You have been hired by your local library to help it set up a LAN to connect its three library sites. The director of the library, Robert Jienwerski, has a good understanding of the jargon used by network installers and administrators. Robert is very excited about the project. During your first meeting with him, he wants you to come up with a feasibility study for the new network before committing a budget to the project. He gives you the following list of questions that he wants answered. From your knowledge and experience, respond to his questions:
- What expansion of network services and benefits might the library achieve?
- What LAN protocol and related transmission speed are most appropriate for the local libraries: Ethernet, fast Ethernet, or gigabit Ethernet?
- What topology is most appropriate for the LANs and the WAN? What are their merits?
- Explain the elements of the backbone.
- What transmission medium is required for the LAN, UTP or fiber? If it is UTP, what grade? What transmission media and devices are required to create a WAN?