Case Project 1: A user calls to report that she's unable to log on to e-mail, and you ask a couple of questions. Because you know that no one else is using the network right now, you can't determine whether the problem is unique to her machine or affects the entire network. Probing further, you learn that she's also unable to print. You decide this problem is probably easier to troubleshoot from the user's computer. Using the eight-step problem-solving process, outline the items you must check and the questions you must ask when you arrive at the user's office. Based on the possible responses to your questions, describe the actions you will take to correct potential causes of this problem.
Case Project 2: Document the computers, servers, and network equipment in your classroom. Design a form for gathering this information, including space for items such as model number, serial number, NIC type, MAC address, logical address, location, patch panel port connections, and hub/switch port connections. What other information might be important?
Case Project 3: A network consists of 75 workstations and three servers. The workstations are currently connected to the network with 100 Mbps switches, and the servers have 1000 Mbps connections. Describe two network problems that can be solved by replacing the workstations' 100 Mbps switches and NICs with 1000 Mbps switches and NICs. What potential problems can this upgrade cause? What must you verify about the existing network configuration before you perform the upgrade?