Assignment

Mainframes. Please respond to the following:

• Take a position on the following statement, "Mainframe computers are still needed even though personal computers and workstations have increased in capabilities." Defend your position by providing at least one example to support your position.

• Analyze the differences between distributed data processing and centralized data processing. Provide an example of each. Then compare each to the processing used in cloud computing.

Circuit Switching and Packet Switching. Please respond to the following:

• Cite two examples of a circuit switch and packet switch environment. Base one example on a circuit switch and the other on a packet switch. Describe the trade-off between the two technologies and the reason why packet switching is more appropriate for the Internet.

• Assuming your daily routine stayed the same, speculate the problems you would have if the Internet didn't exist. Speculate the problems of a familiar organization given the same scenario

The following Website may be used for reference to complete this assignment. The Website represents an electronic document titled "Standards Organizations" written by William Stallings (2009), located at http://www.box.net/shared/9dtnzvwys8/1/15730219/164146343/1.

Write a three to four page paper in which you:

1. Select one of the working groups in the IETF or IEEE and briefly summarize what this group is working on.
2. Justify the need of the IEEE 802 standard used in networking.
3. Evaluate the three standard organizations including IEEE, ISO, and ANSI to determine the most important for communication technology.
4. Take a position on the need for a federal standards agency such as NIST. Include supporting evidence to justify your opinion.
5. Use at least three quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the professor's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Describe the needs of communication networks in a business environment.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in communication networks.
• Write clearly and concisely about communication networks using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.