Designing A Network Essay, Research Paper
I. STATEMENT & BACKGROUND
The college of Business (COB) server is now being used to support deliver to the
Computer Information System (CIS) department. The CIS professors would be using the server
for various operations. Assignments, e-mail, and other types of information would be easier for
the students to access. Network users are able to share files, printers and other resources; send
electronic messages and run programs on other computers. However, certain important issues
need to be addressed and concentrated on. In order to begin the process of setting up the COB
server, the total numbers of users (faculty and students) must be determined. Some other
significant factors to be approached are: the required software applications needed on the
network, an efficient and appropriate directory structure and effective security structure. In
designing the directory structure, the major focus must be on accessibility. The number of
undergraduate CIS courses that the server will be used for is be!
tween 15 and 17. For the users to be ensured that their information is not at risk, we will create
an effective security structure. In composing the appropriate security structure there must be
certain access rights assigned to the users. An important technical detail in setting up a server is
the amount of money that will need to be allocated for the restructuring of the system. For the
system to function properly, the amount of hardware/ software will need to be determined.
II. FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
The COB server will primarily be used by CIS professors and CIS students. The
approximate number of professors in the CIS department is between five and seven and the
approximate number of CIS majors is between 100 and 120. As computer technology continues
to grow, the number of CIS majors is vastly increasing. If we see a considerable rise in
Computer Information Systems majors the department will have to expand its faculty members.
The CIS professors will be using the server to disburse their syllabi, distribute specific
assignments and send e-mail to their students. The layout, design and complexity of each class
will determine how much the professor may be using the server.
The first class a CIS major usually takes at Western is CIS 251. Management Information
Systems (CIS 251). This class offers students a basis for management information systems in
business organizations. In putting the COB server to use and getting the student ready for
hands-on knowledge of computer-based information systems, CIS 251 focuses on analysis,
development, design, implementation, and evaluation. Other tasks that are covered in this class
are computer applications ins spreadsheets, word processors, and database systems.
Information systems affect both business people and people who live in society.
The first programming class CIS majors take is CIS 256. This CIS course will be very
beneficial for the server. Business Computer Programming (CIS 256) introduces the student to
an application of programming principle in business. Detailed assignments involve flowcharting,
coding, documentation, and testing. This course provides the student with a background of
computer architecture and data representation. This class account will require the BASIC
programming language that will be used as well as the compiler.
The CIS elective, CIS 301, emphasizes maximum “hands-on” experience with
microcomputers and software packages, including word processing, spreadsheets, database
managers, and graphic systems. Microcomputer Applications (CIS 301), is an important course
for students not majoring in Computer Information Systems, but would like to familiarize
themselves with the personal computer. This account will contain Microsoft Office and e-mail
capabilities.
An important class that becomes useful for the server is the CIS 358 course. The professor
can send applications, reports, programs and other data to the server where the student can
transfer to a disk or their VAX account. Applications Development II (CIS 358) is a study of
the state of art tools and techniques for developing complex business applications; data
organization, on-line processing, software engineering, and software maintenance. This CIS class
is an extension to CIS 258. The student will expand his/her knowledge of the COBOL
programming language. In order for the CIS major to apply principle of good application design
and solving problems, the Visual Basic programming language will also be introduced. The
account for these two classes will contain the COBOL programming language and the compiler
for it as well as Visual Basic.
For the students to learn more about client-server technology, CIS 365 is required to the
Computer Information Systems curriculum. The student will be involved in learning about
different types of client-server environment such as configuring Worldwide Web environment and
building a Netware LAN to support delivery client-server computing. Computer Architecture,
Communications, and Operating Systems (CIS 365) focuses on the architecture of modern
computer systems including peripherals; data communications networking with fault tolerant
computing; language transition; operating systems software/hardware and utilities. This account
will have internet connections and Netware operations.
In studying Database Management Systems (CIS 453), the CIS student will learn the role
of databases, database applications, data modeling using entity-relationship and semantic object
models. The significance of the COB server for CIS 453 is that the student will focus on
multi-user database processing on LANs with the emphasis on client-server systems. In this
database class, students will also be required to design and implement a database using the
current technology. This account will require Microsoft Access and Salsa.
To familiarize the CIS major with systems development, CIS 455 is required by the
curriculum. This class introduces the student with cost/benefit justification; software design;
implementation and maintenance procedures; quality assurance; and integration of information
systems into management decision-making processes. Computer Information Systems Analysis
and Design (CIS 455) will require that a student design an appropriate computer system for a
specific company or business. The account for this class will contain Microsoft Office and will
have internet connections.
The last class that is required for in the CIS core is CIS 465. In this course, the focal point
is to strategically use information systems in the business environment. Information Resource
Management (CIS 465) centers on responsibility and accountability of information resource
managers; security, legal, and ethical issues; procurement and supervision of resources and
resource assessment. This class will have Visual/IFPS Plus as well as Internet capabilitites.
III. Technical Design
Local area networks (LANs) could be thought of as pockets of coordinated computing
within a small geographic area. The network has three layers of components: Application
software, network software, and network hardware. Application software that will be used will
consists of computer programs that interface with network users and permit the sharing of
information, such as files, graphics, and video, and resources, such as printers and disks. The
type of application software that will be used is called client-server. Client computers send
requests for information or requests to use resources to other computers, called servers, that
control data and applications. The network software to be used will consists of computer
programs that establish protocols, or rules, for computers to talk to one another. These
protocols are carried out by sending and receiving formatted instructions of data called packets.
Protocols make logical connections between network applications, d!
irect movement through the physical network, and minimize the possibility of collisions between
packets sent at the same time. Network hardware is made up of the physical components that
connect computers. Two important components that will carry the computer’s signals will be
wires or fiber-optic cables, and the network adapter, which will access the physical media that
links the computers, receives packets from the network software, and transmits instructions and
requests to other computers. Transmitted information is in the form of binary digits, or bits which
the electronic circuitry can process.
The new local area network (LAN) that we are proposing to design will only be a one volume
server. The directory structure for this server will go as follows: There will be a system directory
where the queue holds and services the print jobs prior to being printed. A login will be
established to activate and open a session to the Network Operating System for a user. The
DOS applications available to the public will be Word Perfect, Excel, Power Point, and Lotus
1-2-3. A mail directory will be created for users to be able to send e-mail and also retrieve it.
The users of this directory structure will be focused around the faculty which will be Heinrichs,
Perry, Banerjee, Clapper, and Carland. The faculty will have the rights to the classes that are
taught here at Western Carolina University. These classes will also be used by the students of the
Computer Information Systems program. The applications that will be used by the students and
faculty of CIS will be Salsa, CO!
BOL, Visual Basic, Database applications, Basic, and Visual/IFPS Plus. In these courses faculty
can assign programs or assignments to the students and all they have to do is go to the
appropriate class that they are in and get the homework that is do for that certain class.
The medium used to transmit information will limit the speed of the network, the effective distance
between computer, and the network topology. The coaxial cable will provide transmission
speeds of a few thousand bits per second for long distances and about one-hundred million bits
per second (Mbps) for shorter distances.
The type of topology that will be used to arrange computers in this network will be the bus
topology. The bus topology is composed of a single link connected to many computers. All
computers on this common connection receive all signals transmitted by any attached computer.
Local area networks which connect separated by short distances, such as in an office or a
university campus, commonly use a bus topology. Twisted pair, for slow speed LANs, will be
the cabling of these computers. Here, the main cable is typically a shielded twisted pair (like
phone lines). The board is attached to a TAP via three cables then the tap is connected to the
twisted pair again at three points. An active hub will connect up to eight PCs and workstations.
Each PC or work station can be up from two thousand feet from the active hub. Each port of the
active hub will be electrically isolated and will not need terminators for unused ports.
Typically a LAN has a server node to provide certain services to the LAN users. In this case of
a small scale PC LAN, the server is attached to a laser printer, so that all users can share that
printer through the server. Another use of the server is that if the LAN users need to get some
updated files. Instead of copying to all the nodes each of them can copy / share from the server,
where only once those files can be loaded or updated.
The Network security structure would not be a very complicated. The Supervisor would be
granted full access to all the resources in the CIS program. Students who are a CIS major will
have read, copy and write capabilities for the classes they will attend. The Public accounts will
only have the right to be able to access the rights to Word Perfect, Excel, Power Point, etc. The
Faculty will also have rights to the classes with read, copy, write and send.
Networks are subject to hacking, or illegal access, so shared files and resources must be
protected. A network intruder could easedrop on packets being sent across network or send
fictitious messages. For important information, data encryption (scrambling data using
mathematical equations) renders captured packets unreadable to an intruder. This server will use
an authentication scheme to ensure that a request to read or write files or to use resources is from
a legitimate client (faculty or CIS majors) and not from an intruder. The system will have a
security measure of telling whether or not the user is a CIS major or not by given each CIS major
and faculty a code or password… The CIS majors will be given a code in which they will have to
enter in every time he or she gets to the computer and wants information from a CIS class. Every
time the student enters in the code the computer will keep it in memory so if the same password
is entered somewhere else the person wil!
l not be allowed in. This station restricitions will keep students from going in and messing around
with the students information while that CIS student is working. There will be disk restrictions to
assure that storage space is evenly allocated. The CIS users will also have to change the
password every now and then to keep confidentiality of his or her passwords. This will put an
account to have an expiration date to it so that the user will have to change his or her password
as the semester goes on to insure the security of their account.
Under no circumstance should an administrator put an entire system at risk for the
convenience of a few users. Certain measures and precautions should be implemented to ensure
that the network will operate effectively and effeciently.
Another major concern when designing a system is to anticipate the addition of more
workstations and eventually more users. By considering this now many problems can be solved
even before they exist. If there is room allotted for expansion in the beginning, then actually
implementing the new ideas and hardware should be simple. Assumptions about how large
the system will actually get and how many users it will accomadate are very serious issues that
need to be addressed in the utmost fashion. These questions require serious answers that if not
dealt with could destroy a system.
Another key issue that needs to be addressed is who will be issued an account on the system.
Certainly each CIS faculty member will have his or her own personal account. In these accounts
some items such as personal research materials and grades will reside. Then there is the matter of
the individual CIS classes and individual CIS students. Logically each class will have a separate
account because the information in each account will be different (applications etc.). The main
point of concern is the applications involved with each class. Using Visual Basic and Visual/IFPS
Plus, having a COBOL compiler to run your programs on and so on.
CIS students will have their own personal account. A space will reserved for them to
execute e-mail and other personal things. They will need to have a good understanding of the
network to be able change their
directory to the class that they need to locate and do their work in. Each faculty member will
have their own account as well. They will be able to send e-mail to students and also put
homework in the accounts of the classes that they teach. Other faculty members will not have
access to the server. As stated before the main purpose of the server is to deliver CIS
information only and for the CIS discipline only.
The main points of concern when dealing with the printer configuration are reliability and
accessibility. Reliability is centered around quality and effeciency. Top quality network printers
are expensive but sometimes are not the best choice. Speed of output, such as papers per
minute, play a big role in choosing a network printer. Printers that are easy to get to and easy to
service are a key to a successful network. I personally can not stand to walk into a lab and have
to hunt where the printers are and have to wait for someone to remove a jammed paper. The lab
on the second floor of the Belk building is a good example. An excellent example of a good
configuration is in Forsyth. The printers are easily seen and easily worked on. The printers
separate the two main islands of workstations which allow for effecient management.
This system will be of considerable size and area. It will require constant monitoring and any
on-line maintenance will be in the form of a supervisor or network administrator. This designated
person or person’s will need to be very knowledgable in all the system’s hardware and software.
For example CAN certified would be an excellent standard for consideration. The person or
person’s would have to be a full time faculty member in the College of Business. I feel that having
a daily interaction with the system and the users would prove to be very helpful in comparison to
having someone called in to diagnose and solve the problems. Outside consultants are usually
expensive and are most of the time are not worth it.
The load placed upon the system will vary at times. Classes are going to have a conflict in
assignment due dates and everyone is going to rush to the lab to finish their assignments.
However I think that most of the time there will be a slight to moderate load placed on the
system. Most students bounce in to check their mail or to send a quick message anyway. Sitting
down and writing a program in one session is impossible any, so that will reduce the load in itself.
Login scripts for each user need to be simple. Allowing students to write their own should
not even be considered. Each student should have the same format and be placed at the same
starting point each time that they login. Alloting a specific number of search drives and network
drivers would definitly reduce problems. Students should be required to change their passwords
periodically. The system login scripts could execute certain commands for each different users,
faculty and students. These are just a few areas within the entire Technical Design process that
require a serious answer.