Network Management Assignment: Fiber Optics, Wireless Networks & GBIC

This homework assignment delves into various aspects of network management, beginning with the advantages of optical communication links, such as immunity to electromagnetic interference, enhanced data security, high bandwidth, ease of installation, and elimination of spark hazards. It then defines the purpose of GBIC transceivers in converting electrical and optical signals. The assignment further explores the selection of fiber optic cables for a campus network, recommending single-mode fiber for its low loss and high bandwidth capabilities. It also identifies the four physical layer technologies used in 802.11 wireless networking: FHSS, DSSS, OFDM, and Infrared. Finally, the solution discusses the optimal setup of two access points for a company sharing a suite with an existing 802.11b network, emphasizing the importance of avoiding interference, installing wired LANs, conducting RF surveys, and ensuring proper SSID configuration for user authentication. References from academic sources are included to support the answers.

Running head: NETWORK MANAGEMENT
Network Management
[Name of the Student]
[Name of the University]
[Author note]

Running head: NETWORK MANAGEMENT
Q1. List of five advantages of an optical communication link.
Ans. Advantages:
 Optical communication link or optic fibre are immune to electromagnetic interferences
(EMI) thereby helping in carrying signals through places where high EMI blocks the
transmission path.
 The security of the data transmitted is also increased.
 Optical communication medium has high bandwidth over long distance thereby enabling
it to carry signal at a long distance at a faster rate.
 Optical mediums are easy to install.
 The problem of spark hazards is eliminated.
Q2. What is the purpose of GBIC?
Ans. GBIC is a transceiver that helps in converting electric currents to optical signals and
reversely from optical signals to digital electric currents. GBIC (Fang & Luo, 2014) is employed
generally in the optical communication medium for the purpose of serving a high speed network.
Q3. A campus network is planning to put fibre-optic cables in to replace outdated coaxial
cables. They have the choice of putting in single-mode, multimode, or a combination of
single–multimode fibres in the ground. Which fibre type should they select? Why?
Ans. The best option for the campus is to choose the single-mode fibre due to the fact that with
advancement of the technology it has been found that the single mode fibres provides a low loss
and a high bandwidth (Neumann, 2013). The main reason for using this mode is that it provides a
high-data-rate in long-distance systems.

Running head: NETWORK MANAGEMENT
Q4. What are the four physical layer technologies being used in 802.11 wireless
networking?
Ans. The four basic layer technologies that are being used in 802.11 wireless networking (Sari &
Rahnama, 2013) are:
 Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)
 Infrared
 Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)
 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
Q5. Your company has a suite in a business complex. Another company in the suite next to
you has a wireless 802.11b network with an SSID of “Company A.” You can pick up their
signal from your suite. Your company would like to put up its own wireless network with
two access points. Discuss how you would set up these two access points so that your
company can obtain optimal performance.
Ans. The wireless network should not be set to something that interfere with the 802.11b
network of the neighbour network. So the company should setup their wireless network at
802.11b/g/n. there is also a need for installation of wired LAN so that the access points can act as
a transceiver. A survey needs to be conducted on the area and the map where the users are likely
to connect. Then the place needs to be determined for the best RF coverage. Proper checking of
electric power, wire network connection points, installed access point needs to be done along
with testing of the RF coverage and bandwidth supported should be done. Making sure that SSID
is present so as to authenticate the users who log into the network. Survey on the another post
site and looking into the matter that how much coverage is being provided to the users.

Running head: NETWORK MANAGEMENT
References:
Fang, F., & Luo, X. G. (2014). Network Equipment Selection Scheme of University
Informatization Construction. In Applied Mechanics and Materials (Vol. 599, pp. 1575-
1579). Trans Tech Publications.
Neumann, E. G. (2013). Single-mode fibers: fundamentals(Vol. 57). Springer.
Sari, A., & Rahnama, B. (2013, June). Simulation of 802.11 Physical Layer Attacks in MANET.
In Computational Intelligence, Communication Systems and Networks (CICSyN), 2013
Fifth International Conference on (pp. 334-337). IEEE.