Now! Electronics has four stores in the Sydney region (Hornsby, Penrith, Campbelltown, City) connected in a star topology by leased T-1 lines to its head office in North Ryde.
(a) Sketch the existing WAN, showing the stores, head office and the leased lines.
(b) What is the maximum data capacity for traffic between Hornsby and North Ryde? What is the maximum data capacity for traffic between Hornsby and the City store?
(c) A new stock management server is to be installed to track stock in all four stores - all sales will be reported to this server as they happen. Some members of the development team want to install this new server in head office, while others want to install it in the city store because that store has 40% of the total sales. Which option do you prefer and why?
(d) Now! is planning an aggressive expansion strategy with offices and stores in each Australian state. Compare the merits of expanding the existing T-1 based WAN with moving to a new MPLS-based WAN.