Review the hypothetical scenario below which concerns local area networks (LANs), then answer the series of questions about the scenario.

Review the hypothetical scenario below which concerns local area networks (LANs), then answer the series of questions about the scenario. Make sure each answer is thoroughly explained and that your reasoning behind your answers are included. Please explain any significant assumptions or interpretations you made for the scenario as well.

Scenario: Spidola, an organization that manufactures radios, uses many local area networks in its corporate office. Spidola naturally used earlier forms of Ethernet based on hubs when LANs were first becoming popular. The LAN speeds in the corporate office have been upgraded several times over the years, with some groups now using 10 Mbps, and others 100 Mbps. Spidola continues to use hubs to this day, because the network manager, Alan, likes that the price of hubs is significantly lower than that of layer-2 switches, and feels that older technologies are time-tested and proven. The cables for the 100Mbps subnets run to a server room, while the cables for the 10Mbps subnets run to utility closets. Spidola has no wireless access.

The CTO, recognizing the current trends, has asked Alan to upgrade the speed of the network, use more modern technology, and add wireless capabilities. Alan submitted the following proposal.

Part 1: Network Design

1. Review the network design and implementation proposal given by Alan, then address the following.

a. What elements of Alan's proposal are problematic? Identify them, and explain what the issues are.

b. What elements of Alan's proposal work well? Identify them, and explain why they work well.

Part 2: LANs

3. Alan's proposal has hubs and switches that coexist on the same network. Compare and contrast the characteristics of each type of device with regards to the following aspects:

a. throughput

b. frame collisions

c. frame loss

d. security

e. future growth and speed upgrades

Part 3: Wireless LANs

4. The CTO asked for wireless capabilities, and Alan's proposal includes access points to this end.

a. What are two security vulnerabilities that would be easier to exploit on Spidola's new WLAN when compared to Spidola's existing wired LANs?

b. What are three steps that could be taken to mitigate or eliminate these vulnerabilities?

c. What wireless protocol(s) would provide Spidola with fast and secure WLAN access, while being readily available in modern network devices?

Part 4: Tying it All Together

5. Now that you have reviewed the characteristics, positives, and negatives of Alan's proposal:

a. Write an alternative proposal that does not exhibit the same issues. The proposal should contain both a network design and a network implementation section, and correct the issues you listed in 1a.

b. Explain specifically why your proposal is better than Alan's, hitting on all of the following topics in your comparison:

• Speed
• Cost
• Network management
• Security
• Functionality