Project 1: Network Upgrade

This assignment supports the following outcomes:

• State the names, purposes, and characteristics of personal computer components.
• Identify basic tools and procedures for troubleshooting personal computers.
• Perform maintenance on personal computers.
• Explore and evaluate common aspects of personal computers.
• Evaluate how knowledge, skills, and attitudes learned in this course apply to your chosen career.
• Advocate the use of various computer hardware components.

Purpose:

This assignment provides students practice in researching hardware requirements.

Assignment:

You are an IT consultant. Your client just got a large account and needs to upgrade their network from the ground up. With this large account, they need to upgrade to a Fast Ethernet network. They need 10 client computers total for day to day business needs (nothing fancy), as well as a file and backup server, printer, and networking hardware. Price out everything for this. You will need to list what client computers you will suggest including the details of these machines, along with what networking hardware you decided they should use, and most importantly why you are suggesting it. Make sure you give the cost per piece of hardware and include everything down to the networking cables. The client will plan on using Windows 7 for their clients as well as Windows Server 2012 for their server(s).

Deliverables:

Your report will consist of the following:

1. Cover page including: your name, your fictitious company name, and date.

2. Table of contents on a new page

3. Introduction to the project (What is the customer looking for?)

4. Body of project including explanation of each hardware item selected for the project including Client & Server machines (detailing RAM, Hard Drive, CPU, Monitor); as well as Networking hardware (Router(s), Switch(es), Cabling); and Printer. Make sure to include why the hardware was selected and what it will offer the client (for example: processing speed, storage space, network speed, etc.) Remember the more detail the better!

5. Snapshots of each piece of equipment selected

6. Network diagram illustrating the proposed layout of the network as well as a summary of the diagram

7. Cost breakdown of all hardware selected

8. Conclusion and References

9. Reflection Summary that states how the knowledge and skills gained in this course will help prepare you for your future career.