint of the computer wiring and / or conduit exists.
if not, draw up a general layout.
4) How many computers are currently available? How many are usable?
platform, CPU & speed, RAM, Monitor/video card, harddisk size
Are there immediate plans for additional computers?
5) Determine if there are computer networks in place and if so, what kinds.
6) Do teachers have computers in their rooms?
7) Is there a network administrator?
8) How much money is currently available for computer equipment?
9) How much money is being budgeted for computer equipment?
10) Determine location of router and distances to computers to be networked.
11) What type of cabling will be used? Will cable be aerial or underground?
12) What network applications will be run on each workstation?
13) What hardware devices are currently available (repeaters, bridges)? What is the current capacity of these devices?
14) Are there any security concerns? Need for passwords?
15) Do you plan on networking computers in specific classrooms, labs, or offices?
16) What are your plans for using the network? the Internet?
17) Which buildings need to be networked?
18) Is there underground conduit in place for running wires between buildings?
19) Is there sufficient power for the new computers?
20) Which teachers / staff are computer literate, Internet literate? Are there others who want to be?
21) Are there funds available for training? Inservice training?
22) Have you considered ergonomic concerns? (keyboards, wristpads, chairs, tables?)
23) What are the short-term and long-term needs?
24) Any obstacles? (physical, financial, time)

Once you have done your analysis, you will need to develop a network plan for your school including the following

1) needs analysis
2) computer equipment needs additional computers, printers,
3) computer software needs operating system, application software, educational software
4) computer network needs (hardware & software) NOS, NIC, server/peer, routers, repeaters, cabling
5) costs and benefits analysis
6) network layout, both LAN in each classroom and LAN for the school
7) recommendations
- short-term & long-term
- hardware, software, personnel, training
- project schedule

LAB ASSIGNMENT 5 - Introduction to Windows NT

(Due April 17, 1996)

The following assignment introduces Windows NT. You will be expected to administer and use Windows NT to answer some questions using the NT administrative tools.

Log onto one of the NT Workstations (Rex or Steg) in the Dino lab and answer the following questions: [You may need to use File Manager, Event Viewer, Disk Administrator, Performance Monitor, User Manager, Windows NT Diagnostics and Control Panel]

1) Who owns the WINNT Subdirectory?
2) What was the most recent security event?
3) What was the most recent systems event?
4) a) How many hard disk drives are there?
b) How big are the primary partitions?
c) Is RAID 0 or 1 being used?
5) a) Does your password ever expire?
b) If so, when?
c) Can you change your password?
d) What is the minimum password length allowed for your account?
e) How many bad logon attempts are you allowed before your account is locked up?
6) What events are being audited on your account?
7) a) What groups can take ownership of files?
b) Are you allowed to shut down the system?
8) Describe how to monitor the number of TCP connection failures?
9) What is the available physical memory?
10) What service dependencies exist for the computer browser?
11) What is the file system (NTFS, FAT, HPFS) used for drive C?
12) What interrupt is the KeyboardPort0 at?
13) Describe how to add a user?
14) How can you tell what port the UPS is connected to and what file will execute if the voltage drops?

LAB ASSIGNMENT 6 - Introduction to Unix

(Due April 24, 1996)

The following assignment introduces Unix. You will be expected to administer and use Unix to answer some questions using the Unix administrative tools.

Log onto Pogo using Telnet and answer the following questions: [You may need to use ftp, ping, who, finger, ps, stty, du, netstat, nslookup, arp, ifconfig, and ypcat. Remember to use the online manual if you have questions about a particular instruction. Some of the commands may not be on your path and so you may need to switch to /etc or /bin]

1) Who else is on the system with you and what machine are you and they connected to?
2) What shell are you using?
3) List all of the files in your directory.
4) List all processes that are currently running.
5) What are the permissions on your profile file?
6) What is the number of the group that are you in?
7) How many blocks are in use by the elm file system?
8) What is the IP address of jaring.my?
9) Use netstat to identify your complete Foreign Address.
10) a) How many TCP and UDP packets are sent and how many received during your session?
b) How many IP packets are received?
c) How many calls to ICMP_error?
11) What is in the ARP table for pogo?
12) Use ifconfig to determine the IP address for broadcasting.
13) How would you use ftp to transfer files between two different remote servers?
14) Use ftp to connect to tricera and copy the file /upload/net-man.txt to your directory.
15) I could not connect to ppp.itm.my. Describe how you would use ping to determine the problem. Describe what you found when you tried it.