The INTERNET offering of this class will add relevance and application awareness to your text and theory.

You will work through 11 units which cover the breadth of this course. You will use the INTERNET to access vendor, manufacturer, and support sites. You will use the INTERNET to access on-line publications to read topical material that will supplant the classroom environment. You will be given a list of Focus Questions for each unit that should stimulate thought about the current topic. The Focus Questions are a study aid and are not to be submitted to the instructor.

Each unit has a set of assignments that will allow you to use the INTERNET to gather information and then apply that information to a case study or critical thinking question. The assignments are designed to allow you to synthesize the material you have learned in the unit.

You will use e-mail to communicate with your instructor. When you submit your work, copy the text from whatever word processor you are using and paste it into your email. Do NOT attach a document. Submit all parts of a unit in one email message. A list of FAQs(Frequently Asked Questions) are available from the course page. The FAQs page may be updated at any time. You should read the FAQ list as each question has been asked in the classroom many times, and you may find the answer to your question(s) listed there. Check the WebBoard regularly, as often-asked questions may be posted there, and it is a good place to exchange information with other students.

e-mail will be the medium you will use to submit your assignments. A final project will allow you to demonstrate your knowledge by designing a Local Area Network for an enterprise.

You may want to keep an on-line log of your thoughts, questions, comments, and criticisms of this course. Although there will be an opportunity for feedback at the end of the course, your instructor will appreciate your comments during your e-mail contact.

You can maximize your concept comprehension by preparing yourself for the INTERNET searches. Prior to doing a search for each unit, you should:

• Read the Overview.
• Read the KEY TERMs and their definitions.
• Read the related entries in the text.
• Read the Focus Questions and the Assignments.
• Review the material in the Unit pages.

As you step through the exercises listed above, make notes of any items that are unclear or that you wish to discuss with your instructor. Prereading all the Unit material will make the text material clearer.

A LAN is a geographically-bound network of interconnected hardware devices that can be used to share resources. Resources include hardware, such as printers, modems, faxes, and plotters, as well as software, such as spreadsheet, word-processing, and database management software. Data may also be controlled by sophisticated database packages providing the enterprise with security and control.

Each user needs a workstation, which is a PC (Personal Computer) with a special adapter card that is cabled to the network, providing connectivity with other users and devices. Often, a super-fast computer called a file server exists to control the network and route E-mail and other tasks. The two most basic types of networks are peer-to-peer and client-server. Peer-to-peer allows users to share resources, such as printers, without a lot of LAN administration. Client-server is more complex, and usually requires a LAN administrator, an individual whose job it is to maintain the integrity of the network.

Some of the issues to be explored in this course include the duties of the LAN administrator and the constraints and integrity of the system. Connecting the various workstations may be a difficult task as it may require many different pieces of hardware, each having a specific use. There is almost always a software component complementing hardware and part of the administrator's job is to understand how to fine-tune that software for optimal network performance.

Students will gain exposure to considerations of selecting a LAN, both hardware and software. The NOS(Network Operating System)is the software heart of the network. It directs the activities of the LAN. Maintainence and purchasing issues will be explored.

Standards and protocols for LANs, backup, recovery, storage, and UPS(Uninterruptible Power Supply) will also be explored. The student will be expected to submit a high-level design of a Local Area Network at the conclusion of this course.

Please read the WebBoard directions before using WebBoard for the first time.You will be able to get into WebBoard by clicking on "Conference" in the menu bar at the bottom of this page and each unit page.

C.O.D. Online