Suppose ABC Company have an office in Lahore. It has currently 50 computers. Now, Management is going to buy a new building in front of old building. They want to extend their network between these two buildings with 50 new computers. :

Answer the questions given below in scenario described above. (5 * 2 = 10 Marks)

(i) If they can afford good budget, which cable will be suitable for networking. (You have to provide two best options. Option 1 has higher priority than Option 2)

(ii) Which network Topology will be better in building network in new building.

(iii) Which network Topology will be better in building network between two buildings.

(iv) Which network device(s) will be used to connect two networks?

(v) If we use wireless network between two buildings, what will be drawbacks or risks? (you have to describe two points)

(i) If they can afford a good budget, the two best options for networking cables would be:

Option 1 (Higher Priority): Fiber Optic Cable - Fiber optic cables offer high-speed data transmission, low latency, and high bandwidth, making them suitable for handling large amounts of data across long distances. They provide excellent signal quality, are immune to electromagnetic interference, and have a longer lifespan compared to other cables.

Option 2: Cat6 Ethernet Cable - Cat6 cables provide high-speed data transmission and are more cost-effective compared to fiber optic cables. They offer good performance for standard Ethernet networks and can support data rates up to 10 Gigabits per second over shorter distances.

(ii) The better network topology for building the network in the new building would be a Star Topology. In a Star Topology, all computers connect to a central switch or hub, which acts as a central point of control. This topology provides better scalability, easy troubleshooting, and increased reliability as failure of a single computer or cable does not affect the rest of the network.

(iii) The better network topology for building the network between the two buildings would be a Point-to-Point Topology or a Mesh Topology.

- Point-to-Point Topology: In this topology, a direct connection is established between each computer in one building with a corresponding computer in the other building. This provides dedicated communication channels and ensures reliable and secure data transmission.

- Mesh Topology: In a Mesh Topology, each computer is connected to every other computer in a fully interconnected network. This provides redundant paths for data transmission, enhancing reliability and fault tolerance. However, it can be costly and complex to implement.

(iv) To connect the networks between the two buildings, they would need to use a Network Bridge or a Router. A Network Bridge connects two separate networks of the same type, allowing them to communicate with each other. A Router, on the other hand, can connect different types of networks (e.g., Ethernet and Wi-Fi) and perform more advanced functions such as routing and network access control.

(v) If a wireless network is used between the two buildings, there are a few drawbacks and risks to consider:

1. Signal Interference: Wireless networks are susceptible to signal interference from various sources such as other Wi-Fi networks, electronic devices, and physical obstacles like walls and buildings. This can result in degraded performance, dropped connections, and lower network speeds.

2. Security Risks: Wireless networks are more vulnerable to unauthorized access and hacking compared to wired networks. Without proper security measures, such as strong encryption and authentication protocols, there is a higher risk of data breaches, unauthorized access to the network, and potential leakage of sensitive information.

It is important to assess these risks and implement appropriate security measures like strong encryption, regular monitoring, and access control mechanisms to mitigate these drawbacks when deploying a wireless network.