Comprehensive Review: Network Hardware, WAN, and Cloud Computing

This assignment provides a comprehensive review of key networking concepts, including IPv6 addressing, comparing 1000BaseT and 100BaseT network cable speeds, and explaining the OSI model's seven layers. The solution details IPv6 address formats and simplification rules, differentiates between the speeds and capabilities of 1000BaseT and 100BaseT cables, and outlines the functions of each layer in the OSI model. Additionally, the reflection exercise summarizes the learned concepts from the network hardware module, such as switches, routing tables, and wireless access points, as well as the WAN and cloud computing module, including WAN operations, VPNs, and cloud computing models like IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. The assignment also identifies concepts that require further study, such as leased lines, PC bus architectures, and remote access protocol configurations. References to relevant sources are also included.

Title
Author
Professor
University
City, State
Date

Practice exam questions
1) IPV6 is an abbreviation for Internet Protocol Version 6. The IP addresses are the
differentiating factor between IPV6 and IPV4. An IPV6 address has a length of 128 bits. It is
written in hexadecimal. Every four bits are represented using a hexadecimal digit. Case
sensitivity is not considered in the alphanumeric. Colons are used to separate the address. An
example of the address is 2001:0db8:0000:0000:abcd:0000:0000:1234. Two rules are used in
attempting to make the leading address more readable. The address could be reduced by leading
zero omission and Omitting All-0s Hextets. Trailing zeros are not omitted in the leading zero
omission rule for correct interpretation. In the first option, the address could be represented as
2001:0db8:0:0:abcd:0:0:1234 and 2001:0db8:: abcd:0000:0000:1234 respectively. The address
can be written as 2001:db8::abcd:0:0:1234 if both rules are used (Graziani, 2017).
2) 1000 BaseT network cables have higher speeds compared to100 BaseT. 100 BaseT supports
upto 100mbps speed while 1000 BaseT cables support up to 1000mpbs speed. The ports of the
1000 BaseT must be connected to compatible link partners .100 BaseT communication requires
two to three pair cabling (Hatamian, Agazzi, Creigh, Samueli, Castellano, Kruse, & Wakayama,
1998). 100BaseT is also referred to as fast Ethernet while 1000BaseT is also referred to as gig
Ethernet (Molle, & Watson, 1996)
3) The Open Systems Interconnection model has seven layers. In the top-down approach, the
application layer is the first layer. This layer explains how networks devices communicate with
each other. The data link layer is second. It involves encapsulation of packets into frames. The
frames contain a header and footer for packet identification. The layer is divided into Logical

link control and Media access control. The third layer is the network layer. In this layer
addressing of devices, routing and determination of paths is defined.
The transport layer is involved in the establishment and termination of connections between
computers. It is involves control of flow and recovery of data. Session layer defines creation and
termination of sessions between systems. Compression and encryption are done in the
presentation layer, the sixth layer. The final layer is application layer. This layer allows
communication between applications.
To form the application layer of the TCP/IP model, presentation layer, application layer and the
session layer have been merged. The physical and data link layers are combined to form the
network access layer as the final TCP/IP layer (Fall, & Stevens, 2011).
Reflection Exercise
a) Lessons summary
From the network hardware module, the features and operation of switches has been understood.
The locality of the switches and its roles in the data link layer has been understood. Properties of
the routing table and the discussion of the routing table; wireless access point features have also
been understood. From the wide area network and cloud computing module, fundamental
operations and devices of WAN, methods used to connect to WAN including VPN over the
internet, and packet-switching; areas of cloud computing (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) have been
understood.

b) Concepts not fully understood
Leased lines, NIC bus selection- PC bus architectures, common PC bus architectures, wireless
access points, common advanced wireless settings; configuration of remote access protocols
have not been fully understood.

References
Graziani, R. (2017). IPv6 address representation and address types. Cisco Press. Retrieved from
http://www.ciscopress.com/articles/article.asp?p=2803866
Hatamian, M., Agazzi, O. E., Creigh, J., Samueli, H., Castellano, A. J., Kruse, D., &
Wakayama, M. (1998, May). Design considerations for Gigabit Ethernet 1000Base-T
twisted pair transceivers. In Custom Integrated Circuits Conference, 1998. Proceedings
of the IEEE 1998 (pp. 335-342). IEEE.
Fall, K. R., & Stevens, W. R. (2011). TCP/IP illustrated, volume 1: The protocols. addison-
Wesley.
Molle, M., & Watson, G. (1996). 100Base-T/IEEE 802.12/packet switching. IEEE
Communications Magazine, 34(8), 64-73.