lab exercises · · 2012-12-28in this chapter’s lab exercises ... for help identifying network...

Lab Manual / Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Lab Manualnual / Mike Meyers / 555-3 / Chapter 5

Visible Networks

Lab Exercises5.01 UnderstandingNetworkTopologies

5.02 IdentifyingLocalAreaNetworkHardware

5.03 ExploringLocalAreaNetworkConfigurationOptions

LabAnalysisTest

KeyTermQuiz

Chapter 5

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Chapter 5: Visible Networks86

Lab Manual / Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Lab Manualnual / Mike Meyers / 555-3 / Chapter 5Lab Manual / Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Lab Manualnual / Mike Meyers / 555-3 / Chapter 5 Lab Manual / Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Lab Manualnual / Mike Meyers / 555-3 / Chapter 5Lab Manual / Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Lab Manualnual / Mike Meyers / 555-3 / Chapter 5

There’snodoubtaboutit—aPCtechnicianwillhavenetworkingissuesto

workthroughatsomepoint.Whetherit’sathree-computer,home-basedlocal

areanetwork(LAN),apublicWi-Fiaccesspoint,alargecompanywiththou-

sandsofconnecteddevices,ortheWebitself,networkshavebecomeascommon

asPCs.Themainconsiderationisnolongerwhetheryou’regoingtonetwork

yourcomputers—it’snowwhatmethodyou’regoingtousetonetworkyour

computers.

AcompetentPCtechnicianiscalledupontobeanetworkguru,answeringconnectivityquestions

andmakingrecommendationsonthebestprice/performanceconsiderationsforhomesandbusinesses.

Thishappensfrequently,especiallyinsmallercompaniesthatcan’taffordtohiremultiplepeopleto

supportboththenetworkand thePCs.TheCompTIAA+certificationexamsreflectthesechangingroles

ofthePCtechnicianandincludemanyquestionsrelatedtocomputernetworking.

Inthischapter’slabexercises,you’llimaginethatyou’vebeenhiredtoworkforasmallcompany

thathasmadethedecisiontoupgradethenetworkintheiroffice.You’llneedtohaveaworking

understandingofnetworkhardwareandnetworkoperatingsystemissues.

S 30 minutes

Lab Exercise 5.01: Understanding Network TopologiesNetworksdon’tspontaneouslycomeintobeing—theymustbedesignedandlaidout.Choosingthe

properlayout,ortopology,isanimportantdecisionbecauseeachtopologyhasitsownadvantagesand

disadvantages.Knowinghowanetworkisputtogetherandorganizedisanimportantpartofsetting

oneup.

Learning ObjectivesInthislab,you’lllearnaboutnetworktopologies.

Attheendofthislab,you’llbeableto

Identifydifferentnetworktopologies•

Understandthebenefitsanddrawbacksofeachtopology•

Lab Materials and SetupThematerialsyouneedforthislabare

Agroupoffourpeople•

Anysmallobject•

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Lab Manual / Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Lab Manualnual / Mike Meyers / 555-3 / Chapter 5Lab Manual / Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Lab Manualnual / Mike Meyers / 555-3 / Chapter 5

Lab Exercise 5.01: Understanding Network Topologies 87


Getting Down to BusinessThisisagroupactivitythatworksbestinaclassroom.Ifyouareworkingaloneorwantmorepractice,

youcanachievethesamegoalswithafewmoreobjects—insteadofpeople,usecupsorbowlstorepre-

senteachdeviceandaballtorepresentthedatagoingbackandforth.Foreachdemonstration,keepin

mindthereal-worldcomponentsthatwouldbeinvolved.Howmanycableswouldituse?Whatspecial

devicesdoyouneed?Whatifacomponentwasbroken?

Step 1 First,you’lllookatthestartopology.Astartopologyhasmultiplecomputersconnectingtoa

single,centralwiringpoint(aswitch).Thisisprobablytheoneyouaremostfamiliarwith,sincemost

homenetworksaresetupthisway.

Haveyourgroupstandupandformacircle.Designatesomeonetostandinthemiddleandbethe

“switch.”Someoneelseshouldthenbeginbytakinganobject(thedata)andpassingittotheswitch.

Theswitchthenpassestheobjecttosomeoneelse,whomustfirstpassitbacktotheswitchbeforeitcan

moveanywhereelse—rememberthattheobjectcannotpassdirectlyfromonecomputertothenext.It

mustfirstmovethroughtheswitch.

Writedownyourobservationsaboutthistopology,includingitsadvantagesanddisadvantages.

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Step 2 Next,you’lllookattheringtopology.Inthistopology,eachdeviceattachestoacentralring

ofcabletoformanetwork.Haveyourgroupstandinacircleagain.Beginpassingtheobjectclockwise

aroundthecircle.Rememberthatitcannotskipanypersoninthecircle,norcanitcrosstotheother

side.

Nowhaveonepersonleavethecircle,breakingthechain.Theobjectcannotpasstothenextperson

ifthecircleisbroken,sothenetworkbecomesnonfunctional.


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Step 3 Nowyou’lllookatabustopology,whereeachdeviceattachestoasinglenetworkcable.Instead

ofacircle,standinalinewitheveryonefacingthesamedirection.Haveeachpersonpasstheobject

tothenextpersonintheline,andwhentheobjectreachesthelastperson,passtheobjectbackinthe

otherdirection.

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Haveonepersonstepoutoftheline.Theobjectcannotskipthatperson’splace,sotheobjectnow

hastobouncebackandforthbetweenthepeopleononesideofthemissingperson.


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Step 4 Finally,you’lllookatameshtopology.Thistopologyconnectseverycomputertoeveryother

computer,withouttheuseofabusorswitch.Haveeveryoneinthegroupstandinacircleagain,and

nowpasstheobjecttowhomeveryouwish.Continuetodoso,feelingfreetopassittothepersonnext

toyouoracrossfromyou.


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S 30 minutes

Lab Exercise 5.02: Identifying Local Area Network HardwareYourbosshasdecidedtoupgradethenetworkinyouroffice,whichisaboutfiveyearsold.Withthe

changesinnetworkingtechnology,hewantsyourideasaboutpurchasingtherightequipmentforthe

upgrade.Yourcompanyisasmallone,sothetaskisquitedoable,butyouneedtomakesureyouknow

whatyou’retalkingaboutbeforeyougiveyourreport.

Learning ObjectivesInthislab,you’llfamiliarizeyourselfwithnetworkinghardware.


Identifydifferentkindsofnetworkcabling•

Identifydifferentnetworkinterfacecards(NICs)•

Identifydifferenttypesofnetworkhubsandswitches•

Identifydifferentwirelessnetworkingdevices•

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Lab Exercise 5.02: Identifying Local Area Network Hardware 89



AccesstoaPCrunningWindows•

AccesstoaworkingLANandtheInternet(youmayhavedemonstrationdevicesprovidedby•yourinstructor)

Getting Down to BusinessOneofthebestwaystofindoutwhatanetworkismadeofistophysicallylookatallofitspieces.Even

then,however,itmaybenecessarytoaccessamanufacturer’sWebsitetosee,forinstance,ifthe“hub”

you’reusingisreallyahuboraswitch.

Step 1 IfyouhaveaccesstoaLAN(theclassroomcomputerlabnetwork,afriend’shomenetwork,or

yourcompany’snetwork),spendsometimeexploringthephysicalhardwareconnectionsanddevices.

Ifpossible,acquirethediagramofthephysicallayoutofthenetwork,orcreateasimplediagramofthe

layouttofamiliarizeyourselfwiththevariousdevicesandconnectionsassociatedwiththenetwork

you’reanalyzing.

6 Warning

Don’t disconnect anything, and be careful while probing around. One small mistake, like remov-

ing a cable or turning off the wrong device, can disrupt the entire network. If you’re using the

classroom network, ask the instructor what you can and can’t remove while you make closer

inspections of the cables and devices.

4 Cross-Reference

Be sure to check out Chapter 5 of Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs

for help identifying network cables and connectors. It’s a good idea to have the textbook handy

while you progress through this lab.

Whatsortofcablingdoesthenetworkuse,orisitwireless?Isittwisted-paircableoroldercoaxial

cable?ArethecableendsRJ-45connectors?DescribethephysicallayoutoftheLANhere.

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WhatsortofNICsdothemachineshave?Describethebackofthecard.Doesithaveasingleconnec-

tororacombinationofconnectors(seeFigure5-1)?Doesithaveanantenna?Istherealinkand/or

activityLED?WhichoftheLEDsisonsteady?Whichisflashing?DescribetheNIChere.

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4 Hint

It is very important to understand the difference between the link light and the activity light.

First, these “lights” are really light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and will usually appear in some form

of yellow, orange, or green color, depending on the NIC manufacturer. Second, the link light

indicates that the NIC and the cable have a valid electrical connection between the PC and the

network device, usually a switch. This does not guarantee connectivity—it just means that the

electrical connection is intact. The activity light is a better indicator of whether or not the NIC,

cable, and hubs or switches are working. When the activity light blinks, it is indicating that

data is being transferred between the networking devices. It does not guarantee that the data is

usable—it just means that data is making the trip from the NIC to the hub or switch, or from

the hub or switch to the NIC. If you are having trouble connecting to a network or communicat-

ing to other machines on the network, the link and activity lights are a good place to start your

troubleshooting.

Step 2 Switches(andhubs,toanextent)areapartofthemajorityofnetworks.(Rememberthatmod-

ernnetworksalmostexclusivelyuseswitches.)

ArethePCsconnectedwithasinglecable(crossovercablelimitedtotwoPCs),oraretheycon-

nectedtoahub/switch(seeFigure5-2)?Ispartofthenetworkwireless?Whatisthemodelnumber

Figure 5-1 Anetworkinterfacecard(NIC)

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Lab Exercise 5.02: Identifying Local Area Network Hardware 91


ofthenetworkhub/switch?Whomanufacturesthehub/switch?Howmanydevicescanbeattached?

Recordyourfindingshere.

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Isthehuborswitchastandardsingle-speed(10BaseT,forinstance)device,orcanithandlemultiple

speeds(10/100/1000Mbps)?Doesithavewirelesscapabilities?Recordyourfindingshere.Ifthis

informationisn’tapparentorprintedonthedevice,asktheinstructororthenetworkadministrator.

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Step 3 Areyougoingtohaveawirelessnetworkorwirelessdevicesinyournetwork?Doyouplanon

installingawirelessnetworksometimeinthenearfuture?Inthecurrentworldofnetworking,the

termshub,switch,androuterareoftenusedinterchangeably,buttheyreallyareverydifferentdevices

withverydifferentfunctions.ConductanInternetsearchonthedefinitionofeachdevice.

Compareandcontrasteachtypeofdevice.Howdotheyachievetheirfunctionality?Whereorfor

whatpurposedoesitmakessensetouseeachdevice?

Hub________________________________________________________________

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Figure 5-2 ALANhubwithmultiplecables/devicesattached

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Switch_______________________________________________________________

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Router_______________________________________________________________

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S 30 minutes

Lab Exercise 5.03: Exploring Local Area Network Configuration OptionsYou’vemadeyourrecommendation,andyou’veinstalledthenetwork.Thehardwaresideofinstalling

abasicLANisreallysimplethesedays,soyoumanagedtogetthatputtogetherinaflash.Nowit’stime

toconfigurethePCsthatconnecttothenetwork.

TopreparefortheCompTIAA+examsandtobuildyourtoolboxofskillsasaPCtechnician,you

needtobeabletosetup,configure,andtroubleshootnetworksthatuseWindowsclients.Fromanetwork

configurationstandpoint,eachversionofWindowsisverysimilar.TheCompTIAA+examswilltest

yourconfigurationknowledgeforallthreeversionsofWindows,includingthepathsyouusetolocate

configurationsettings.

Learning ObjectivesInthislab,you’llexplorethenetworkconfigurationoptionsinaWindowsenvironment.


Configurenetworkaccessusingthenetworkingapplets•


AccesstoaPCwithWindowsinstalled•

AccesstotheLAN•

4 Hint

I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but if possible, you should repeat the exercises in

each edition of Windows. If you only have a single operating system, be sure you understand

how to configure networks in the other operating system environments. It’s also a good idea to

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Lab Exercise 5.03: Exploring Local Area Network Configuration Options 93


have the drivers for your NICs handy just in case you need to reload any of them. Finally, you’ll

want to determine the relevant settings (in other words, the proper protocol, the name[s] of the

workgroup[s] you’ll be using, and so on); write them down, and keep them with you as you go

from computer to computer.

Getting Down to BusinessForacomputertogainaccesstoorshareresourcesonanetwork,itmusthaveanNICinstalledand

configured.Microsoftprovidesconfigurationwizardstosetupyournetworkwithmostlydefault

parametersandalotofassumptions.Inotherwords,youtellthewizardthecomputername,andit

doestherest.UsingtheMicrosoftwizardswillenableyoutosetupadefaultconfigurationforquick

access(goodforathome),butthismaynotalwaysworkforaLANinabusinessenvironment.

Whetheryouusethewizardsormanuallyconfigurethesystem,thefollowingstepsmustbeaccurately

programmedintothesoftwareoryouwon’tbeabletotakefulladvantageoftheLAN.FortheCompTIAA+

exams,youneedtoknowwhere to locate and how to modifythenetworkconfiguration.Specifically,eachcom-

puterthatwillbeconnectedtotheLANmusthavethefollowing:

AnNICwithcorrectdriversinstalled•

Clientsoftware,suchasClientforMicrosoftNetworks•

Protocols(whatlanguage[s]you’lluseonthenetworkandthesettings)•

Services,suchasFileandPrinterSharingforMicrosoftNetworks•

Acomputername•

Aworkgroupname•

Step 1 GotoDeviceManagerandverifythatthecorrectNICdriversareinstalled.Reinstallthe

driver(s)ifnecessary.

InDeviceManager,expandNetwork adapters.Right-clickonyournetworkcardandselectProperties.

ClicktheDrivertabtoseewhatdriverisinstalledortoupdatethedriver.

Step 2 Inthisstep,you’llverifywhatnetworkservicesareinstalled.

InWindowsXP,gotoControlPanel|NetworkConnections.Right-clickonLocalAreaConnection

andselectProperties.InWindowsVista/7,gototheControlPanelandopentheNetworkandSharing

Center.IntheTasksmenuontheleft,clickManage network connectionsinWindowsVistaandclickChange

adapter settingsinWindows7.Right-clickonLocalAreaConnectionandselectProperties.

4 Hint

Nothing is necessarily wrong if you don’t see any or all of the following components listed or if

you see more than the ones listed previously. It simply means that the network configuration

hasn’t been completed on your system, or it’s in a network supported by more than one server.

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Youshouldfindthefollowingcomponentslistedinaselectionwindow.Yoursystemmayhave

othersaswell.

Client• ClientforMicrosoftNetworks(default)

Protocol• InternetProtocol(TCP/IP);newersystemsseparatetheseintoInternetProtocolver-

sion6(TCP/IPv6)andInternetProtocolversion4(TCP/IPv4)

Service• FileandPrinterSharingforMicrosoftNetworks

Whatclient(s),otherthanthedefault,arelistedinyoursystem?a.

Whatprotocol(s),otherthanthedefault,arelisted?b.

Whatservices,otherthanthedefault,arelisted?c.

Step 3 Nowthatyou’vefoundthenetworkconfigurationscreen,takealookatthevariousoptions:

Install• TheInstallbuttonenablesyoutoaddnetworkcomponents.ClickingtheInstall

buttongivesyouthreechoices:

Client• Addsaclienttotheconfiguration(musthaveatleastone).

Protocol• TCP/IPisthedefault(musthaveaprotocoltocommunicate).

Service• FileandPrinterSharingmustbeenabledforothercomputersonthenetworkto

accesstheoneonwhichyou’reworking.

Remove/Uninstall• TheRemoveorUninstallbuttonenablesyoutoremovenetworkcomponents.

Properties• ThePropertiesbuttondisplaysavarietyofdialogboxesbasedonthenetwork

componentselected.

4 Hint

Each of the preceding options asks questions about what you want to change. If one or more of

your required settings are missing, use this screen to add them. When you make changes, you

may be asked to reboot the system.

Step 4 Nowthatyoursystemisconfiguredfornetworking,itneedsanidentityandtojoinaworkgroup

toberecognizedbythenetworkandaccessnetworkresources.

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Lab Analysis Test 95


InWindowsXP,gototheControlPanelandopentheSystemapplet.SelecttheComputerName

tab.GotothesameappletinWindowsVista/7,buttheinformationshouldbedisplayedintheapplet

directly.Recordyoursystemsettingshere:

Computername/description_____________________________________

Workgroupname____________________________________

Step 5 Nowthatyou’veconfirmedandrecordedthenetworkingcomponents,yourcomputername,

andyourworkgroup,thenextstepistopracticereinstallingyournetworkadapter.

6 Warning

This step is optional and can cause you grief if you aren’t prepared. Ask the instructor if it’s okay

for you to proceed with this step. If not (or if you think this may harm your configuration), skip

this step.

AccessDeviceManageranduninstallyournetworkadapter.Yes,thiswilleraseallyournetworkset-

tings.Didyoutakegoodnotesearlier?ExpandtheNetwork adaptersheading,right-clickonyourspecific

adapter,andchooseRemoveorUninstall.

6 Warning

If your notes are incomplete, ask the instructor to fill in the correct settings you’re missing.

Rebootyoursystem,andtheadapterwillbedetected(ifit’splugandplay)andinstalled.Accessthe

NetworkConnections/NetworkandSharingCenterapplet,andverifyyournetworkconfigurationusing

theinformationyourecordedinSteps1,2,and4previously.Ifyoursystemdoesn’tloadthedriversfor

thenetworkcard,you’llneedthedriverdisctocompleteyoursettings.

Testyoursystembyaccessingthenetwork.Canyoubrowsethenetworknow?LookinMyNetwork

Places/Network.

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Lab Analysis Test1. JodiewantsherWindows7computertojoinadomain.Howdoessheaccomplishthis?

2. Samishavingadifficulttimedescribingthedifferencebetweenaswitchandaroutertoacus-

tomer.Helphimdescribethedifferencebetweenthetwodevices.

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Lab Manual / Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Lab Manualnual / Mike Meyers / 555-3 / <Slug Ch No>Lab Manual / Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+® Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Lab Manualnual / Mike Meyers / 555-3 / Chapter 5

3. BettyjustopenedtheFirefoxWebbrowser.WhensheattemptstovisitaWebpage,itisunableto

connect.Sheknowsshehasn’tchangedanysettingsonthecomputer,butshedidmovethecom-

puterfromheroldofficetothenewoffice.ListsometroubleshootingideasforBetty.

4. HowdoyouaccesstheLocalAreaConnectionPropertiesdialogboxinWindows7?

5. Youhavesixcomputersthatneedtobenetworked.Takeamomenttodrawouthowthesixcomput-

erswouldlookarrangedinthefourdifferenttopologies.

Key Term QuizUsethefollowingtermstocompletethefollowingsentences.Notalltermswillbeused.

bus

client

domain

hub

LED

MAC

mesh

NIC

protocol

ring

RJ-45

router

server

star

switch

topology

workgroup

1. A(n)____________caneffectivelyplaceadeviceonitsowncollisiondomain,therebyincreasing

networkbandwidth.

2. A(n)________________topologyiswhereallthenodesareconnectedtoacentraldevice.

3. Twisted-pairnetworkcablingusesa(n)________________connector.

4. Asetofrulesthatgovernscommunicationonanetworkisknownasa(n)_________________.

5. A(n)__________________ isadeviceorcomputerthatrequestsdatafroma_________________,

whichholdsalloftheinformation.

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lab exercises · · 2012-12-28in this chapter’s lab exercises ... for help identifying network...

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