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Transmission Medium.  Please respond to the following:

• Suggest a way to improve the way LLC and MAC are used for LAN operation.
• Evaluate guided and unguided transmission medium to determine which you would use to design a new facility.

Classmates:

Suggest a way to improve the way LLC and MAC are used for LAN operation.

The data link layer functionality is usually split it into logical sub-layers, the upper sub-layer, termed as LLC, that interacts with the network layer and the lower sub-layer, termed as MAC, which interacts with the physical layer.

Now, connection establishment, reliability and flow control are optional services at the data link layer, error detection is still a basic service provided by the data link layer, through the use of CRC/checksums in the frame trailer, which is added by the MAC sub-layer framing functionality.

In end nodes and in intermediate devices like L2 switches and Routers, the LLC functionality is implemented in network device driver software that is part of the Operating System and the MAC functionality is implemented in a dedicated piece of hardware.

One way I would improve upon this is to make reliability and flow control standard services on the data link layer. I would also change the L2 switches and routers to have the built in drivers more plug and play and not installed with OS software

Evaluate guided and unguided transmission medium to determine which you would use to design a new facility.

Guided Media

In guided media waves are guided along a solid medium such as transmission line. In Guided transmission media the waves are guided along the physical path. The example of guided media includes Phone lines, twisted pair cables, coaxial cables.

Unguided Media

In unguided media, the data is transmitted without the use of any physical means so data is transmitted through means of satellite or antenna. The example of waves used for unguided media includes microwave, radio or infrared rays. Some examples where we use unguided media are air, Vacuum, and seawater.

In designing a facility the best course would be guided media throughout the building. Now I would also implement Unguided media in conference rooms and break areas throughout the building as well being able to step away from your desk for a moment is always a refreshing option for employees.