As WLANs become more powerful, what are the implications for networks of the future? Will wired LANS still be common or will we eliminate wired offices?
> How do Ethernet services work in the WAN?
> What is cloud computing?
> It is said that frame relay services and dedicated-circuit services are somewhat similar from the perspective of the network designer. Why?
> Suppose you joined a company that had a WAN composed of SONET, T carrier, and frame relay services, each selected to match a specific network need for a certain set of circuits. Would you say this was a well-designed network? Explain.
> Are there any WAN technologies that you would avoid if you were building a network today? Explain.
> Are Ethernet services a major change in the future of networking or a technology blip?
> Who regulates common carriers and how is it done?
> Describe five important factors in selecting WAN services.
> How can you improve WAN performance?
> Compare the three types of VPN.
> Explain how VPN services work.
> How do VPN services differ from common carrier services?
> What is Telnet, and why is it useful?
> Describe the four basic functions of an application software package.
> Explain the differences between CIR and MAR.
> Which is likely to be the longer-term winner: IP or Ethernet services?
> Compare and contrast frame relay and Ethernet services.
> Where does packetizing take place?
> How do packet-switching services differ from other WAN services?
> What are common carriers, local exchange carriers, and interexchange carriers?
> Explain how switched backbones work.
> In Figure 8-5, would the network still work if we removed the routers in each building and just had one core router? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of doing this? Figure 8-5: Routed backbone architecture
> Explain how routed backbones work.
> Under what circumstances would you use a VLAN backbone?
> What is a virtual server?
> Under what circumstances would you use a routed backbone?
> Under what circumstances would you use a switched backbone?
> How does a router differ from a VLAN?
> Some experts are predicting that Ethernet will move into the WAN. What do you think?
> How does a layer 2 switch differ from a VLAN?
> What are the preferred architectures used in each part of the backbone?
> Why are broadcast messages important?
> How can you improve the performance of a BN?
> What are the advantages and disadvantages of VLANs?
> What is IEEE 802.1q?
> What are the major parts of an email message?
> Explain how multi switch VLANs work.
> Explain how single-switch VLANs work.
> What is a module and why are modules important?
> Compare and contrast rack-based and chassis-based switched backbones.
> What the key advantages and disadvantages of routed and switched backbones?
> How does a layer 2 switch differ from a router?
> How does wired Ethernet work?
> What does a NOS do? What are the major software parts of a NOS?
> What is a cable plan and why would you want one?
> Compare and contrast category 5 UTP, category 5e UTP, and category 5 STP.
> What roles do SMTP, POP, and IMAP play in sending and receiving email on the Internet?
> What types of cables are commonly used in wired LANs?
> Describe the basic components of a wireless LAN.
> Many of the wired and wireless LANs share the same or similar components (e.g., error control). Why?
> Describe the basic components of a wired LAN.
> Describe three ways to improve network performance on circuits.
> Describe three ways to improve network performance on the server.
> What is a bottleneck and how can you locate one?
> What are three special-purpose devices you might find in a data center and what do they do?
> How does the design of the data center differ from the design of the LANs intended to provide user access to the network?
> Describe how mail user agents and mail transfer agents work together to transfer mail messages.
> How do you decide how many APs are needed and where they should be placed for best performance?
> What is a site survey, and why is it important?
> What are the best practice recommendations for WLAN design?
> What are the best practice recommendations for wired LAN design?
> Explain how association works in WLAN.
> Describe at least three types of servers.
> Explain how CSMA/CA PCF works.
> Explain how CSMA/CA DCF works.
> How does Wi-Fi differ from shared Ethernet in terms of topology, media access control, and error control, Ethernet frame?
> How does Wi-Fi perform media access control?
> Can a mail sender use a two-tier architecture to send mail to a receiver using a three-tier architecture? Explain.
> Compare and contrast the two types of antennas.
> Compare and contrast cut-through, store-and-forward, and fragment-free switching.
> How do Ethernet switches know where to send the frames they receive? Describe how switches gather and use this knowledge.
> Explain the terms 100Base-T, 100Base-F, 1000Base-T, 10 GbE, and 10/100/1000 Ethernet.
> Briefly describe how CSMA/CD works.
> How does a logical topology differ from a physical topology?
> Define local area network.
> What is an RFP, and why do companies use them?
> On what should the design plan be based?
> How can a network design tool help in network design?
> Describe how a Web browser and Web server work together to send a Web page to a user.
> Describe the key parts of the technology design step.
> Why is it important to analyze needs in terms of both application systems and users? 1
> What is the most important principle in designing networks?
> Describe the three major steps in current network design.
> For what types of networks are network design tools most important? Why?
> Why do you think some organizations were slow to adopt a building-block approach to network design?
> How does the traditional approach to network design differ from the building-block approach?
> Is it important to have the fastest wireless LAN technology in your apartment? What about in the library of your school? Explain.
> What is a bottleneck, and why do network managers care about them?
> What are typical speeds for the LAN, building backbone, and campus backbone? Why?
> For what is HTML used?
> What is the difference between a building backbone and a campus backbone, and what are the implications for the design of each?
> What are the seven network architecture components?
> What is the turnpike effect, and why is it important in network design?
> What issues are important to consider in explaining a network design to senior management?
> What is a network baseline, and when is it established?
> What are some major problems that can cause network designs to fail?
> What are the key parts of an RFP?
> What are the keys to designing a successful data communications network?
> How does dynamic addressing work?
> What is a subnet mask?
