Question

Converting a Network

A recent university graduate gets a job as network administrator for a mid-size company that has a network with ring topology with UTP cable using token passing access method. UTP is also cable utilize to link one ring (segment) to another via hubs. The nodes linked to the network use ISA NICs. The company is using IPv4 addressing scheme, and BOOTP is being used to assign addresses to network nodes

The new network administrator wants to switch to a star topology using fibre optic cable for backbone and distributed backbone. The network would utilize Ethernet architecture with the CMSA/CD access method. (You need to state which Ethernet standard he should recommend and why.)The network would utilize routers for connectivity devices instead of hubs. Also, he wants to switch to IPv6 addressing scheme, and he wants to use DHCP to allocate addresses to network nodes.

If he needs to leave a segment as a token ring, what connectivity device has to he use so that would allow connecting two systems with different architectures? What does this kind of device do that allow information from one system to be read by another. The OSI model layer at that connectivity device operate has an impact on what would be useful and how they impact network. Include a discussion of that layer of the OSI model the connectivity devices mentioned in this question operate at and how that affects their function in the network.

What would be benefits of the changes he wants to make? What would be the challenges? What objections might management have to making the changes and what would be his arguments in reply to those objections?

For purposes of this question you do not require to know about the token access method. You just want to explain features and benefits of CSMA or CD. Also, your discussion of the backbone network choice have to explain why that would be a good choice compared to other backbone networks.