1en DHomesb ILM v4030

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Permission is granted to
print and copy this document for non-commercial distribution and exclusive use by
instructors in the CCNA Discovery Networking for Home and Small Businesses
course as part of an official Cisco Networking Academy.
CCNA Discovery
Networking for Home and Small Businesses
Lab 1.3.2 Determining Data Storage Capacity
Objectives
Determine the amount of RAM (in MB) installed in a PC.
Determine the size of the hard disk drive (in GB) installed in a PC.
Determine the used and available space on the hard disk drive (in GB).
Check other types of storage devices (floppy, CD-ROM, DVD).
Background / Preparation
The storage capacity of many PC components is measured in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB). These
components include RAM, hard disk drives, and optical media, such as CDs and DVDs. In this lab, you will
determine the capacity and space available for various computer components.
The following resources are required:
Computer with Windows XP installed
All contents are Copyright 19922007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
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Step 1: Identify the RAM in a computer

a. With Windows XP, there are two ways to view control panels: Classic View and Category View. The
options available depend on which one of these two views you are using. If you see the Switch to
Category View option on the left, you are currently in the classic view mode. If Switch to Classic
View is displayed, you are currently in Category View mode. For this step, you want to use Classic
View mode.
b. From the Start menu, select Control Panel. In the Control Panel, choose System to open the
System Properties dialog box. Alternatively, you can get this information by clicking the Start button
and right clicking the My Computer icon. Next, choose Properties from the drop-down menu.
The computer operating system and service pack information are listed in the upper part of the dialog
box. The computer processor type, speed, and memory are listed in the lower portion.
Computer
operating system
and service pack
information
Computer
processor type,
speed, and
memory
c.
In this example, the computer processor is a Pentium 4 processor with a clock speed of 3.20
gigahertz (GHz). Clock speed is a measurement of the number of cycles per second that a processor
is capable of doing. The number of cycles impacts the number of instructions per second that the
CPU can process. A higher clock speed generally means that a processor is capable of executing
more instructions per second.
The computer has 448 MB of RAM available for the CPU.
d. Check your computer and determine the amount of RAM available to the CPU. How much RAM is in
your computer? _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
The answer will vary depending on the RAM installed in each computer
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Step 2: Determine the size of the hard disk drive

a. Double-click the My Computer icon on your computer desktop. If you do not have a My Computer
icon, click Start and choose My Computer.
b. Right-click the local disk drive under the Hard Disk Drives Section (which is usually the C drive), and
select Properties. This opens the Local Disk Properties dialog box. The total capacity of the hard
drive is shown above the Drive C icon.
c.
Determine the size of the hard drive on your computer. What is the total size of the hard drive in GB?
____________________________________________________________________________
The answer will vary depending on the hard drive installed in each computer
d. Keep the Local Disk Properties dialog box open for the next step.
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Step 3: Determine the free space and used space on the hard drive
a. In the Local Disk Properties dialog box, the used and free space is shown in both bytes and GB
above the Capacity.
b. What is the used space of your hard drive in GB? ____________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________
c.
What is the free space of your hard drive in GB? _____________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________
The answer will vary depending on the space of each individual hard drive
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Step 4: Check for other storage devices

a. Right-click the Start button and select Explore. Select My Computer in the left pane.
b. How many drive letters are shown in the window that appears? _________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
The answer depends on the hardware installed, but there will be at least one and most likely two
(hard drive and CD/DVD drive). There could possibly be more if there is a floppy drive, a USB flash
drive, or a network drive
c.
Right-click on a drive icon other than C: and select Properties. The Removable Disk Properties
window appears.
d. Select the Hardware tab, which provides information on each device and whether it is working
properly.
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Step 5: Reflection
a. Why is it important to know the amount of RAM in your computer?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
This will determine the type of OS that you are able to run as well as which application programs can
be used. Generally the more RAM in a computer system the better
b. Why is the size of a hard drive as well as the space being used important?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
The size of the hard drive gives an indication of the total number of files that can be stored on the
drive. This includes the operating system, application programs as well as any data associated with
these programs. Generally the larger the drive size the better
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Lab 1.3.3 Determining the Screen Resolution of a Computer

Objectives
Determine the current screen resolution of a PC monitor.
Determine the maximum resolution for the highest color quality.
Calculate the number of pixels needed for resolution settings.
Identify the type of monitor and graphics card installed.
The resolution of a monitor determines the quality of the screen display. The resolution is determined by the
number of horizontal and vertical picture elements (pixels) that are used to produce the image on the monitor.
The number of pixels is typically predefined by the manufacturers of graphics cards and PC monitors. The
highest number of pixels that a monitor and graphics card can support is referred to as maximum resolution.
An example of maximum resolution is 1280 x1024, which means the display is composed of 1280 horizontal
pixels and 1024 vertical pixels. The higher the resolution is set, the sharper the display image. The maximum
resolution of a PC monitor and the number of colors the monitor can display are determined by two factors:
Capability of the monitor
Capability of the graphics card, especially the amount of onboard memory
Computer with Windows XP installed
Step 1: Determine the current screen resolution

a. To view the current screen resolution and color quality settings, right-click on any empty space on the
desktop and select Properties from the context menu. In the Display Properties window, select the
Settings tab.
You can also access Display Properties by opening the Control Panel and clicking the Display
icon.
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b. Use the Display Properties Settings tab to record the current settings on your PC:
The screen resolution is (H by V) _______________________________ Answers will vary
The horizontal resolution is: ___________________________________ The first value
The vertical resolution is: _____________________________________ The second value
The color quality value is: _____________________________________ Answers will vary
Step 2: Determine the maximum resolution for the highest color quality
The slide bar under Screen resolution is used to configure the desired resolution.
a. Move the slide bar to see the range of screen resolutions that are available on your PC. (The range is
determined by the operating system when it identifies the display card and the monitor.)
b. Use the Display Properties Settings tab to fill out the following table for the current settings on your
PC:
Minimum screen resolution
Maximum screen resolution
Available color quality settings
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Step 3: Calculate the pixels for current and maximum resolution settings
The display on the screen consists of rows of pixels. The number of pixels in each row is the horizontal
resolution. The number of rows is the vertical resolution. To determine the total number of pixels in a screen
resolution, you multiply the horizontal resolution by the vertical resolution. For example, if the current
resolution is 1280 x 1024, the total number of pixels is 1280 times 1024, or 1,310,720.
a. Calculate the total number of pixels for the lowest resolution: ___________________________
b. Calculate the total number of pixels for the maximum resolution: ________________________
Step 4: Identify the type of graphics card installed

You can get detailed information about the graphics card (also called the display adapter) in the Display
Properties screen.
a. In the Display Properties screen, click the Advanced button.
b. Select the Adapter tab.
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c.
Use the information found in the Adapter tab to complete the following table:
Graphics card manufacturer and model
(Adapter Type)
Graphics memory on card
(Memory Size)
Step 5: Identify the type of monitor and available refresh rates

You can get detailed information about the monitor in the Display Properties screen. The screen refresh rate
determines the number of times per second the screen is illuminated or redrawn. A refresh rate of 60 hertz
means the screen is illuminated 60 times per second. Higher refresh rates provide less screen flicker, which
reduces eye strain, but may adversely affect the monitor. You should set the refresh rate to the highest level
the monitor can safely support.
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a. Click on the Monitor tab to see the monitor type and current refresh rate.
b. Use the information found in the Monitor tab to complete the following table:
Monitor type
Supported refresh rates
c.
What can occur if you select a refresh rate that is higher than what the monitor can safely display?
____________________________________________________________________________
See note on Monitor tab screen above May lead to unusable display and/or damaged hardware
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Lab 1.5.3 Installing a Printer and Verifying its Operation

Objectives
Manually install a printer using the default Windows XP driver.
Verify printer and driver installation and troubleshoot any problems.
Download and install the most recent driver from the printer manufacturer.
Many home and small office printers are plug-and-play, which means that Windows XP automatically
discovers the printer and installs a functional driver. However, if you know the process for manually installing
a printer and updating the printer driver, you have the knowledge to troubleshoot many types of printer
problems.
In this lab, you will install a virtual printer on a Windows XP workstation. This lab is designed to work without
an actual printer, but most steps are exactly the same for connecting a physical printer.
Computer with Window XP installed
Internet connection
Step 1: Add a printer

a. From the Start menu, select Control Panel. Double-click the Printers and Faxes icon. If this icon is
not shown, click Switch to Classic View in the left pane.
b. In the Printers and Faxes window, click the Add Printer icon to open the Add Printer Wizard. Click
Next.
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c.
For Local or Network Printer, click the Local printer attached to this computer radio button, and
uncheck Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer. Click Next.
d. For Select a Printer Port, click the Use the following port radio button and choose LPT1:
(Recommended Printer Port). Click Next.
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e. Note: In this step, you will choose a driver provided by Windows XP for an HP LaserJet 2200, a
common home or small office, black-and-white laser printer. You do not have to physically have the
printer to do these steps. However, if you are installing a printer that is actually attached to your
computer, choose the manufacturer and printer model corresponding to your printer instead of the HP
LaserJet 2200.
For Install Printer Software, select HP from the Manufacturer list. In the Printers list, locate HP
LaserJet 2200 Series PCL and click to select it. Click Next.
f.
For Name Your Printer, choose a descriptive name for the printer. In an environment like a large
office that has several printers of the same make and model, it is helpful to give each printer a unique
name so that it can easily be identified. Click No under Do you want to use this printer as the
default printer? (If you are connecting an actual printer, click Yes if you want Windows applications
to use this printer by default.) Click Next.
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g. In the Printer Sharing window, click Next to accept the default option to not share this printer.
h. If you are actually installing a printer, click Next in the Print Test Page window to print a test page. If
you are installing a virtual HP LaserJet 2200, click the No radio button before clicking Next.
i.
In the Completing the Add Printer Wizard window, review the printer settings, and then click
Finish.
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Step 2: Verify the printer installation

a. Open the Printers and Faxes in control panel and check to see that the printer that you installed and
named is shown. If it is not shown, repeat Step 1.
b. Right-click the icon for the new printer (HPLJ 2200 Series PCL Virtual), and then click Properties.
c.
Click the Advanced tab and record the name of the driver shown in the Driver textbox.
Driver Name: _______________________________________ HP LaserJet 2200 Series PCL
d. Click the Device Settings tab and examine the available options for the printer using this driver. To
close the window, click Cancel.
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Step 3: Download and install an updated printer driver

When you use the Add Printer Wizard to manually install a printer, the driver that is installed by default allows
the device to function, but the Windows-installed driver does not always allow all features of the device to be
used. The most full-featured drivers are usually those provided by the device manufacturer.
Updating a printer driver is one of the best ways to troubleshoot problems and to increase printer functionality.
Most manufacturers continue to update drivers to improve compatibility with operating systems, so it is a good
idea to periodically check for driver updates and to install them if they are available.
In this step, you will go to the Hewlett-Packard website to obtain an updated driver for the HP LaserJet 2200.
If you have installed a different printer, modify these instructions as needed.
a. Open a web browser and go to http://www.hp.com.
b. Click on the Software and Driver Downloads link.
NOTE: Many manufacturers have a support link on their home page that leads to drivers and other
downloads.
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c.
Click the Download drivers and software (and firmware) radio button. Enter the printer model in
the for product text box and click the double arrow link to the right of the text box.
d. The search displays the available products. Click HP LaserJet 2200 Printer or the model of the printer
for which you are downloading a driver.
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e. Click Microsoft Windows XP in the list of operating systems. In the list of drivers shown, click
Download for the HP LaserJet 2200 PCL6 driver option.
f.
In the download dialog box, click Save.
g. In the Save As dialog box, click the Desktop icon in the left pane to save the driver installation file to
your desktop. You can save the file anywhere, but it is important that you know where you have
saved it.
h. Write the name of the file: _________________________________________________________
This filename will vary as the driver is updated to newer versions
i.
Click on the Save button. Close the browser and any other open applications.
j.
Double-click the icon for the downloaded file.

NOTE: You may not see the filename extension (.exe). File extensions are only visible if you disable
the default Hide extensions for known file types from Windows Explorer. See your
instructor for more information.
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k.
When prompted, click Run. In the dialog box, click the second radio button and then Next to unpack
the files to c:\lj2200. Click Finish.
l.
Repeat Steps 2a and 2b to open the Properties page of the new printer. Click the Advanced tab.
Click the New Drive button, and then click Next to begin the Add Printer Driver Wizard.
m. Click Have Disk in the Printer Driver Selection window.
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n. In the Install From Disk window, click Browse and locate the folder created in Step 3 by navigating
to My Computer > Local Disk C:\lj2200. Click Open and you return to the Install From Disk
window. Click OK.
o. In the Printer Driver Selection window, select HP LaserJet 2200 Series PCL 6, and then click Next.
Click Finish in the window that follows.
p. When the process is finished, return to the properties window of the printer and click the Apply
button, and then click OK.
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Step 4: Verify the new driver installation

In this step, you will compare the Windows default driver installed in the first step to the newly installed driver
from the manufacturer website.
a. In the properties window of the new printer, verify that the Apply button is grayed out.
b. Click the Advanced tab. What is the name of the driver?
Driver Name: _______________________________________ HP LaserJet 2200 Series PCL 6
c.
Click the Configure tab. The window for the HP LaserJet 2200 is shown in the figure.
d. Compare this tab to the Device Settings tab in Step 2d. What are the differences? Student results
and observations will vary, but sample answers are listed below
1
There is a Paper Handling Options section
There is an Optional Paper Sources section
There is a Fonts checkbox
There is a Memory Options section
There is a Printer Model section.
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e. Click on some of the other tabs in the properties window to compare the new and old drivers. Record
some of the differences here. Student answers will vary, but some observations are listed below
1
There is a Color Management tab that was not there before
2
3
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 2.3.3 Examining OS and Application Versions

Objectives
Determine the operating system (OS) version and revision.
Examine the method used for configuring Windows XP updates.
Determine the revision number of a particular application.
It is important to keep operating systems and applications up-to-date to ensure stable operation and to
address security vulnerabilities. These updates are called revisions, updates, patches, or hot fixes. There are
three ways to update the Windows XP operating system: automatic updating, downloading patches
automatically and manually determining when they are installed, or manually downloading and installing the
patches.
This lab can be done individually, in pairs, or in teams. The following resources are required:
Computer with Windows XP and an application such as Microsoft Word installed
Step 1: Determine the Windows XP version and revision number

a. Click the Start button and select All Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer.
b. From the Help menu, choose About Windows.
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c.
Which version of Windows XP and service pack is installed on your computer?

________________________________________________________________________________
Machine-dependent
d. How much physical memory (RAM) is available to Windows XP?

________________________________________________________________________________
Machine-dependent
e. Why is memory important to an operating system?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Student-dependent, but the amount of memory available determines (to some extent) the speed at
which the computer operates. It also determines how much of an application or how many
applications can be loaded at once. When all physical memory is used, hard drive space (which is
slower) is used. Information is swapped between the hard drive space and memory as needed
f.
Click on the End-user License Agreement link on the About Windows screen.
According to the license agreement, how many backup copies of Windows XP can you legally make?
_______________________________________________________________________________ 1
g. Close the end-user license agreement window. Close the About Windows window.
Step 2: Configure Windows XP for updates

a. Click on the Start button and select the Control Panel option.
b. If the right window pane shows Pick a Category, select the Switch to Classic View link in the left
pane. Double-click the Automatic Updates option.
c.
Which four options are available for automatic updates? ___________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Automatic (recommended), (2) Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them,
(3) Notify me, but dont automatically download or install them, (4) Turn off automatic updates
d. Click on the How Does Automatic Updates Work? link. Expand the How Are Updates
Downloaded? section by clicking on the + (plus sign) beside the option.
e. Based on the information presented, what happens if you are using your computer, updates are being
downloaded, and you disconnect from the Internet?
________________________________________________________________________________
Nothing is lost. The download continues the next time you access the Internet
f.
Expand the How Are Updates Installed? section.

Based on the output shown, what is the default time for when updates are installed?
________________________________________________________________________________
The default is 3 AM
g. Close the How Does Automatic Updates Work? window and return to the Automatic Updates window.
h. What is the current setting for automatic updates, and why do you think the person who set up the
computer chose this option?
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________________________________________________________________________________
Machine-dependent and students own opinion
i.
Close the Automatic Updates window.
j.
Another way of configuring a system for automatic updates is through the System control panel. Click
the Start button, click the Control Panel option, and double-click the System control panel icon.
Click on the Automatic Updates tab.
k.
Are the options the same as before? _______________________________________________ Yes
l.
Close the System control panel.
Step 3: Determine an application version

a. Open any Windows-based application such as Microsoft Word.
b. From the application Help menu option, choose the About option.
c.
What is the application version? ___________________________________ Application-dependent
d. If this is a Microsoft application, there may be a System Info button. If there is a button, click on it. If
there is no button, skip to the next step. Explore the different options available under System Info,
including information related to your specific application. System Info provides similar information to
that provided by winmsd.exe.
e. Click on the Help menu again. If there are double down arrows at the bottom of the menu, click them
to show all the menu options. Some applications have a Check for Updates option. Does the
application have this option? _____________________________________ Application-dependent
f.
Do you think that Internet access is required for an application that has a Check for Updates option?
Why or why not? __________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Students opinion, but it does require Internet access because the server that holds the updates is
accessible only through the Internet or through a CD sent to you by the company that created the
application
g. Close the application.
Step 4: Reflection
a. When is it important to get an update for an application or an operating system?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Students opinion
b. List one instance when you might need to know which version of the operating system or application
is being used. ____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Students opinion for example if you are having problems and talking to technical support on the
phone or through a chat session, you might be asked what version is being used
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 3.1.5 Building a Peer-to-Peer Network

Objectives
Design and build a simple peer-to-peer network using a crossover cable supplied by the instructor.
Verify connectivity between the peers using the ping command.
In this hands-on lab, you will plan and build a simple peer-to-peer network using two PCs and an Ethernet
crossover cable.
Two Window XP Professional PCs, each with an installed and functional Network Interface Card
(NIC)
An Ethernet crossover cable
Step 1: Diagram the network

a. A network diagram is a map of the logical topology of the network. In the space below, sketch a
simple peer-to-peer network connecting two PCs. Label one PC with IP address 192.168.1.1 and the
other PC with IP address 192.168.1.2. Use labels to indicate connecting media and any necessary
network devices.
b. A simple network like the one you designed can use a hub or switch as a central connecting device,
or the PCs may be directly connected. Which kind of cable is required for a direct Ethernet connection
between the two PCs? _________________________________________________________
Ethernet crossover cable
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Step 2: Document the PCs

a. Check the computer name settings for each PC and make adjustments as necessary. For each PC,
select Start and Control Panel. Double-click the System icon, then click the Computer Name tab.
Write down the computer name that is displayed following Full computer name:
PC1 Name:
PC2 Name:
b. Check to see if the two PCs have the same name. If they do, change the name of one PC by clicking
the Change button, typing a new name in the Computer name field, then clicking OK.
c.
Click OK to close the System Properties window.
d. Why is it important that each PC on a network have a unique name?

____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary. Example: Each PC represents a unique network resource. The name is used along
with the IP address to identify it on the network, so the name must be unique
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Step 3: Connect the Ethernet cable

a. Use the Ethernet crossover cable provided by the instructor. Plug one end of the cable into the
Ethernet NIC of PC1.
b. Plug the other end of the cable into the Ethernet NIC of PC2. As you insert the cable, you should
hear a click which indicates that the cable connector is properly inserted into the port.
Step 4: Verify physical connectivity

a. After the Ethernet crossover cable is connected to both PCs, take a close look at each Ethernet port.
A light (usually green or amber) indicates that physical connectivity has been established between the
two NICs. Try unplugging the cable from one PC then reconnecting it to verify that the light goes off
then back on.
b. Go to the Control Panel, double click the Network Connections icon, and confirm that the local
area connection is established. The following figure shows an active local area connection. If physical
connectivity problems exist, you will see a red X over the Local Area Connection icon with the words
Network cable unplugged.
c.
If the Local Area Connection does not indicate that it is connected, troubleshoot by repeating Steps 3
and 4. You may also want to ask your instructor to confirm that you are using an Ethernet crossover
cable.
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Step 5: Configure IP settings

a. Configure the logical addresses for the two PCs so that they are able to communicate using TCP/IP.
On one of the PCs, go to the Control Panel, double click the Network Connections icon, and then
right click the connected Local Area Connection icon. Choose Properties from the pull-down menu.
b. Using the scroll bar in the Local Area Connection Properties window, scroll down to highlight
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Click the Properties button.
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c.
Select the Use the following IP address radio button and enter the following information:
IP Address
192.168.1.1
Subnet Mask
255.255.255.0
d. Click OK, which will close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window. Click the Close button
to exit the Local Area Connection Properties window.
e. Repeat steps 5a 5d for the second PC using the following information:
IP Address
192.168.1.2
Subnet Mask
255.255.255.0
Step 6: Verify IP connectivity between the two PCs

NOTE: To test TCP/IP connectivity between the PCs, Windows Firewall must be disabled temporarily on both
PCs. Windows Firewall should be re-enabled after the tests have been completed.
a. On PC1, on the Windows XP desktop, click Start. From the Start menu, select Control Panel, and
double-click Network Connections.
b. Right-click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties. Click the Advanced tab. Locate
and click the Settings button.
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c.
Make a note of whether the firewall settings are ENABLED (ON) for the Ethernet port or DISABLED
(OFF) for the Ethernet port. ____________________________________________________
d. If the firewall settings are enabled, click the Off (not recommended) radio button to disable the
firewall. The setting will be re-enabled in a later step. Click OK in this dialog box and the following to
apply this setting.
e. Now that the two PCs are physically connected and configured correctly with IP addresses, we need
to make sure they communicate with each other. The ping command is a simple way to accomplish
this task. The ping command is included with the Windows XP operating system.
f.
On PC1, go to Start, then Run. Type cmd, and then click OK. A Windows command prompt window
will appear as shown in the figure below.
g. At the > prompt, type ping 192.168.1.2 and press Enter. A successful ping will verify the IP
connectivity. It should produce results similar to those shown in here.
h. Repeat Steps 6a-6c on the second PC. The second PC will ping 192.168.1.1.
i.
Close the Windows command prompt window on both PCs.
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Step 7: Verify connectivity using My Network Places

a. A PC can share its resources with other PCs on the network. PCs with shared resources should be
visible through My Network Places. On PC1, go to Start, click My Network Places, and then click
View workgroup computers in the left panel.
b. Do you see an icon for the other PC in your peer-to-peer network? ___________________ Yes
c.
What is the name of the other PC? _________________________________ Answers will vary
d. Is it the same name you recorded in Step 2? ____________________________________ Yes

e. Perform Step 7a on the second PC.
f.
Close any open windows.
Step 8: (Optional Use only if the Firewall was originally ENABLED) Re-enable the firewall
a. If you disabled the Windows Firewall in Step 6, click Start, select Control Panel, and open the
Network Connections control panel.
b. Right-click the Ethernet network connection icon and select Properties. Click the Advanced tab.
Locate and click Settings.
c.
If the firewall settings are disabled (and they were enabled before this lab began), click the On radio
button to enable the firewall. Click OK in this dialog box and the following one to apply this setting.
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Lab 3.3.3 Determine the MAC Address of a Host
Objective
Determine the MAC address of a Windows XP computer on an Ethernet network using the ipconfig
/all command.
Access to the Run command.
Background/Preparation
Every computer on an Ethernet local network has a Media Access Control (MAC) address that is burned into
the Network Interface Card (NIC). Computer MAC addresses are usually displayed as 6 sets of two
hexadecimal numbers separated by dashes or colons. (example: 15-EF-A3-45-9B-57). The ipconfig /all
command displays the computer MAC address. You may work individually or in teams.
Windows XP workstation with at least one Ethernet network interface card (NIC)
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Step 1: Open a Windows command prompt window

a. From the Windows XP desktop, click Start then Run.
b. Type cmd in the Run dialogue box then click OK.
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c.
A Windows command prompt window opens.
Step 2: Use the ipconfig /all command

a. Enter the ipconfig /all command at the command prompt.
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b. Press Enter. (Typical results are shown in the following figure, but your computer will display different
information.)
Step 3: Locate the MAC (physical) address(es) in the output from the ipconfig /all command
a. Use the table below to fill in the description of the Ethernet adapter and the Physical (MAC) Address:
Description
example: VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address
example: 00-50-2C-A5-F5-73
Step 4: Reflection
a. Why might a computer have more than one MAC address?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
A computer might have more than one NIC and each NIC will have a unique MAC address. An
example of this would be a laptop that has both an integrated wireless NIC and an Ethernet NIC
b. The sample output from the ipconfig /all command shown previously had only one MAC address.
Suppose the output was from a computer that also had wireless Ethernet capability. How might the
output change?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
The MAC address of the wireless adapter will be shown in addition to the MAC address of any wired
NIC such as an Ethernet adapter
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c.
Try disconnecting the cable(s) to your network adapter(s) and use the ipconfig /all command again.
What changes do you see? Does the MAC address still display? Will the MAC address ever change?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
The output shows that the media (cable) has been disconnected. The IP address went away, but the
MAC address is still shown. The MAC address is designed to be permanent. It is programmed into
the NIC and is unique for each card.
d. What are other names for the MAC address?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Other names for a MAC address include a physical address, hardware address, Ethernet address,
burned-in address, a data-link layer address, and a Layer 2 address
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Lab 3.3.6 Determine the IP Address of a Computer
Objective
Use the ipconfig /all command to determine the IP address of a Windows XP host on an Ethernet
network.
Every computer connected to the Internet has a unique identifier, called an IP address. IP addresses are
displayed as four numbers, known as octets, separated by periods (example: 192.168.1.4). The ipconfig /all
command displays your computers IP address and information about the network. The following resources
are required:
A workstation that is attached to the local network and that has its IP address already configured
Access to the Run command
In this lab you will locate your computers IP address to discover its unique number.
Step 1: Determine the IP address of the computer

a. From the Windows XP desktop, click the Start button, and then click Run.
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b. In the Run dialog box, type cmd then click the OK button.
c.
At the command prompt, type ipconfig /all and press Enter.
d. The ipconfig /all command then displays a list of information about your computers IP configuration.
An example is shown in the following figure. The information displayed for your computer will be
different.
e. Locate the IP address and record the finding.

IP address _____________________________________
f.
Why is it important that a computer get an IP address? ________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________
It is important for a computer to obtain an IP address (either statically or dynamically using DHCP) so
that it can communicate with computers on other networks
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Lab 3.5.2 IP Addresses and Network Communication
Objectives
Build a simple peer-to-peer network and verify physical connectivity.
Assign various IP addresses to hosts and observe the effects on network communication
In this lab, you will build a simple peer-to-peer network using two PCs and an Ethernet crossover cable. You
will assign various compatible and non-compatible IP addresses to the hosts and determine the effects on
their ability to communicate.
NOTE: You may use the small peer-to-peer network that was built in Lab 3.1.5
Two Windows XP Professional PCs, each with an installed and functional Network Interface Card
(NIC)
An Ethernet cross-over cable to connect the PCs (provided by instructor)
(Optional lab setup) A hub or switch and two straight-through cables to connect the PCs (provided by
instructor)
Step 1: Connect the PCs to create a peer-to-peer network

a. Obtain an Ethernet crossover cable provided by the instructor to connect the two PCs.
NOTE: (optional lab setup) The PCs may be connected to a hub (or switch) using two straightthrough cables. The following instructions assume you are using a crossover cable.
b. Plug one end of the cable into the Ethernet NIC of PC1. Plug the other end of the cable into the
Ethernet NIC of PC2. As you insert the cable, you should hear a click which indicates that the cable
connector is properly inserted into the port.
Step 2: Verify physical connectivity

a. After the Ethernet crossover cable is connected to both PCs, take a close look at each Ethernet port.
A link light (usually green or amber) indicates that physical connectivity has been established
between the two NICs. Try unplugging the cable from one PC then reconnecting it to verify that the
light goes off then back on.
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b. Go to the Control Panel, double click the Network Connections icon, and confirm that the local
area connection is established. The following figure shows an active local area connection. If physical
connectivity problems exist, you will see a red X over the Local Area Connection icon with the words
Network cable unplugged.
c.
If the Local Area Connection does not indicate that it is connected, troubleshoot by repeating Steps 1
and 2. You may also want to ask your instructor to confirm that you are using an Ethernet crossover
cable.
Step 3: Configure IP settings for the two PCs

a. Configure the logical IP addresses for the two PCs so that they are able to communicate using
TCP/IP. On PC1, go to the Control Panel, double click the Network Connections icon, and then right
click the connected Local Area Connection icon. Choose Properties from the pull-down menu.
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b. Using the scroll bar in the Local Area Connection Properties window, scroll down to highlight Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP). Click the Properties button.
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c.
Select the Use the following IP address radio button and enter an IP address of 192.168.1.1 and a
subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. With this IP address and subnet mask, the network number the host
is on is 192.168.1.0 and 192.168.1.1 is the first host on the 192.168.1.0 network :
IP Address
192.168.1.1
Subnet Mask
255.255.255.0
d. Click OK, which will close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window. Click the Close
button to exit the Local Area Connection Properties window.
e. Repeat steps 3a 3d for the PC2 using an IP address of 192.168.1.2 and a subnet mask of
255.255.255.0. The network number this PC is on is 192.168.1.0 and 192.168.1.2 is the second host
on the 192.168.1.0 network.
IP Address
192.168.1.2
Subnet Mask
255.255.255.0
Step 4: Verify IP connectivity between the two PCs

a. On each PC, on the Windows XP desktop, click Start. From the Start menu, select Control Panel,
and double-click Network Connections.
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b. Right-click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties. Click the Advanced tab. Locate
and click the Settings button.
c.
(OFF) for the Ethernet port. _____________________________________________________
apply this setting. Repeat Steps 4a-4d on the second PC.
e. Now that the two PCs are physically connected and configured correctly with IP addresses, we need
to make sure they communicate with each other. The ping command is a simple way to accomplish
this task. The ping command is included with the Windows XP operating system.
f.
On PC1, go to Start, then Run. Type cmd, and then click OK. A Window command prompt window
will appear as shown in the following figure.
g. At the > prompt, type ping 192.168.1.2 and press Enter. A successful ping will verify the IP
connectivity. It should produce results similar to those shown in the figure that follows.
h. Repeat this procedure for PC2 but ping 192.168.1.1.

i.
Close the Windows command prompt window on both PCs.
Step 5: Change IP address for PC2

a. On PC2, go to the Control Panel, double click the Network Connections icon, and then right click the
connected Local Area Connection icon. Choose Properties from the pull-down menu.
b. Using the scroll bar in the Local Area Connection Properties window, scroll down to highlight Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP). Click the Properties button.
c.
Change the logical IP address for PC2 from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.2.2 and leave the subnet mask
set to 255.255.255.0. On what network is PC2 now? _________________________________
PC2 is now on the 192.168.2.0 network
d. Click OK, which will close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window. Click the Close
e. Refer back to Step 3c. On what network is PC1? ____________________________________
PC1 is still on the 192.168.1.0 network
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f.
The two PCs are still on the same physical Ethernet network. Are they on the same logical IP
network? _____________________ No
Step 6: Test network connectivity between the 2 PCs

a. On PC1, go to Start, then Run. Type cmd, and then click OK. A Window command prompt window
will appear.
b. At the > prompt, type ping 192.168.2.2 and press Enter. Was it successful? ___________ No Why
or why not? ______________________________________ The PCs are now on different networks
c.
What type of networking device would allow the PCs to communicate? ______________________
A router, if placed between the 2 PCs using proper cabling
Step 7: Change IP address for PC1

a. Using the procedure previously described, change the logical IP address for PC1 from 192.168.1.1 to
192.168.2.99 and leave the subnet mask set to 255.255.255.0. On what network is PC1 now?
____________________________________________________________________________
PC1 is now on the 192.168.2.0 network
b. Click OK, which will close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window. Click the Close
c.
The two PCs are still on the same physical Ethernet network. Are they on the same logical IP network
now? ___________________________ Yes, 192.168.2.0
Step 8: Test network connectivity between the 2 PCs

a. On PC2, go to Start, then Run. Type cmd, and then click OK. A Window command prompt window
will appear.
b. At the > prompt, type ping 192.168.2.99 and press Enter. Was it successful? ____________ Yes
Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________
The PCs are now on the same network again 192.168.2.0
a. If you disabled the Windows Firewall in Step 4, click Start, select Control Panel, and click _Network
Connections.
c.
button to enable the firewall. Click OK in this dialog box and the following one to apply this setting.
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Lab 3.6.4 Connect and Configure Hosts

Objectives
Connect a PC to a router using a straight-through cable.
Configure the PC with an appropriate IP address.
Configure the PC with a NetBIOS computer name.
Verify the PC configuration using Windows XP and through a command prompt.
In order for the PC to participate in the local network and the Internet, it must be connected to a network
device. The following resources will be required:
Linksys Model WRT300N wireless router or equivalent SOHO router
Two computers with Ethernet NICs and Windows XP Professional installed on both
Two straight-through cables
Step 1: Identify Ethernet ports

a. On the Linksys router, locate the Ethernet (Local Area Network) LAN ports. The Ethernet LAN ports
connect your network hosts and devices. The four LAN ports are grouped together in the center of the
router as shown in the following figure.
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b. On the PC, locate the Ethernet port. The port could be integrated into the motherboard or it could be
an adapter. In either case, the port will be an RJ-45 port. The photo shows an Ethernet port on an
adapter.
Step 2: Connect the cable between the PC and the router

a. Connect one end of the straight-through Ethernet cable to an Ethernet LAN port on the router.
b. Connect the other end of the cable to the PC Ethernet port.
c.
Repeat this procedure for the second PC.
Step 3: Assign the PCs an IP address and default gateway

a. In order to assign an IP address and default gateway to a Windows XP host, from the Start menu,
select Control Panel.
b. There are two ways to view Control Panels: Classic view and Category view. The options available
depend on which one of these two views you are using. If you see an option on the left that says
Switch to Category View, you are currently in the Classic view mode. If you see an option on the left
that says Switch to Classic View, you are currently in Category view mode. Ensure that you are in
Classic view mode.
c.
Locate and double-click the Network Connections control panel icon.
d. Right-click the Local Area Connection icon that represents your NIC and click the Properties menu
option.
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e. In the middle window, scroll down until you see and can double-click the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
option. The figure that follows shows this option.
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f.
Click the Properties button and the Internet Protocol [TCP/IP] Properties window will appear.. Next,
click the Use the following IP address button, which activates the IP address, Subnet mask, and
Default gateway textboxes.
In the IP address field, enter 192.168.10.2. Configure the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0. Configure
the default gateway to 192.168.10.1. The figure that follows shows these settings. (DNS server
information is not necessary at this time, so the fields under Use the following DNS server
addresses dont need to be filled out.) When finished, click OK.
g. From the Internet Protocol [TCP/IP] Properties window, click OK to apply the changes. Be patient,
since this step may take some time. After the changes are applied, you will be returned to the
Network Connections window.
h. Since the two computers are on the same network, their IP addresses will be similar, their subnet
masks will be identical, and their default gateways will be identical. Perform the same procedures on
the second PC to assign an IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway using the following
information:
IP address: 192.168.10.3
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: 192.168.10.1
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i.
Why do you think the IP addresses are different, but the subnet masks and default gateways are the
same? ______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Students own opinion on this. Each device on the network must have a unique identifier. The IP
address is one way of uniquely identifying each network host or device. The default gateway
represents the way of communicating with devices that are NOT on your own network
Step 4: Verify the IP address configuration

a. On the Windows XP desktop, click Start.
b. From the Start menu, Select the Run menu option.
c.
In the Open: textbox, type cmd and press Enter. A command prompt appears. The figures that follow
show this process.
d. In the command line prompt, type ipconfig /all. Verify that the IP address and the default gateway
are the values that you entered in the earlier steps. If they are incorrect, repeat Steps 3 and 4.
e. Are the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway correct for the first PC? _____________
Yes
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f.
Perform the same configuration check on the second PC. If the values are incorrect, repeat Steps 3
and 4.
g. Are the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway correct for the second PC? ___________
Yes
Step 5: Test connectivity between the two PCs

a. On PC1, on the Windows XP desktop, click Start. From the Start menu, select Control Panel, and
double-click Network Connections.
b. Right-click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties. Click the Advanced tab. Locate and
click the Settings button.
c.
(OFF) for the Ethernet port. _______________________________________________________
apply this setting.
e. From the same command prompt on the first PC, type ping 192.168.10.3 to test connectivity with the
second PC.
f.
If the ping is successful, you will see results similar to the following figure. If the ping is not
successful, perform the appropriate troubleshooting steps such as checking the cabling and checking
your IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway assignments.
g. From the command prompt on the second PC, type ping 192.168.10.2 to check connectivity to the
first PC.
The ping should succeed.
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Step 6: Configure the NetBIOS name

a. Right-click Start and select the Explore option.
b. How many drive letters are shown in the window that appears? _________________________
The answer depends on the hardware installed, but there will be at least one and most likely two
(hard drive and CD/DVD drive)
c.
Which drive letters are shown? ___________________________________________________

The answer depends on the hardware installed, but normally there is at least a C: drive for the hard
drive and a D: drive for the CD/DVD drive
d. Right-click the My Computer icon on your Windows XP desktop and select the Properties option.
The System Properties window appears.
NOTE: If the My Computer icon does not appear on the desktop, click Start then right-click My
Computer.
e. Click the Computer Name tab. An example of the window that appears follows:
f.
Click Change. Make a note of the current computer name. _______________
g. In the Computer Name textbox, type PC1. Ensure the Member of radio button or field is set to
Workgroup.
h. Make a note of the Workgroup name. __________________________________________
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i.
Click OK. If prompted to restart the computer, click OK to restart and follow the directions on the
screen.
j.
Use the same process to name the second computer PC2. Also ensure that the Workgroup name is
set to the same value as PC1.
Step 7: Verify configuration

a. To verify the new configuration, open a command prompt on each computer. If you forgot how, refer
to Steps 4a, b, and c.
b. Use the nbtstat command to view and gather information about remote computers. From the
command prompt, type nbtstat and press Enter. Help for the command displays as shown:
The letters shown are options called switches that you can use with the nbtstat command.
a. On PC1, type nbtstat n and press Enter to see the local NetBIOS name of PC1.
b. On PC2, type the same command to verify the NetBIOS name is set to PC2.
c.
The nbtstat a command can be used to look at a remote computers name table. Type nbtstat
again from the command prompt. Notice in the output that when you use the a switch, you have to
put a space and then type a remote computers name (RemoteName).
From PC1, type nbtstat a PC2 and press Enter. The nbtstat information for PC2 shows on PC1s
monitor.
What command would be used from the command prompt on PC2 to view information about PC1?
____________________________________________________________________________
nbtstat a PC1
d. From PC2, type the appropriate command to view PC1s nbtstat information.
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e. The nbtstat A (notice that the switch is a capital A this time) can be used to view the same
information using an IP address rather than a name. If you type nbtstat again, you can see that the
command syntax tells us that we use A followed by an IP address. The IP address is that of the
remote computer.
From PC1, type nbtstat A 192.168.10.3 to see the same information that was returned by the
nbtstat a PC2 command.
f.
Write the command that would be typed on PC2 to view information about PC1, using the IP address
of PC1 instead of the NetBIOS name. _____________________________________________
nbtstat A 192.168.10.3
g. From PC1, you can use the ping command to verify connectivity. However, instead of using an IP
address, you can use the NetBIOS name. From the PC1 command prompt, type ping PC2 (notice
the capitalization). The result should be successful.
h. From PC1, type ping pc2 (notice the capitalization).
i.
Does the ping succeed using lower case letters? ___________________________________ Yes
j.
You can use the nbtstat r command to see NetBIOS names that have been resolved (they are
known). From the PC1 and PC2 command prompt, type nbtstat r to see that the remote computer is
known using NetBIOS.
k.
Close the command prompt window.
a. If the answer to Step 5c was OFF or ENABLED on PC1, click Start, select Control Panel, and open
the Network Connections control panel.
c.
button to disable the firewall. Click OK in this dialog box and the following one to apply this setting.
Step 9: Return IP Address and NetBIOS Name to original values

a. Return to Step 3 to change the IP address back to the original.
b. Return to Step 6d to change the NetBIOS name back to the original.
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Step 10: Reflection

a. Check two or three computers in your lab at school. Complete the following table:
Computer Name
IP Address & Subnet

Mask
Default Gateway
1
2
3
b. Either with a classmate assigned to you or by choosing one yourself, share this information with
them.
In your opinion, are the names descriptive? ___________________________ Answers will vary
c.
Are all of the computers in the classroom part of the same local network? How could you prove that?
____________________________________________________________________________
All computers have the same default gateway and they all have similar network addresses
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 3.6.5 Sharing Resources

Objectives
Use Windows XP to complete the following tasks:
Share files and folders.
Map network drives.
Background/Preparation
One of the key benefits of having PCs networked together is that it provides access to be able to share
information with other connected users. Whether it is a song, a proposal or your holiday pictures, there are
many situations where you need to share data with friends or business colleagues.
Mapping drives, goes hand-in-hand with sharing folders because drive mappings provide quick access to
commonly used folders. They also provide an easier way for users to navigate and find the files and/or folders
they are looking for. Drive mappings redirect a local resource (drive letter) to a shared network resource (hard
drive or folder on the network).
Two configured Windows XP Professional workstations connected via a local network. Note: Use the
previously configured network from lab activity 3.6.4.
Step 1: Share a folder

a. Click Start. from the Start Menu, select All Programs, Accessories, and then Windows Explorer.
b. In the Folders pane, click the plus sign (+) beside My Computer. Click the C: drive. From the File
menu. select New and from the sub-menu, select the Folder option. Type Share as the name of the
folder.
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c.
Right-click the new folder Share and choose Properties.

NOTE: The Sharing option is not available for the Documents and Settings, Program Files, and
Windows system folders.
d. Select the Sharing tab. In the Share Properties dialog box, click the Share this folder radio button to
share the folder with other users on your network. The default name for the shared folder is the same
name as the original folder name.
NOTE: To change the name of the folder on the network, type a new name for the folder in the Share
name text box. This will not change the name of the folder on your computer.
e. Click Apply and then OK.
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f.
Create a text file using Notepad and save it to the Share folder. On the Windows XP desktop, click
Start, select All Programs, Accessories, then Notepad.
In the Notepad application, type the message Hello World!.
From the File menu, select Save. In the File name field, type Test message. Click the icon with the
folder and up arrow as shown in the following figure.
g. Double-click My Computer, then double-click drive C:. Locate and double-click the Share folder,
then click Save.
h. Close the Notepad application.
i.
Repeat Steps 1 5 for the second Windows XP Professional machine with the following exceptions:
Share name: Share2
Text file contents: Hello planet!
Text file name: Test Message 2
Step 2: Map network drives to provide quick and easy access to shared folders
a. On the first Windows XP workstation, click Start, select All Programs, Accessories, and then
Windows Explorer.
b. In the Folders pane, click My Computer. From Tools Menu, select Map Network Drive.
c.
In the Drive textbox, select an unused drive letter using the pulldown menu.
d. Question: What drive letter did you choose? _____________________________ Answers will vary
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e. In the Folder field, type the IP address of the remote PC and the name of the remote share using the
format: \\ip_address\sharename
f.
Click Finish.
A window will appear with the message Attempting to connect to \\192.168.10.3\share2. A window
will open to display the contents of the shared folder called Share2 that has now been assigned a
drive letter.
NOTE: The IP address can be replaced by the computer name.
g. Double-click the Test Message 2 text document. Add the words Techs rule to the document. From
the File menu and select Save.
Question: What message is displayed? Why do you think this happened? _________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Cannot access this file. Check Security Privileges. The second question is the students own opinion
h. The files within a shared folder are automatically protected in the Windows XP Professional version.
Click OK in the message box. Click Cancel, then click Close for the Test Message 2 document.
i.
In the message box, click No to close the document without saving the changes.
j.
Repeat procedures a-e under Step 2 to map a drive on the second Windows XP workstation. This
drive should be mapped to the share you configured in Step 1.
Step 3: Verify work

a. From the first Windows XP Professional machine, click Start, select All Programs, then
Accessories, and Windows Explorer.
b. Expand My Computer by clicking on the plus sign (+) beside the option.
c.
The Windows Explorer list should display a drive with the drive letter label that you chose for the
remote share.
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d. Repeat procedures a-c for the second Windows XP Professional machine.
If the drive letter appears on both computers, then the folders are shared and drives are mapped
properly on both Windows XP workstations. You can perform the same steps on any folder. When a
drive is properly mapped to shared folders, all files and folders within the shared folder will be
accessible from the workstations.
Step 4: Reflection
a. What are some of the benefits of mapped drives and shared folders in a home or small office
network?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
b. Which folders cannot be shared? Can you think of reasons why an operating system might not allow
certain types of folders to be shared?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
c.
A mapped drive provides a pointer to a network resource, but mapped drive letters are said to be
locally significant only. What do you think is meant by locally significant?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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Lab 4.2.3 Tracing Internet Connectivity

Objectives
Use software that shows how data travels through the Internet.
Use the ping utility to test connectivity to a remote network.
Construct a visual map of connectivity from your network to a remote network.
In order to perform this lab, Internet connectivity is required. On a PC, open a web browser to ensure
connectivity exists before beginning this lab.
This lab has an optional first step of downloading and installing a free program that can be used to determine
the path a packet takes through the Internet. This program may be free, but it also may be copyrighted. Also,
it may be that you are not permitted on a campus computer to download and install software. Check with the
instructor or student assistant if you are unsure.
The following resources will be required:
Windows-based computer with Internet connectivity
Ability to download and install freeware software (optional)
Step 1: (Optional) Download and install a free program

a. Open a search engine such as Google (www.google.com), Yahoo (www.yahoo.com), or Search
(http://search.com).
b. Which words do you think would give you the best result if you are searching for a visual program that
allows you to trace how data (a packet) travels through the Internet? Write your search words.
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer is student dependent. Words that produce good results include visual trace route freeware
c.
Type the words you chose in the Search field. Locate and download the software and install it.
Normally, the website has a link to the download site or you can click the words Download or
Download Now. When you download any freeware, remember the location on the hard drive, flash
drive, or disk media where you saved the program. Write down where the download is saved.
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer is student dependent, but an example includes C:\desktop
d. What is the name of the program you installed? ____________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________
Answer is student dependent, but some examples include 3d Traceroute
(http://www.spychecker.com/download/download_3dtraceroute.html) and Visual Trace Route
(http://www.dirfile.com/visual_trace_route.htm)
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Step 2: Locate web sites

a. Using the search engine again, locate five businesses with a web server, which are located in a
country different from your own.
b. Write the names of the five business web sites.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary, but ones that work at the time this was written include the following:
http://www.ytj.fi/, http://www.swedishtrade.se/, http://www.mfa.go.th/web/152.php,
http://www.yellowpages.co.nz/, http://www.gov.ru/main/page8.html, http://canada.gc.ca/,
http://www.enit.it/default.asp?Lang=UK
c.
Using the search engine again, locate a business in your own country that has a web site that is
accessible.
d. Write the URL of the web site. An example URL is www.cisco.com.

____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary
Step 3: (Optional) Use downloaded visual trace route tool

a. Using the software you have downloaded and installed, use the tool to determine the path which the
packet takes to reach one of the remote country destinations. Each tool normally allows you to type a
URL. The program should either list or visually display the path taken by the packet.
Make sure students are able to perform this operation as some schools do not permit outside ICMP
traffic
b. How many hops does the packet take to get from your computer to the destination computer?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary
c.
If your tool also provides time information, write down how long it took for the packet to reach the first
hop? ____________ Answers will vary
d. Use the tool to determine the path to another foreign country site.
e. How many hops does the packet take to get from your computer to the destination computer?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary
f.
Use the tool to determine the path to a web site in your own country.
g. Was the time it took to reach a web site in your own country shorter or longer? _____________
Normally, the answer will be shorter
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h. Try to think of an instance where the time it takes to reach a web server in your own country would be
longer than it takes to reach another countrys web server? ____________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer is the students own opinion, but the time could be longer in your own country due to the
amount of requests the server is handling or the server may connect to a very slow link and the one in
the other country has high-speed links that connect between you and it
Step 4: Use the tracert command

a. Click the Start button, click the Run option, type cmd, and press Enter. An alternate way to get to the
command prompt is to click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.
b. From the command prompt, type tracert and press Enter. Options that can be used with the tracert
command are shown. Items shown in square brackets [ ] are optional. For example, the first option
that can be used with the tracert command is d. If someone was to type tracert d www.cisco.com,
then the command issued to the computer is to trace the route to www.cisco.com, but do not try to
resolve IP addresses to names. The target_name parameter is mandatory (it does not have brackets
around it) and it is replaced with the destination network. In the previous example of tracert d
www.cisco.com, www.cisco.com is the target_name.
c.
Which tracert option would be used to designate that only 5 hops could be used to search for the
device address on the destination network? _________________________________________
-h followed by the number of hops. An example is h 5
d. Write the full command that would be typed to trace a route to www.cisco.com and instruct the
computer to not search for it after seven hops. _______________________________________
tracert h 7 www.cisco.com
e. Using one of the remote country destination addresses (use the same address as the one you used
with the visual tool if possible) use the tracert command to determine how many hops it takes to
reach the remote web server. Write the number of hops and the destination.
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will be students choice
f.
The tracert command uses Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request messages to
determine the path to the final destination. The path displayed is a list of IP addresses assigned to
routers that connect to one another to form the path. The ICMP packets contain a value called a
Time To Live (TTL). The TTL value is 30 by default on a Microsoft-based PC and each router through
which the packet passes, decrements that value by 1 before sending the packet on to the next router
in the path. When the TTL value reaches 0, the router that has the packet sends an ICMP time
exceeded message back to the source.
The tracert command determines the path by sending the first ICMP echo request message with a
TTL of 1 and then increases that TTL value by 1 until the target responds or the maximum number of
hops is reached. The path is determined by examining the ICMP time exceed messages that are sent
back by routers along the way and by the ICMP echo reply message that is returned from the
destination. Routers that do not return the ICMP time exceed messages are shown by a row of
asterisks (*).
How many hops does your tracert command show that the packet went through? ___________
Destination dependent
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CCNA Discovery
Step 5: Use the pathping command

a. A similar command that can be used on a Windows XP computer is pathping. This command
combines the abilities of the tracert command with the ping command. From the command prompt,
use the pathping command to determine the IP addresses of the routers used to create the packet
path to another foreign country address. An example of the pathping command used to trace the
path to Cisco is pathping www.cisco.com.
b. How many hops did the pathping command display to your remote destination?
____________________________________________________________________________
Destination dependent
c.
When do you think that you would ever use a tool like pathping or tracert?
____________________________________________________________________________
Student dependent, but a good answer is when a remote location cannot be reached, the tool could
be used to determine which router is not responding (or at least the last one that does)
Step 6: (Optional) Use the whois function

a. Some of the freeware tools include an option to perform a whois function. Whois is a separate
program or integrated with a tool similar to tracert or pathping. It displays (and sometimes has a link)
who owns the web link of either the destination URL (such as cisco.com) or any of the links along the
path. Explore the freeware tool that you have downloaded and installed and determine if it has a
whois function. If it does, use it to determine who owns the domain name of one of the previous
destinations used.
b. Why would you want to use the whois function? _____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Student dependent. One example is that an attack was being launched against a computer. The
person who owned the computer was alerted about this attack. By using tools such as tracert and
whois, the person was able to determine the remote site was a bank and the IP address from where
the attack was launched. The attacked person notified the IT department of the attack and the IP
address being used as well as the information from the tools used to determine this. The bank
determined who the person was that was launching the attack.
Step 7: Reflection
With a classmate, compare all of the commands used in this lab. Describe the purpose and benefit of
each one. Which do you think is the most useful command?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Page 4 of 4
CCNA Discovery
Lab 4.5.3 Building Straight-Through and Crossover UTP Cables

Objective
Build and test straight-through and crossover Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Ethernet network
cables.
In this lab you will build and terminate Ethernet straight-through patch cables and crossover cables. With a
straight-through cable, the color of wire used by pin 1 on one end is the same color used by pin 1 on the other
cable end, and similarly for the remaining seven pins. The cable will be constructed using either TIA/EIA
T568A or T568B standards for Ethernet, which determine which color wire is used on each pin. Straightthrough patch cables are normally used to connect a host directly to a hub or switch or to a wall plate in and
office area.
With a crossover cable the second and third pairs on the RJ-45 connector at one end of the cable are
reversed at the other end. The pinouts for the cable are the T568A standard on one end and the T568B
standard on the other end. Crossover cables are normally used to connect hubs and switches or can be used
to directly connect two hosts to create a simple network. This is a two-part lab that can be done individually, in
pairs, or in groups.
The following resources will be required:
Two 0.6 to 0.9m (2 to 3 ft.) lengths of cable, Category 5 or 5e
A minimum of four RJ-45 connectors (more may be needed if mis-wiring occurs)
An RJ-45 crimping tool
An Ethernet cable tester
Wire cutters
Pin No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Pair No.
2
2
3
1
1
3
4
4
T568A Standard
Wire Color
White/Green
Green
White/Orange
Blue
White/Blue
Orange
White/Brown
Brown
Function
Transmit
Transmit
Receive
Not used
Not used
Receive
Not used
Not used
T568B Standard
Pin No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Pair No.
2
2
3
1
1
3
4
4
Wire Color
White/Orange
Orange
White/Green
Blue
White/Blue
Green
White/Brown
Brown
Function
Transmit
Transmit
Receive
Not used
Not used
Receive
Not used
Not used
Page 1 of 5
CCNA Discovery
Part A: Build and test an Ethernet straight-through patch cable

Step 1: Obtain and prepare the cable
a. Determine the length of cable required. This could be from a device such as a computer to the device
to which it connects (like a hub or switch) or between a device and an RJ-45 outlet jack. Add at least
30.48 cm (12 in.) to the distance. The TIA/EIA standard states the maximum length is 5 m (16.4 ft.).
Standard Ethernet cable lengths are usually .6 m (2 ft.), 1.83 m (6 ft.), or 3.05 m (10 ft.).
b. Which length of cable did you choose and why did you choose this length?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary
c.
Cut a piece of cable to the desired length. Stranded UTP cable is commonly used for patch cables
(the cables between an end network device such as a PC and an RJ-45 connector) because it is
more durable when bent repeatedly. It is called stranded because each of the wires within the cable is
made up of many strands of fine copper wire, rather than a single solid wire. Solid wire is used for
cable runs that are between the RJ-45 jack and a punch-down block.
d. Using wire strippers, remove 5.08 cm (2 in.) of the cable jacket from both ends of the cable.
Step 2: Prepare and insert the wires

a. Determine which wiring standard will be used. Circle the standard.
[T568A | T568B]
b. Locate the correct table based on the wiring standard used.
c.
Spread the cable pairs and arrange them roughly in the desired order based on the standard chosen.
d. Untwist a short length of the pairs and arrange them in the exact order needed by the standard. It is
very important to untwist as little as possible. The twists are important because they provide
noise cancellation.
e. Straighten and flatten the wires between your thumb and forefinger.
f.
Ensure the cable wires are still in the correct order as the standard.
g. Cut the cable in a straight line to within 1.25 to 1.9 cm (1/2 to 3/4 in.) from the edge of the cable
jacket. If it is longer than this, the cable will be susceptible to crosstalk (the interference of bits from
one wire with an adjacent wire).
h. The tang (the prong that sticks out from the RJ-45 connector) should be on the underside pointing
downward when inserting the wires. Insert the wires firmly into the RJ-45 connector until all wires are
pushed as far as possible into the connector.
Step 3: Inspect, crimp, and re-inspect

a. Visually inspect the cable and ensure the right color codes are connected to the correct pin numbers.
b. Visually inspect the end of the connector. The eight wires should be pressed firmly against the end of
the RJ-45 connector. Some of the cable jacket should be inside the first portion of the connector.
This provides strain relief for the cable. If the cable jacket is not far enough inside the connector, it
may eventually cause the cable to fail.
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CCNA Discovery
c.
If everything is correctly aligned and inserted properly, place the RJ-45 connector and cable into the
crimper. The crimper will push two plungers down on the RJ-45 connector.
d. Visually re-inspect the connector. If improperly installed, cut the end off and repeat the process.
Step 4: Terminate the other cable end

a. Use the previously described steps to attach an RJ-45 connector to the other end of the cable.
b. Visually re-inspect the connector. If improperly installed, cut the end off and repeat the process.
c.
Which standard [T568A | T568B] is used for patch cables in your school? __________________
School dependent
Step 5: Test the cable

a. Using a cable tester, test the straight-through cable for functionality. If it fails, repeat the lab.
b. (Optional) Use the cable to connect a PC to a network.
c.
(Optional) Click the Start button and select the Run option.
d. (Optional) Type cmd and press Enter.

e. (Optional) From the command prompt, type ipconfig.
f.
(Optional) Write down the default gateway IP address. _________________________________

Machine dependent
g. (Optional) From the command prompt, type ping followed by the default gateway IP address. If the
cable is functional, the ping should be successful (provided that no other network problem exists and
the default gateway router is connected and functional).
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CCNA Discovery
Part B: Build and test an Ethernet crossover cable

Step 1: Obtain and prepare the cable
a. Determine the length of cable required. This could be from a hub to a hub, hub to switch, switch to
switch, computer to router, or from one computer to another computer. Add at least 30.48 cm (12 in.)
to the distance. Which length of cable did you choose and why did you choose this length?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary
b. Cut a piece of cable to the desired length and, using wire strippers, remove 5.08 cm (2 in.) of the
cable jacket from both ends of the cable.
Step 2: Prepare and insert the T568A wires

a. Locate the T568A table at the beginning of the lab.
b. Spread the cable pairs and arrange them roughly in the desired order based on the T568A standard.
c.
Untwist a short length of the pairs and arrange them in the exact order needed by the standard. It is
very important to untwist as little as possible. Twists are important because they provide noise
cancellation.
d. Straighten and flatten the wires between your thumb and forefinger.
e. Ensure the cable wires are in the correct order based on the standard.
f.
Cut the cable in a straight line to within 1.25 to 1.9 cm (1/2 to 3/4 in.) from the edge of the cable
jacket. If it is longer than this, the cable will be susceptible to crosstalk (the interference of bits from
one wire with an adjacent wire).
g. The tang (the prong that sticks out from the RJ-45 connector) should be on the underside pointing
downward when inserting the wires. Insert the wires firmly into the RJ-45 connector until all wires are
pushed as far as possible into the connector.
Step 3: Inspect, crimp, and re-inspect

a. Visually inspect the cable and ensure the right color codes are connected to the correct pin numbers.
b. Visually inspect the end of the connector. The eight wires should be pressed firmly against the RJ-45
connector. Some of the cable jacket should be inside the first portion of the connector. This provides
for cable strain relief which can eventually cause the cable to fail.
c.
If everything is correctly aligned and inserted properly, place the RJ-45 connector and cable into the
crimper. The crimper will push two plungers down on the RJ-45 connector.
d. Visually re-inspect the connector. If improperly installed, cut the end off and repeat the process.
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CCNA Discovery
Step 4: Terminate the T568B cable end

a. On the other end, use the previously described steps (but use the T568B table and standard) to
attach an RJ-45 connector to the cable.
b. Visually re-inspect the connector. If improperly installed, cut the end off and repeat the process.
c.
Which standard [T568A | T568B] would you rather use at home if you have or would like to have a
home network? Student dependent
Step 5: Test the cable

a. Using a cable tester, test the crossover cable for functionality. If it fails, repeat the lab.
b. Use the cable to connect two PCs.
c.
On both computers, click the Start button and select Run.

NOTE: If the Run command is unavailable on your PC, visually check the LED status lights on the
NIC card. If they are on (usually green or amber) the cable is functional.
d. On both computers, type cmd and press Enter.

e. On both computers from the command prompt, type ipconfig.
f.
Write the IP address of both computers.

Computer 1: _________________________ Machine dependent
Computer 2: _________________________ Machine dependent
g. From the command prompt of one computer, type ping followed by the IP address of the other
computer. If the cable is functional, the ping should be successful. Do the ping on the other computer
as well.
NOTE: The Windows Firewall on the target computer must be temporarily disabled for the ping to be
successful. Refer to Lab 3.1.5 if you need help with this. If you disable the firewall, be sure to reenable it.
Step 6: Reflection
a. Which part of making these cables did you find the most difficult? Compare your views with a
classmate.
Students opinion
b. Are all four pairs of cables twisted the same amount? Discuss the reasons why or why not.
The twisting of the pairs is done to cancel electromagnet interference. The twisting ratio is different for
each cable pair so that they do not fit closely together. If they did fit snugly together it would not help
the EMI cancellation feature as much.
c.
Ask a local business or check a site such as http://www.workopolis.com/ to see how much a
beginning cable installer earns and which criteria they look for in a cable installer. Write the
information you discover in the space provided.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
d. Many technicians keep a crossover cable in their toolkit. When do you think that you would use a
crossover cable and when do you think a network technician would use this cable?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Students opinion
Page 5 of 5
CCNA Discovery
Lab 4.5.4 Terminating UTP Cables

Objectives
Use a punch down tool to terminate an RJ-45 wall jack.
Install an RJ-45 jack in a wall plate.
Use a punch down tool to terminate a UTP cable at a patch panel.
In this lab you will wire an RJ-45 data jack for installation in a wall plate using a punch-down tool. This is done
frequently when installing cabling in an office environment. The punch tool is also used to terminate the other
end of the cable at a patch panel punch-down block. The punch tool uses spring-loaded action to push wires
between metal pins, while at the same time skinning the sheath away from the wire. This ensures that the
wire makes a good electrical connection with the pins inside the jack. The punch tool also cuts off any extra
wire.
A Category 5/5e straight-through patch cable with an RJ-45 connector normally plugs into a data jack or outlet
to connect a PC to the network. It is important to use Category 5 or 5e rated jacks and patch panels with
Category 5 or 5e cabling in order to support Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) and Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps). The
process of punching down wires into a data jack in an office area is the same as punching them down at a
patch panel in a wiring closet. This lab can be performed individually, in pairs, or in groups.
60-90 cm (2-3 feet) length of cable, either Category 5 or 5e.
RJ-45 data jackIf RJ-45 data jacks are installed on both ends of the cable, two jacks will be needed
and the installation can be tested by inserting cable with RJ-45 connectors and a simple cable
continuity tester. More jacks may also be needed if errors are made.
Category 5/5e wall plate.
Patch panel.
Punch tool, type 110.
UTP cable stripper.
Wire cutters.
Two known good straight-through patch cables for testing (optional).
Step 1: Strip the sheath

a. Remove the cable sheath 2.54 cm (1 inch) from the end of the cable.
Page 1 of 4
CCNA Discovery
Step 2: Position wires in data jack

a. Position wires in the proper channels on the RJ-45 jack maintaining the twists as close to the jack as
possible. The diagram that follows shows an example of how to place the wires with one type of jack.
b. Most jacks have the channels color-coded to indicate where the wires go. The following photo of the
jack shows one model. Jacks are typically stamped to indicate whether they are T568A or T568B.
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CCNA Discovery
Step 3: Punch down the data jack

a. Use the punch tool to push conductors into the channels. Make sure to position the cutting side of the
punch tool so that it faces the outside of the jack. If this is not done, it will cut the wire being punched.
Try tilting the handle of the punch tool a little to the outside, so it will cut better.
b. If any wire remains attached after using the punch tool, simply twist the ends gently to remove them.
Then place the clips on the jack, and tighten them. Make sure that no more than 1.27 cm (one half
inch) of untwisted wire is between the end of the cable jacket and the channels on the jack.
Step 4. Attach the faceplate.
c.
Snap the jack into the faceplate by pushing it from the back side. Make sure when this is done, that
the jack is right-side up so the clip faces down when the wall plate is mounted.
d. Use the screws to attach the faceplate to either the box or to the bracket. If there is a surfacemounted box, keep in mind that it might hold 30-60 cm (1-2 feet) of excess cable. Then it will be
necessary to either slide the cable through the tie-wraps, or pull back the raceway that covers it, in
order to push the excess cable back into the wall. If there is a flush-mounted jack, all that is needed is
to push the excess cable back into the wall.
Step 5: Punch down the patch panel

a. On the opposite end of the cabling, remove the jacket 2.54 cm (1 inch) from the cable.
b. Lay the wires down in the patch panel so that the colors of the wires correspond exactly to the colors
indicated on the pin locations in the same manner as the data jack was punched down.
c.
Keep the sheath within .64 cm ( inch) of where the wires begin branching out to their pin locations.
d. Do not untwist the wires more than necessary to lay them down at the pin locations. A good way to
keep from untwisting too much is to hold down the wires next to the patch panel with one finger while
using the other hand to pull apart each end as you lay it across the connector.
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CCNA Discovery
e. The following figure shows a large punch down patch panel with carefully routed cabling.
Step 6: Test the data jack and patch panel terminations with a basic cable tester (optional)
a. Obtain two straight-through Ethernet patch cables and verify they both function properly using a
simple cable tester.
b. Connect one end of one of the straight-through Ethernet patch cables to the data jack outlet and one
end of the other straight-through cable to the jack at the patch panel.
c.
Insert the opposite ends of the two cables into a simple cable tester and check for continuity from end
to end through both patch cables, the data jack, and the patch panel. Did the cable run test good from
end to end?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Yes. If not, try to analyze where the problem is and repeat the connections if possible with another
wall jack and patch panel port
Step 7: Reflection (optional)

a. Take a tour of a wiring closet that contains patch panels and punch-down blocks. Was there any
other type of devices that might use similar techniques to attach wires? What do you think attaches to
these cables? ________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary, but a common connector is a phone punch-down block
b. What do you think are some of the drawbacks and advantages of having a job installing network
cabling? _____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary
Page 4 of 4
CCNA Discovery
Lab 4.5.5 Testing UTP Cables
Objectives
Explore the wire mapping features of a cable meter.
Explore the Cable Test featurePass/Fail features of a cable meter.
Explore the Cable Length feature of a cable meter.
Use a cable tester to check for the proper installation of unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) Category 5/5e
according to TIA/EIA-568 cabling standards in an Ethernet network.
Wire maps can be very helpful in troubleshooting cabling problems with UTP cable. A wire map allows the
network technician to verify which pins on one end of the cable are connected to which pins on the other end.
Basic cable tests can be very helpful in troubleshooting cabling problems with UTP. The cabling infrastructure
or cable plant in a building is expected to last at least ten years. Cable-related problems are one of the most
common causes of network failure. The quality of cabling components used, the routing and installation of the
cable, and quality of the connector terminations will be the main factors in determining how trouble-free the
cabling will be.
Prior to starting the lab, the teacher or lab assistant should have several correctly-wired Category 5 cables to
test. The cables should include both straight-through and crossover. There should also be several Category 5
cables created with problems such as poor connections and split pairs to be used in testing. Cables should be
numbered to simplify the testing process and to maintain consistency. A cable tester should be available that
can test at least continuity, cable length, and wire map. This lab can be performed individually, in pairs, or in
groups.
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CCNA Discovery
Good Category 5 straight-through cables of different colors
Good Category 5 crossover cables (T568A on one end and T568B on the other end)
Category 5 straight-through cables of different colors and different lengths with open connections in
the middle, or one or more conductors shorted at one end
Category 5 straight-through cable with a split pair mis-wire
A cable meter to test cable length, continuity, and wire map
Step 1: Set up the cable meter

a. On the cable meter, select the WIRE MAP function of the cable tester.
b. Change the setup options of the cable tester until the tester is set to the following cabling settings:
Tester Option
Desired Setting - UTP
CABLE:
UTP
WIRING:
10BASE-T OR EIA/TIA 4PR
CATEGORY:
CATEGORY 5
WIRE SIZE:
AWG 24
CAL TO CABLE?
NO
BEEPING:
ON or OFF
LCD CONTRAST:
From 1 through 10 (brightest)
c.
Once the meter is set up, exit the setup mode.
Step 2: Test Cabling Procedure

a. For each cable to be tested use the following procedure. Place one end of the cable into the RJ-45
jack labeled UTP/FTP on the tester. Place the other end of the cable into the RJ-45 female coupler,
and then insert the cable identifier into the other side of the coupler. The coupler and the cable
identifier are accessories that come with many cable meters.
Step 3: Use the Wire Map meter function

a. The Wire Map function and a Cable ID Unit can be used to determine the wiring of both the near and
far end of the cable. One set of numbers displayed on the LCD screen is the near end, and the other
set is the far end. Perform a Wire Map test on each of the cables provided. Fill in the following table
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CCNA Discovery
based on the testing results for each Category 5 cable. For each cable, write down the identifying
number of the cable and the cable color. Also write down whether the cable is straight-through or
crossover, the tester screen test results, and a description of the problem.
Cable
No.
Cable
Color
Straight-through or
Crossover
Displayed Test Results

(Note: Refer to the meter
manual for detailed
description of test results
for the wire map test.)
Problem/Description
Top:
Bot:
Top:
Bot:
Top:
Bot:
Top:
Bot:
Top:
Bot:
Answers will vary depending upon the type of cable used for testing and type of problem
Step 4: Use the Length meter function

a. Using the tester LENGTH function, perform a basic cable test on the same cables used previously.
Fill in the additional information for each cable.
Cable No.
Cable Length
Tester Test Results (Pass/Fail)
Answers will vary depending upon the type of cable used for testing
Step 5: Test data jack and patch panel terminations for wire map, length and mis-wire (optional)
a. Using the data jack and patch panel cable from the previous lab, connect one end of one of the
straight-through Ethernet patch cables to the data jack outlet and one end of the other straightthrough cable to the jack at the patch panel.
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CCNA Discovery
b. Insert the opposite end of one of the cables into the cable meter and the other into the coupler and
cable identifier. Check for wire map, length and mis-wire from end to end through the patch cables,
the data jack, and the patch panel. Did the cable run test good from end to end? What were the
results?
Wire map: _________________________ Straight-through
Total cable run length: _______________ Answers will vary
Any mis-wires? _____________________ No
____________________________________________________________________________
If there are problems, analyze where the problem is by testing each component and repeat the
connections if possible
Step 6: Reflection
a. If you were on a job and did not have a cable meter to test, what other methods can be used?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary, but one answer is that you could connect a different device to the cable to see if
the cable activates the NIC on the device. Also, an alternate jack in the same area could be used
Page 4 of 4
CCNA Discovery
Lab 5.1.4 Using the Windows Calculator with Network Addresses
Objectives
Switch between the two Windows Calculator modes.
Use Windows Calculator to convert between decimal, binary, and hexadecimal.
Use Windows Calculator to determine the number of hosts in a network with powers of 2.
Network technicians work with binary, decimal, hexadecimal numbers with computers and networking
devices. In this lab you will use the Windows Calculator application to convert between the binary, decimal,
and hexadecimal number systems. You will also use the powers function to determine the number of hosts
that can be addressed based on the number of bits available.
PC with Windows XP installed and functional
Step 1: Access Windows Calculator and determine mode of operation

a. From the Start button menu, select All Programs > Accessories, and click on Calculator. An
alternate method of starting the Calculator application is to access the Start menu, click on Run, type
calc and press Enter. Try both methods.
b. Once the Calculator application opens, select the View menu option.
c.
Which mode [Standard | Scientific] is currently active? ____________________________________

Answer is machine dependent
d. Select the Standard mode. This is a basic mode for simple calculations. How many mathematical
functions are available in this mode? ___________________ Eight
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CCNA Discovery
e. From the View menu option, select the Scientific Calculator mode.
f.
How many mathematical functions are available in this mode? ___________________________

Many more than eight
Step 2: Convert between number systems

a. Access Scientific mode. Notice the number system modes availableHex (Hexadecimal), Dec
(Decimal), Oct (Octal), and Bin (Binary).
b. Which number system is currently active? _____________ Dec
c.
Which numbers on the number pad are active in Decimal mode? __________________ 0 thru 9
Click on the Bin (Binary) mode radio button. Which numbers on the number pad are now active?
_______________________ 0 and 1
d. Why do you think the other numbers are grayed out? __________________________________
Because the only digits used in binary (Base 2) are 0 and 1
e.
Click on the Hex (Hexadecimal) mode radio button.
f. Which characters on the number pad are now activated? _______________________________

0 thru 9 and A, B, C, D, E, and F. Hexadecimal (Base 16) has 16 possible values
g. Click on the Dec radio button. Using your mouse, click on the number 1 followed by the number 5 on
the number pad. The decimal number 15 has now been entered. Click on the Bin radio button.
h.
What happened to the number 15 listed in the textbox at the top of the window? _____________
It converted into four 1s
i.
By selecting different modes, numbers are converted from one number system to another. Select Dec
mode again. The number in the window converts back to decimal. Select the Hex mode.
j.
Which hexadecimal character (0 through 9 or A through F) represents decimal 15? _________ F
k.
Clear the number 15 in the window. Select Dec mode again. Not only can the mouse be used to
enter numbers, but the numerical keypad on the keyboard as well as numbers on the keyboard can
also be used. Using the numerical keypad to the right of the ENTER key, type the number 22. Note
that if the number does not enter into the calculator, press the Num Lock key to enable the numeric
keypad. While the number 22 is showing in the calculator, use the number keys across the top of the
keyboard to add a 0 to the number 22 (220 should now be on the calculator). Select the Bin radio
button.
l. What is the binary equivalent of 220? ______________________________________ 11011100

m. Clear the binary value representing 220 in the window. From Binary mode, type in the following binary number:
11001100. Select the Dec radio button.
n. What is the decimal equivalent to the binary number of 11011100? ____________________204
o. Convert the following decimal numbers to binary.
Decimal
86
175
204
19
Binary
1010110
10101111
11001100
10011
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p.
Convert the following binary numbers to decimal.

Binary
11000011
101010
111000
10010011
Decimal
195
42
56
147
Step 3: Convert host IP addresses

a. Computer hosts usually have two addresses, an Internet Protocol (IP) address and an Ethernet
Media Access Control (MAC) address. For the benefit of humans, the IP address is normally
represented as a dotted decimal notation, such as 135.15.227.68. Each of the decimal octets in the
address or a mask can be converted to 8 binary bits. Remember that the computer only understands
binary bits. If all 4 octets were converted to binary, how many bits would there be? ______________
IP address is 32 bits, 4x8
b. IP addresses are normally shown with four decimal numbers ranging from 0 to 255 and separated by
a period. Convert the 4 parts of the IP address 192.168.10.2 to binary.
Decimal
192
168
10
2
c.
Binary
11000000
10101000
1010
10
Notice in the previous problem how the 10 converted to only four digits and the number 2 converted
to only two digits. When IP addresses can have any number from 0 to 255 in each position, eight
digits are normally used to represent each number. In the previous example, eight digits were needed
to convert 192 and 168 to binary, but 10 and 2 did not need as many digits. Normally 0s are added to
the left of the digits to have eight digits in binary for each IP address number. The number 10 would
be shown as 00001010. Four extra zeros are added to the front of the other four binary digits.
d. On the calculator in Binary mode, enter the digits 00001010 and select the Dec radio button.
e. Which decimal number is equivalent to 00001010? ___________ 10
f.
Did adding leading zeros affect the number any? ____________ No
g. What would the number 2 (in the previous example) be if you were to make it eight digits? _________
00000010
Step 4: Convert host IP subnet masks

a. Subnet masks, such as 255.255.255.0, are also represented as dotted decimal. A subnet mask will
always consist of four 8-bit octets, each one represented as a decimal number. With the exception of
decimal 0 (all 8 binary zeros) and decimal 255 (all 8 binary ones), each octet will have some number
of ones on the left and some number of zeros on the right. Convert the 8 possible decimal subnet
octet values to binary.
Decimal
0
128
192
224
Binary
00000000
10000000
11000000
11100000
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240
248
252
254
255
11110000
11111000
11111100
11111110
11111111
b. Convert the four parts of the subnet mask 255.255.255.0 to binary.

Decimal
255
255
255
0
Binary
11111111
11111111
11111111
0 (actually 8 zeros)
Step 5: Convert broadcast addresses

a. Computer hosts and network devices use broadcast addresses to send messages to all hosts.
Convert the following broadcast addresses.
Address
IP broadcast
255.255.255.255
MAC broadcast
FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF
Binary
11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111
11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111
Step 6: Convert IP and MAC addresses for a host

a. Click the Start button, select Run, type cmd, and press Enter. From the command prompt, type
ipconfig /all.
b. Make a note of the IP address and physical address (also known as a MAC address).
IP Address: ____________________________________________________ Machine dependent
MAC Address: _________________________________________________ Machine dependent
c.
Using the calculator, convert the four numbers contained in the IP address to binary.
Decimal
Binary
Machine dependent
Machine dependent
Machine dependent
Machine dependent
d. The MAC or physical address is normally represented as 12 hexadecimal characters, grouped in

pairs and separated by dashes (-). Physical addresses on a Windows-based computer are shown in a
format of xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx, where each x is a number from 0 to 9 or a letter from a to f. Each of the
hex characters in the address can be converted to 4 binary bits which is what the computer
understands. If all 12 hex characters were converted to binary, how many bits would there be?
_______________________________________________________ MAC address is 48 bits, 12x4
e. Convert each of the hexadecimal pairs to binary. For example, if the number CC-12-DE-4A-BD-88
was the physical address, convert the hexadecimal number CC to binary (11001100). Then convert
the hexadecimal number 12 to binary (00010010) and so on. Be sure to add the leading zeros for a
total of 8 binary digits per pair of hex digits.
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Hexadecimal
Binary
Machine dependent
Machine dependent
Machine dependent
Machine dependent
Machine dependent
Machine dependent
Step 7: Manipulate powers of 2 to determine the number of hosts on a network

a. Binary numbers use two digits, 0 and 1. When you calculate how many hosts can be on a
subnetwork, you use powers of two because binary is being used. As an example, we have a subnet
mask that leaves six bits in the host portion of the IP address. In this case, the number of hosts on
that network is 2 to the 6th power minus 2 (because you need a number to represent the network and
a number that can be used to reach all the hoststhe broadcast address). The number 2 is always
used because we are working in binary. The number 6 is the number of bits that are used for the host
bits.
b. On the calculator, in Dec mode, input the number 2. Select the x^y key, the key which raises a
number to a power. Input the number 6. Click on the = key, press Enter on the keyboard, or press the
= key on the keyboardall give the total. The number 64 appears in the output. To subtract two, click
on the minus (-) key and then the 2 key followed by the = key. The number 62 appears in the output.
This means 62 hosts could be utilized.
c.
Using the previously described process, determine the number of hosts if the following number of bits
are used for host bits.
No. of Bits Used for
Hosts
5
14
24
10
No. of Hosts
30
16382
16777214
1022
d. Using a similar technique as learned previously, determine what 10 to the 4th power equals.
___________________ 10000
e. Close the Windows Calculator application.
Step 8: (Optional) Determine the network number and number of hosts based on subnet mask
a. Given the IP network address of 172.16.203.56 and a subnet mask of 255.255.248.0, determine the
network portion of the address and calculate how many hosts can be created from host bits left.
b. Start by converting the 4 octets of the decimal IP address to binary and then convert the decimal
subnet mask to binary. Remember to include leading zeros when converting to binary in order to
make a total of 8 bits per octet.
Decimal IP address
and subnet mask
172.16.203.56
255.255.248.0
Binary IP address and subnet mask

10101100. 00010000. 11001011. 00111000
11111111. 11111111. 11111000. 00000000
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c.
Align the 32 bits of the subnet mask to the 32 bits of the IP address and compare them. The bits in
the IP address that align with the ones bits in the subnet mask represent the network number. What is
the binary and decimal network number for this IP address? Determine the binary address first
(include all 32 bits) and then convert it to decimal.
Binary network address: ____________________________________________________________
10101100. 00010000. 11001000. 00000000
Decimal network address: ________________________________________________ 172.16.200.0
d. How many ones bits are in the subnet mask? _________________________________________ 21

e. How many bits are left for host bits? ________________________________________________ 11
f.
How many hosts can be created with the bits left? ______________________ 2^11 = 2048-2 = 2046
Step 9: Reflection
a. List one other thing for which you might use the Windows Calculator scientific mode. It does not have
to be related to networking.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Students opinion
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 6.2.1 Observing DNS Name Resolution

Objectives
Observe the conversion of a URL to an IP address.
Observe DNS lookup using the nslookup command.
Domain Name System (DNS) is invoked when you type a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), such as
http://www.cisco.com, into a web browser. The first part of the URL describes which protocol is being used.
Common ones are HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol over Secure
Socket Layer), and FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
DNS uses the second part of the URL, which in this example is www.cisco.com. DNS translates the domain
name (like www.cisco.com) to an IP address in order to allow the source host to reach the destination host.
Work in pairs to complete this lab.
Step 1: Observe DNS conversion

a. Click the Start button, select Run, type cmd, and then click OK. The command prompt window
appears.
b. At the command prompt, type ping www.cisco.com. The computer needs to translate
www.cisco.com into an IP address so it knows where to send the Internet Control Message Protocol
(ICMP) packets. Ping is a type of ICMP packet.
c.
The first line of the output shows www.cisco.com converted to an IP address by DNS. You should be
able to see the effect of DNS even if your school has a firewall that prevents pinging, or if Cisco has
prevented people from pinging their web server.
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d. Which IP address is shown on the screen? _________________________________________
At the time of writing, 198.133.219.25
e. Is it the same as the one shown in the figure? _________ Why do you think this occurred?
____________________________________________________________________________
Should be yes and students own opinion as long as Cisco has not changed their web server
f.
Work together with another student and discuss one or two other instances (besides the ping
command) in which the computer would use DNS.
____________________________________________________________________________
Students opinion, - tracert, http web site, ftp web site. Any time a URL name is used it must be
converted to an IP address
Step 2: Verify DNS operation using the nslookup command

a. At the command prompt, type the nslookup command.
b. What is the default DNS server being used? _________________________________________
Site dependent
c.
Notice how the command prompt changed. This is the NSLOOKUP prompt. From this prompt, you
can enter commands related to DNS.
d. At the prompt, type ? to see a list of all the available commands that you can use in NSLOOKUP
mode.
e. Write three commands that you can use with NSLOOKUP. _____________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary, but the possible commands are name, name1, name2, help, ?, set, server, lserver,
finger, root, ls, view, and exit
f.
At the NSLOOKUP prompt, type www.cisco.com.
g. What is the translated IP address? ________________________________________________

At the time of writing, 198.133.219.25
h. Is it the same as the IP address shown with the ping command? _________________ Yes
i.
At the prompt, type the IP address of the Cisco web server that you just found. You can use
NSLOOKUP to get the domain name of an IP address if you do not know the URL.
Using the previous procedures, find an IP address associated with www.google.com.
____________________________________________________________________________
At the time of writing, the IP addresses are 66.102.7.104, 66.102.7.147, and 66.102.7.99.
www.google.com is also an alias and other IP addresses may show
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Step 3: Identify mail servers using the nslookup command

a. At the prompt, type set type=mx to have NSLOOKUP identify mail servers.
b. At the prompt, type www.cisco.com.
c.
What is the primary name server, the responsible mail address, and the default Time to Live (TTL)?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
At the time of writing, the primary name server is dns-rtp2-3-1, responsible mail address is
postmaster.cisco.com, and the TTL is 864,000 seconds or 10 days
d. At the prompt, type exit to return to the regular command prompt.

e. At the prompt, type ipconfig /all.
f.
Write the IP addresses of all the DNS servers that your school uses.
____________________________________________________________________________
Site-dependent
g. Type exit to close the command prompt window.
Step 4: Reflection
a. If your school did not have a DNS server, what effect would this have on your use of the Internet?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Students own opinion, but if an external ISP DNS server is used, name/address resolution could take
a little longer than if one was available locally
b. Some companies do not dedicate a single server for DNS. Instead, the DNS server provides other
functions as well. Which functions do you think might be included on a DNS server? Use the ipconfig
/all command to help you with this.
____________________________________________________________________________
Students own opinion, but possible answers include WINS and DHCP
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 6.2.3 Exploring FTP

Objective
Demonstrate how to use FTP from the command prompt and GUI.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is part of the TCP/IP suite. FTP is used to transfer files from one network device
to another network device. Windows includes an FTP application that you can execute from the command
prompt. There are also many free GUI versions of FTP that you can download. The GUI versions are easier
to use than typing from a command prompt.
When using FTP, one computer is normally the server and the other computer is the client. When accessing
the server from the client, you need to provide a username and password. Some FTP servers have a userID
named anonymous. You can access these types of sites by simply typing anonymous for the userID, without
a password. Usually, the site administrator has files that can be copied but does not allow files to be posted
with the anonymous userID.
If your class does not have an FTP server available, you can download and install a freeware version, such
as Home FTP Server or Cerberus FTP server. The FTP Server on a computer running the CCNA Discovery
Live CD may also be used. Another computer will act as the FTP client by using FTP from the command line,
a web browser, or download a freeware version of an FTP client, such as SmartFTP Client or Core FTP LE
client. Work in teams of two to complete this lab.
Windows-based computer with an FTP client
FTP server (Existing FTP server, downloaded freeware, or use Live CD)
Step 1: Examine FTP from the command prompt

a. Click the Start button, select Run, type cmd on the command line, and then click OK.
b. At the prompt, type ftp to start the FTP application. The prompt changes.
c.
From the ftp prompt, type ? to see a list of the commands that can be used in this mode.
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d. List three FTP commands. _______________________________________________________
Answers will vary, but possible choices are as follows: !, ?, append, ascii, bell, binary, bye, cd, close,
delete, debug, dir, disconnect, get, flob, hash, help, lcd, literal, ls, mdelete, mdir, mget, mkdir, nls,
nput, open, prompt, put, pwd, quit, quote, recv, remotehlp, rename, rmdir, send, status, trace, type,
user, verbose
e. At the prompt, type help put to see a short description of the put command.
f.
What is the purpose of the put command? _______________________________ To send a file
g. Use the help command again to get the purpose of the get, send, and recv commands.
get __________________________________________________________________________
send _________________________________________________________________________
recv _________________________________________________________________________
get: receives a file; send: sends a file; recv: receives a file
NOTE: The original FTP commands were PUT to send a file to an FTP server and GET to download
a file from the FTP server. You also had to select ASCII or binary file mode. If you download
a binary file in ASCII mode it could end up being corrupted. Some of the newer graphical
programs now use send and receive in their place.
h. Partner with another student. Using procedures demonstrated in previous labs, write down the names
and IP addresses of each partner computer. It is very important to get these names correct. Some
FTP applications allow you to use either the IP address or the computer name.
Computer 1: __________________________________________________________________
Computer 2: __________________________________________________________________
Step 2: Use a GUI FTP client or web browser

a. If you are using a web browser as the FTP client, open the web browser and type
ftp://ip_address_of_FTP_server. If the FTP server is configured to use an anonymous userID,
connect directly to the FTP server. Using the FTP client, download an available file from the server.
b. If you are using a GUI FTP client, open the application. For most FTP clients, you must configure a
new connection by giving it a name, the IP address of the FTP server, and a username and
password. You may have to type anonymous if the FTP server allows this type of connection. Some
applications have a checkbox that allows an anonymous login. When you have configured the
connection, connect to the FTP server and download a file.
c.
What is the name of the file you downloaded from the FTP server? _______________________
site dependent
d. List one example of when FTP might be beneficial to a computer technician. _______________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Students opinion
Step 3: (Optional) Use both an FTP server and client

a. If you control both the FTP server and client, practice sending files to and getting files from the client
and the server.
b. Show your transferred files to another group of students.
c.
Close the FTP server and client applications.
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 6.2.4 Configuring an Email Client

Objectives
Set up an email client.
Send and receive mail from a mail server.
Add an email account or change an existing one.
An email application gives the user the ability to send and receive messages from another user located on the
same local network or on the Internet. The messages are sent by the sending client and stored on an email
server. Another email client with a mailbox on the server can then access the server at any time to receive
stored messages that are destined for that client.
Microsoft Outlook or other email client software
Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook

a. From the Start menu, select All Programs. Locate the Microsoft Office software.
b. Select Microsoft Office Outlook as the email program. If your computer does not have the Microsoft
Office software, there are many free email software packages available on the Internet. Search the
Internet to find a free email client that can be installed on your computer. The following instructions
may vary depending on your email client.
Step 2: Set up an email account

a. When you first start Microsoft Outlook, a screen appears with Email Upgrade Options. You can
choose to import email messages or address books from another account. Because this is your first
email account, select the Do Not Upgrade button.
b. The next screen is the Email Accounts screen where you are asked if you want to configure an
email account. Click Yes.
c.
If Outlook has already been installed and setup for e-mail previously, you can start the Outlook
application and click Tools, E-Mail Accounts and then select View or change existing e-mail
account to see how the existing account is set up.
Step 3: Enter POP3 e-mail account information

a. The next screen requires the user of the new account to fill in information. Enter your name and email
address. Your can get your email address from your Internet provider.
NOTE: If you do not have a real ISP email account, this step can be treated as a simulation. Just
enter the information requested to become familiar with the process of creating an email
account.
b. Enter your server information. Contact your Internet provider to locate the server information for the
incoming and outgoing mail servers. Usually Internet providers put this information on their website in
their help section.
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c.
What is your incoming (POP3) mail server? ________________________________________

Answer will vary depending on the Internet provider
d. What is your outgoing (SMTP) mail server? _________________________________________

Answer will vary depending on the Internet provider
e. Enter your username and password. Do not check the box to remember your password. This option is
used when only one person uses the computer. If anyone else were to use the computer, they could
easily gain access to all of the information in your email.
f.
Click the Test Account Settings button. If everything is correct, the screen displays that the test was
successful. If not, correct your information and try again.
NOTE: If this is a simulation, the test will not be successful and you can go to Steps 4 and 5.
g. Test your new account by sending an email to a friend in class.
Step 4: (Optional) Add another account or change an account

a. Open Microsoft Outlook. From the Tools menu, select Email Accounts.
b. In this screen, you can add another email account or you can change information in an existing
account.
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Step 5: Reflection
a. What are the advantages or disadvantages to using email over regular postal mail?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will be student dependent but could include speed and cost of delivery
b. What are the advantages or disadvantages to using email over an instant messaging program?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary, but one thought is that e-mail would provide a written record of any messaging
received or transmitted. It is also a more formal means of communicating
c.
With a partner, discuss five (5) recommendations for email etiquette that should be considered when
emailing friends and business colleagues.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary, some ideas include: (1) do not send an e-mail when you are angry, (2) do not
check e-mail during a meeting, (3) do not use e-mail when a face-to-face meeting or phone call would
be more appropriate, (4) do not use e-mail inappropriately in a work environment such as to send
jokes to others, (5) do not use lots of capitals in your emails, since this is the same as yelling
(electronically)
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 7.2.5 Configuring a Wireless Access Point

Objective
Configure the wireless access point (AP) portion of a multi-function device to allow access to a
wireless client.
The Linksys WRT300N includes an integrated 4-port switch, a router and a wireless Access Point (AP). In this
lab, you will configure the AP component of the multi-function device to allow access for wireless clients. The
basic wireless capabilities of the multi-function device will be configured but this will not be a secure wireless
network. Setting up a secure wireless network will be covered in a later lab.
Windows XP based computer that is cabled to the multi-function device
Linksys WRT300N
Step 1: Verify connectivity between the computer and the multi-function device
a. The computer used to configure the AP should be attached to one of the multi-function devices
switch ports.
b. On the computer, click the Start button and select Run. Type cmd and click OK or press Enter.
c.
At the command prompt, ping the multi-function device using the default IP address 192.168.1.1 or
the IP that has been configured on the multi-function devices port. Do not proceed until the ping
succeeds.
d. Write down the command used to ping the multi-function device.

____________________________________________________________________________
ping 192.168.1.1 (or whatever IP address was used)
NOTE: If the ping is not successful, try these troubleshooting steps:
Check to make sure the IP address of the computer is on the 192.168.1.0 network. The computer
must be on the same network as the multi-function device to be able to ping it. The DHCP service of
the multi-function device is enabled by default. If the computer is configured as a DHCP client it
should have a valid IP address and subnet mask. If the computer has a static IP address, it must be
in on the 192.168.1.0 network and the subnet mask must be 255.255.255.0.
Make sure the cable is a known-good straight-through cable. Test to verify.
Verify that the link light for the port where the computer is attached is lit.
Check whether the multi-function device has power.
If none of these steps correct the problem, check with your instructor.
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Step 2: Log in to the multi-function device and configure the wireless network
a. Open a web browser. In the address line, type http://ip_address, where ip_address is the IP address
of the wireless router (default is 192.168.1.1). At the prompt, leave the user name textbox empty, but
type the password assigned to the router. The default password is admin. Click OK.
b. In the main menu, click on the Wireless option.
c.
In the Basic Wireless Settings window, the Network Mode shows mixed by default, because the
AP supports 802.11b, g, and n wireless devices. You can use any of these standards to connect to
the AP. If the wireless portion of the multi-function device is NOT being used, the network mode
would be set to Disabled. Leave the default of Mixed selected.
d. Delete the default SSID (linksys) in the Network Name (SSID) textbox. Enter a new SSID using your
last name or name chosen by your instructor. SSIDs are case-sensitive.
e. Write down the exact SSID name that you are using. __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
The SSID is student dependent
f.
Click on the Radio Band drop-down menu and write down the two options.
____________________________________________________________________________
Standard-20MHz Channel and Wide-40MHz Channel
g. For a wireless network that can use 802.11b, g, or n client devices, the default is Auto. Auto allows
the Wide Channel option to be chosen and gives the best performance. The Standard Channel
option is used if the wireless client devices are 802.11b or g, or both b and g. The Wide Channel
option is used if only 802.11n client devices are being used. Leave the default of Auto selected.
h. SSID Broadcast is set to enabled by default, which enables the AP to periodically send out the SSID
using the wireless antenna. Any wireless devices in the area can detect this broadcast. This is how
clients detect nearby wireless networks.
i.
Click on the Save Settings button. When the settings have been successfully saved, click on
Continue.
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CCNA Discovery
j.
The AP is now configured for a wireless network with the name (SSID) that you gave it. It is important
to write down this information before starting the next lab or attaching any wireless NICs to the
wireless network.
Step 3: Reflection
a. How many wireless networks do you think could be configured in one classroom? What would limit
this?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer will be student dependent, but depends on which signal power is being used, whether
802.11a, b, g, or n is being used, and how many channels are available for that particular type of
wireless network
b. What do you see as a potential security problem when you broadcast your SSID from the AP?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer is students own opinion, but one answer is that any wireless device in the area will know
there is a wireless network there. One of the first security threats in wireless is if the intruder knows
where a wireless network is located and what the SSID is
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 7.2.6 Configuring a Wireless Client

Objective
Install and configure a driver for a wireless USB NIC for a wireless client computer.
Determine the version of the driver installed and check the Internet for updates.
In this lab you will install a driver for a wireless USB NIC in a computer. The driver is a type of software that
controls the wireless NIC. The driver comes on a CD with the NIC or can be downloaded from the Internet.
Many manufacturers require that the driver is installed before the adapter is connected. The procedure
described in this lab is for a Linksys USB 802.11g wireless NIC, but is similar to others. You should always
follow the procedure recommended by the wireless NIC manufacturer.
Windows XP-based computer with an available USB port
Wireless USB NIC and associated driver
Administrator rights to install the driver
Linksys WRT300N with wireless access configured from previous lab
Step 1: Install the wireless NIC driver

a. Insert the CD that contains the wireless NIC driver into the CD/DVD drive and install the driver
according to the manufacturer recommendations. Most USB devices require that the driver be
installed before the device is physically attached. Note that you may do part of the installation process
now and part of it after the wireless NIC is installed.
b. Who is the manufacturer of the wireless NIC? ______________________________________

Answer will be hardware dependent
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c.
Describe how you installed the wireless NIC driver. ___________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________
Answer will be student dependent
Step 2: Install the wireless NIC

a. When prompted, connect the USB NIC cable to an available USB port. Click Next to continue.
Step 3: Attach to the wireless network

a. Most wireless NIC adapters have client software to control the NIC. The software shows any wireless
networks that are discovered. Select the SSID of the wireless network that you configured on the AP
in a previous lab.
b. Which SSID are you using? ________________________________________________

Answer is student/network dependent
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CCNA Discovery
c.
If the wireless NIC did not connect to the wireless network, perform the appropriate troubleshooting.
d. What is the signal strength for the wireless NIC? _________________________________

Answer is hardware dependent
e. Did the wireless NIC see any other wireless networks in the area? _______ Why or why not?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer is lab dependent and on how many students are in the lab at once
f.
Show your active wireless connection to a fellow student or the lab assistant.
g. What is another name for a wireless host? ______________________________________STA

h. Is it better to use the client software from the wireless NIC manufacturer or let Windows XP control
the wireless NIC? _____________________________________________________________
It is better to use client software to control the wireless NIC
Step 4: Determine the NIC driver version

a. Hardware manufacturers continually update drivers. The driver that ships with a NIC or other piece of
hardware is frequently not the most current.
b. To check the driver version for the NIC you installed, click Start, select Control Panel and then
Network Connections. Right-click on the wireless connection and select Properties. Click the
Configure button for the NIC and then the Driver tab. What is the name and version of the driver you
installed? ___________________________________________________________________
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CCNA Discovery
Step 5: Determine if the NIC driver is the most current

a. Search the NIC manufacturer web site for drivers that support the wireless NIC you installed. Are
there more current ones available? ____________________________________ Very possibly
b. What is the most current one listed? ______________________________________________
c.
If there is a more current driver, how would you apply it? ______________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Download the driver to a known location on the hard drive and use the Update Driver option from the
network connection properties screen
Step 6: Verify connectivity

a. Once you have installed the NIC, it is time to verify connectivity with the Linksys WRT300N.
b. Open a web browser such as Windows Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.
c.
In the address line type http://192.168.1.1, which is the default setting on the AP.
d. In the Connect to 192.168.1.1 dialog box, leave the username text box empty, and type admin in the
password text box. Leave the Remember my password checkbox unchecked. Click OK.
e. If you receive the Linksys Setup screen, you have established connectivity with the AP. If you do not
establish connectivity, you will have to troubleshoot the connection by checking to ensure the devices
are turned on and the IP addresses on all devices are correct. Which IP address should be
configured on the wireless NIC?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer should be an IP address in the 192.168.1.0/24 network
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Step 7: Reflection
a. Do you think the process of setting up a wireless network at a food store or book store is any different
from what you just did? _________________ Why or why not?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer will be student dependent, but they should see that it is no different.
b. Do you think the AP model that you are using would be sufficient for the food store in your
neighborhood? Why or why not? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer is students own opinion.
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 7.3.5 Configuring Wireless Security

Objectives
Create a security plan for a home network.
Configure the wireless access point (AP) portion of a multi-function device using security best
practices.
A well-planned security implementation is critical to the safety of a wireless network. This lab goes over the
steps that must be taken to ensure the safety of the network using the following scenario.
You have just purchased a Linksys WRT300N wireless router, and you want to set up a small network in your
home. You selected this router because the IEEE 802.11n specification claims that it has 12 times the speed
of an 802.11g and 4 times the range. Because the 802.11n uses 2.4 GHz, it is backward compatible with both
the 802.11b and 802.11g and uses MIMO (multiple-in, multiple-out) technology.
You should enable security mechanisms before connecting your multi-function device to the Internet or any
wired network. You should also change the default values provided, because they are well-known values that
are easily obtainable on the Internet.
Windows-based computer
Linksys WRT300N
Straight-through Ethernet cable
Step 1: Plan the security for your home network

a. List at least six security best practices that you should implement to secure your multi-function device
and wireless network.
1) __________________________________________________________________________
2) __________________________________________________________________________
3) __________________________________________________________________________
4) __________________________________________________________________________
5) __________________________________________________________________________
6) __________________________________________________________________________
Answers will be student dependent. However, some chosen should be: change default passwords,
set an SSID, disable SSID broadcasting, set encryption and authentication, and MAC filtering
b. Describe what the security risk is for each item.
1) __________________________________________________________________________
2) __________________________________________________________________________
3) __________________________________________________________________________
4) __________________________________________________________________________
5) __________________________________________________________________________
6) __________________________________________________________________________
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Passwords are changed to prevent neighbors or other people from logging in to your router. SSID
should be changed to a unique name. SSID broadcasting is disabled so that the SSID name is not
broadcasted to others in range of your network. Encryption and authentication prevents hackers from
gaining access to the network and intercepting messages. MAC filtering keeps unwanted computers
from associating with the AP
Step 2: Connect a computer to the multi-function device and log in to the web-based utility
a. Connect your computer (Ethernet NIC) to the multi-function device (port 1 on the Linksys WRT300N)
by using a straight-through cable.
b. The default IP address of the Linksys WRT300N is 192.168.1.1, and the default subnet mask is
255.255.255.0. The computer and Linksys device must be on the same network to communicate with
each other. Change the IP address of the computer to 192.168.1.2, and verify that the subnet mask is
255.255.255.0. Enter the internal address of the Linksys device (192.168.1.1) as the default gateway.
Do this by clicking, Start > Control Panel > Network Connections. Right click on the wireless
connection and choose Properties. Select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and enter the addresses as
shown below.
c.
Open a web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, or Firefox and enter the default IP address
of the Linksys device (192.168.1.1) into the address field and press Enter.
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d. A screen appears, requesting your user name and password.
b. Leave the User name field blank and enter admin for the password. It is the default password on the
Linksys device. Click OK. Remember that passwords are case-sensitive.
c.
As you make the necessary changes on the Linksys device, click Save Settings on each screen to
save the changes or click Cancel Changes to keep the default settings.
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Step 4: Change the Linksys device password

a. The initial screen displayed is the Setup > Basic Setup screen.
b. Click the Administration tab. The Management tab is selected by default.

c.
Type in a new password for the Linksys device, and then confirm the password. The new password
must not be more than 32 characters and must not include any spaces. The password is required to
access the Linksys device web-based utility and Setup Wizard.
d. The Web Utility Access via Wireless option is enabled by default. You may want to disable this
feature to further increase security.
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e. Click the Save Settings button to save the information.
NOTE: If you forget your password, you can reset the Linksys device to the factory defaults by
pressing the RESET button for 5 seconds and then releasing it. The default password is admin.
Step 5: Configure the wireless security settings

a. Click the Wireless tab. The Basic Wireless Settings tab is selected by default. The Network Name
is the SSID shared among all devices on your network. It must be identical for all devices in the
wireless network. It is case-sensitive and must not be more than 32 characters.
b. Change the SSID from the default of linksys to a unique name. Record the name you have chosen:
________________________________________________________________ Student Dependant
c.
Leave the Radio Band set to Auto. This allows your network to use all 802.11n, g, and b devices.
d. For SSID Broadcast, select the Disabled button to disable the SSID broadcast. Wireless clients
survey the area for networks to associate with and will detect the SSID broadcast sent by the Linksys
device. For added security, do not broadcast the SSID.
e. Save your settings before going to the next screen.
Step 6: Configure encryption and authentication

a. Choose the Wireless Security tab on the Wireless screen.
b. This router supports four types of security mode settings:
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) Personal, which uses a pre-shared key (PSK)
WPA Enterprise, which uses Remote Access Dial In User Service (RADIUS)
RADIUS
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c.
Select WPA Personal Security Mode.
d. On the next screen, choose an Encryption algorithm.

To secure a network, use the highest level of encryption possible within the Selected Security mode.
The following Security Modes and Encryption levels are listed from least secure (WEP) to most
secure (WPA2 with AES)
WEP
WPA
o TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol)
o AES (Advanced Encryption System)
WPA2
o TKIP
o AES
AES is only supported by newer devices that contain a co-processor. To ensure compatibility with all
devices, select TKIP.
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e. For authentication, enter a pre-shared key between 8 and 63 characters. This key is shared by the
Linksys device and all connected devices.
f.
Choose a key renewal period between 600 and 7200 seconds. The renewal period is how often the
Linksys device changes the encryption key.
g. Save your settings before exiting the screen.
Step 7: Configure MAC address filtering

a. Choose the Wireless MAC Filter tab on the Wireless screen.
b. MAC address filtering allows only selected wireless client MAC addresses to have access to your
network. Select the radio button to Permit PCs listed below to access the wireless network. Click
the Wireless Client List button to display a list of all wireless client computers on your network.
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c.
The next screen allows you to identify which MAC addresses can have access to the wireless
network. Click the Save to MAC Address Filter List check box for any client device you want to add,
and then click the Add button. Any wireless clients, other than those in the list will be prevented from
accessing your wireless network. Save your settings before exiting the screen.
Step 8: Reflection
a. Which feature that you configured on the Linksys WRT300N makes you feel the most secure and
why?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary. The MAC address filter is a very restrictive method of controlling access
b. Make a list of other items that could be done to make your network even more secure.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers include configure MAC/IP filtering to control which type of traffic is allowed to flow on the
network; disable unneeded services (Telnet, HTTP, TFTP, and so on)
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 8.4.2 Configuring Access Policies and DMZ Settings
Objectives
Log in to a multi-function device and view security settings.

Set up Internet access policies based on IP address and application.
Set up a DMZ for an open access server with a static IP address.
Set up port forwarding to limit port accessibility to only HTTP.
Use the Linksys WRT300N Help features.
This lab provides instructions for configuring security settings for the Linksys WRT300N. The Linksys provides
a software-based firewall to protect internal, local-network clients from attack by external hosts. Connections
from internal hosts to external destinations can be filtered based on the IP address, destination website, and
application. The Linksys can also be configured to create a demilitarized zone (DMZ) to control access to a
server from external hosts. This lab is done in teams of two, and two teams can work together to test each
others access restrictions and DMZ functionality. It is divided into 2 parts:
Part 1 Configuring access policies
Part 2 Configuring DMZ settings
Linksys WRT300N or other multi-function device with the default configuration
User ID and password for the Linksys device if different than the default
Computer running Windows XP Professional to access the Linksys GUI
Internal PC to act as a server in the DMZ with HTTP and Telnet servers installed (preconfigured or
Discovery Live CD server)
External server to represent the ISP and Internet (with preconfigured DHCP, HTTP, and Telnet
servers running (real server with services installed or Discovery Live CD server)
Cabling to connect the PC hosts, Linksys WRT300N or multi-function device, and switches
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Part 1 Configuring access policies

Step 1: Build the network and configure the hosts
a. Connect the host computers to switch ports on the multi-function device as shown in the topology
diagram. Host-A is the console and is used to access the Linksys GUI. Host-B is initially a test
machine but later becomes the DMZ server.
b. Configure the IP settings for both hosts using Windows XP Network Connections and TCP/IP
properties. Verify that Host-A is configured as a DHCP client. Assign a static IP address to Host-B in
the 192.168.1.x range with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. The default gateway should be the
internal local network address of the Linksys device.
NOTE: If Host-B is already a DHCP client, you can reserve its current address and make it static
using the DHCP Reservation feature on the Linksys Basic Setup screen.
c.
Use the ipconfig command to display the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway for Host-A
and Host-B and record them in the table. Obtain the IP address and subnet mask of the external
server from the instructor and record it in the table.
Host
IP Address
Subnet Mask
Default Gateway
Host-A
Host-B /
DMZ Server
External
Server
Answer will vary Hosts A and B: 192.168.1.X and 255.255.255.0 with a default gateway of
192.168.1.1. External server: Can vary but could be 172.17.1.1 and 255.255.0.0. The default gateway
should be the external IP address of the Linksys device (e.g. 172.17.1.254 if obtained from DHCP
pool on Live CD server.)
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Step 2: Log in to the user interface

a. To access the Linksys or multi-function device web-based GUI, open a browser and enter the default
internal IP address for the device, normally 192.168.1.1.
b. Log in using the default user ID and password, or check with the instructor if they are different.
c.
The multi-function device should be configured to obtain an IP address from the external DHCP
server. The default screen after logging in to the multi-function device is Setup > Basic Setup. What is
the Internet connection type?
____________________________________________________________________________
Automatic Configuration - DHCP
d. What is the default router (internal) IP address and subnet mask for the multi-function device?
____________________________________________________________________________
Should be the address used to connect. Default is 192.168.1.1, 255.255.255.0
e. Verify that the multi-function device has received an external IP address from the DHCP server by
clicking the Status > Router tab.
f.
What is the external IP address and subnet mask assigned to the multi-function device?
___________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary depending on the setup of the DHCP server. Example: 172.17.1.254 and
255.255.0.0
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Step 3: View multi-function device firewall settings

a. The Linksys WRT300N provides a basic firewall that uses Network Address Translation (NAT). In
addition, it provides additional firewall functionality using Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) to detect
and block unsolicited traffic from the Internet.
b. From the main screen, click the Security tab to view the Firewall and Internet Filter status. What is
the status of SPI Firewall protection? ______________________________________________
SPI Firewall is enabled. See screen below
c.
Which Internet Filter checkboxes are selected? _____________________________________

Filter Anonymous Internet Requests and Filter IDENT (Port 113)
d. Click Help to learn more about these settings. What benefits does filtering IDENT provide?
____________________________________________________________________________
This feature keeps IDENT port 113 from being scanned by devices outside of the local network
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Step 4: Set up Internet access restrictions based on IP address

In Lab 7.3.5, you saw that wireless security features can be used to control which wireless client computers
can access the multi-function device, based on their MAC address. This prevents unauthorized external
computers from connecting to the wireless access point (AP) and gaining access to the internal local network
and the Internet.
The multi-function device can also control which internal users can get out to the Internet from the local
network. You can create an Internet access policy to deny or allow specific internal computers access to the
Internet based on the IP address, MAC address, and other criteria.
a. From the main multi-function device screen, click the Access Restrictions tab to define Access
Policy 1.
b. Enter Block-IP as the policy name. Select Enabled to enable the policy, and then select Deny to
prevent Internet access from a specified IP address.
c.
Click the Edit List button and enter the IP address of Host-B. Click Save Settings and then Close.
Click Save Settings to save Internet Access Policy 1 Block IP.
d. Test the policy by attempting to access the external web server from Host-B. Open a browser and
enter the IP address of the external server in the address area. Are you able to access the server?
___________________________________________________________ Should not be able to
e. Change the status of the Block-IP Policy to Disabled and click Save Settings. Are you able to
access the server now? ________________________________________ Should be able to
f.
What other ways can access policies be used to block Internet access?
____________________________________________________________________________
Website blocking by URL; website blocking by keyword; and blocking by applications
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Step 5: Set up an Internet access policy based on an application

You can create an Internet access policy to block specific computers from using certain Internet applications
or protocols on the Internet.
a. From the main Linksys GUI screen, click the Access Restrictions tab to define an Internet Access
Policy.
b. Enter Block-Telnet as the policy name. Select Enabled to enable the policy, and then click Allow to
permit Internet access from a specified IP address as long as it is not one of the applications that is
blocked.
c.
Click the Edit List button and enter the IP address of Host-B. Click Save Settings and then Close.
What other Internet applications and protocols can be blocked?
____________________________________________________________________________
DNS, ping, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, POP3, IMAP4, etc.
d. Select the Telnet application from the list of applications that can be blocked and then click the
double right arrow to add it to the Blocked List. Click Save Settings.
e. Test the policy by opening a command prompt using Start > All Programs > Accessories >
Command Prompt.
f.
Ping the IP address of the external server from Host-B using the ping command.
Are you able to ping the server? _____________________________________ Should be able to
g. Telnet to the IP address of the external server from Host-B using the command telnet A.B.C.D (where
A.B.C.D is the IP address of the server).
Are you able to telnet to the server? __________________________________ Should not be able to
NOTE: If you are not going to perform lab Part 2 at this time and others will be using the equipment
after you, skip to Step 3 of Part 2 and restore the multi-function device to its default settings.
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Part 2 Configuring a DMZ on the multi-function device

Step 1: Set up a simple DMZ
It is sometimes necessary to allow access to a computer from the Internet while still protecting other internal
local network computers. To accomplish this, you can set up a demilitarized zone (DMZ) that allows open
access to any ports and services running on the specified server. Any requests made for services to the
outside address of the multi-function device will be redirected to the server specified.
a. Host-B will act as the DMZ server and should be running HTTP and Telnet servers. Verify the Host-B
has a static IP address or, if Host-B is a DHCP client, you can reserve its current address and make it
static using the DHCP Reservation feature on the Linksys device Basic Setup screen.
b. From the main Linksys GUI screen, click the Applications & Gaming tab then click DMZ.
c.
Click Help to learn more about the DMZ. For what other reasons might you want to set up a host in
the DMZ?
____________________________________________________________________________
Internet gaming and videoconferencing
d. The DMZ feature is disabled by default. Select Enabled to enable the DMZ. Leave the Source IP
Address selected as Any IP Address, and enter the IP address of Host-B in the Destination IP
address. Click Save Settings and click Continue when prompted.
e. Test basic access to the DMZ server by pinging from the external server to the outside address of the
multi-function device. Use the ping a command to verify that it is actually the DMZ server
responding and not the multi-function device. Are you able to ping the DMZ server?
________________________________________________________________ Should be able to
f.
Test HTTP access to the DMZ server by opening a browser on the external server and pointing to the
external IP address of the multi-function device. Try the same thing from a browser on Host-A to
Host-B using the internal addresses.
Are you able to access the web page? _________________________________ Should be able to
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g. Test Telnet access by opening a command prompt as described in Step 5. Telnet to the outside IP
address of the multi-function device using the command telnet A.B.C.D (where A.B.C.D is the outside
address of the multi-function device).
Are you able to telnet to the server? ____________________________________ Should be able to
Step 2: Set up a host with single port forwarding

The basic DMZ hosting set up in Step 6 allows open access to all ports and services running on the server,
such as HTTP, FTP, and Telnet,. If a host is to be used for a particular function, such as FTP or web
services, access should be limited to the type of services provided. Single port forwarding can accomplish this
and is more secure than the basic DMZ, because it only opens the ports needed. Before completing this step,
disable the DMZ settings for step 1.
Host-B is the server to which ports are forwarded, but access is limited to only HTTP (web) protocol.
a. From the main screen, click the Applications & Gaming tab, and then click Single Port Forwarding
to specify applications and port numbers.
b. Click the pull-down menu for the first entry under Application Name and select HTTP. This is the
web server protocol port 80.
c.
In the first To IP Address field, enter the IP address of Host-B and select Enabled. Click Save
Settings.
d. Test HTTP access to the DMZ host by opening a browser the external server and pointing to the
outside address of the multi-function device. Try the same thing from a browser on Host-A to Host-B.
Are you able to access the web page? __________________________________ Should be able to
e. Test Telnet access by opening a command prompt as described in Step 5. Attempt to telnet to the
outside IP address of the multi-function device using the command telnet A.B.C.D (where A.B.C.D is
the outside IP address of the multi-function device).
Are you able to telnet to the server? __________________________________________________
Should not be able to. Only HTTP is allowed to this host.
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Step 3: Restore the multi-function device to its default settings

a. To restore the Linksys to its factory default settings, click the Administration > Factory Defaults tab.
b. Click the Restore Factory Defaults button. Any entries or changes to settings will be lost.
NOTE: The current settings can be saved and restored at a later time using the Administration >
Management tab and the Backup Configuration and Restore Configuration buttons.
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 8.4.3 Performing a Vulnerability Analysis

CAUTION: This lab may violate legal and organizational security policies. The security analyzer
downloaded in this lab should only be used for instructional purposes in a lab environment. Before
using a security analyzer on a live network, check with your instructor and network administration
staff regarding internal policies concerning the use of these tools.
Objectives
Download and install security analyzer software.

Test a host to determine potential security vulnerabilities.
Security analyzers are valuable tools used by network administrators and auditors to identify network and
host vulnerabilities. There are many vulnerability analysis tools, also known as security scanners, available to
test host and network security. In this lab, you will download and install the Microsoft Baseline Security
Analyzer (MBSA). MBSA is designed to identify potential security issues related specifically to Microsoft
operating systems, updates, and applications. It also identifies unnecessary services that may be running, as
well as any open ports.
MBSA runs on Windows Server and Windows XP systems and scans for common security misconfigurations
and missing security updates for the operating system as well as most versions of Internet Information Server
(IIS), SQL Server, Internet Explorer (IE), and Office products. MBSA offers specific recommendations to
correct potential problems.
This lab can be done individually or in teams of two.
Computer running Windows XP Professional to act as the test station.
High-speed Internet connection for downloading MBSA (unless pre-installed).
Computer must be attached to the integrated router switch or a standalone hub or switch.
Optionally, you can have a server running a combination of DHCP, HTTP, FTP, and Telnet
(preconfigured).
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Step 1: Download and install MBSA

a. Open a browser and go to the MBSA web page at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsa2/default.mspx
b. What is the latest version of MBSA available? _______________________________________
Answers will vary. Currently 2.0.1
c.
What are some of the features MBSA provides? _____________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary - From website: detect common security misconfigurations and missing security
updates on your computer systems
d. Scroll down the page and select the desired language to begin the download process.
e. Click Continue to validate the copy of Microsoft Windows you are running.
f.
Click Download Files below and select the file you want to download. (The English setup file is
MBSASetup-EN.msi). Click the Download button on the right of this file. How many megabytes is the
file to download? ______________________________________________________________
Answers will vary, approximately 1.3 MB
g. When the File Download Security Warning dialog box displays, click Save and download the file
to a specified folder or the desktop. You can also run it from the download website.
h. Once the download is complete, make sure all other applications are closed. Double-click the
downloaded file. Click Run to start the Setup program, and then click Run if you are prompted with a
Security Warning. Click Next on the MBSA Setup screen.
i.
Select the radio button to accept the license agreement and click Next. Accept the defaults as the
install progresses, and then click Finish. Click OK on the final MBSA Setup screen, and close the
folder to return to the Windows desktop.

a. Connect the host computer(s) to the integrated router, a hub, or a switch as shown in the topology
diagram. Host-A is the test station where MBSA will be installed. The server is optional.
b. Set the IP configuration for the host(s) using Windows XP Network Connections and TCP/IP
properties. If the host is connected to the integrated router, configure it as a DHCP client; otherwise
go to Step 2c.
c.
If the host is connected to a hub or switch and a DHCP server is not available, configure it manually
by assigning a static IP address.
Which IP address and subnet mask does Host-A and the server (optional) have?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer will vary 192.168.1.X and 255.255.255.0. Default gateway is not required but could be set
to 192.168.1.1 (the default IP address of the integrated router, if present)
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Step 3: Run MBSA on a host

a. Double-click the desktop icon for MBSA or run it from Start > All Programs.
When the main screen displays, which options are available? ___________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Scan a computer, Scan more than one computer, and View existing security reports
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CCNA Discovery
Step 4: Select a computer to scan

a. On the left side of the screen, click Pick a computer to scan. The computer shown as the default is
the one on which MBSA is installed.
b. What are the two ways to specify a computer to be scanned? ___________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
By name and by IP address
c.
Accept the default computer to be scanned. De-select Check for IIS and SQL administrative
vulnerabilities, since these services are not likely to be installed on the computer being scanned. Click
Start Scan.
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Step 5: View security update scan results

a. View the security report. What are the results of the security update scan? ________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer will vary. See screen below for possibilities. Missing Security Updates are indicated by a red
X in the Score column. Missing Update Rollups and Service Packs are indicated by a yellow X
b. If there are any red or yellow Xs, click How to correct this. Which solution is recommended?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer will vary Most often to download updates and service packs from Microsoft Update website
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CCNA Discovery
Step 6: View Windows scan results in the security report

a. Scroll down to view the second section of the report that shows Windows Scan Results. Were there
any administrative vulnerabilities identified?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary. See screen below for some possibilities
b. On the Additional System Information section of the screen (below), in the Issue column for
Services, click What was scanned, and click Result details under the Result column to get a
description of the check that was run. What did you find? When finished, close both popup windows
to return to the security report.
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary. Telnet and some other services may be installed and running. Port numbers will be
listed
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Step 7: View Desktop Application Scan Results in the Security report

a. Scroll down to view the last section of the report that shows Desktop Applications Scan Results.
Were there any administrative vulnerabilities identified?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary. See screen below for some possibilities
b. How many Microsoft Office products are installed? ___________________________________

Answers will vary
c.
Were there any security issues with Macro Security for any of them?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary
Step 8: Scan a server, if available

a. If a server with various services is available, click Pick a computer to scan from the main MBSA
screen and enter the IP address of the server, and then click Start Scan. Which security
vulnerabilities were identified?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary depending on the server. This can be a live server if the host has physical and
logical access to it and organizational policies permit scanning the live network
b. Were there any potentially unnecessary services installed? Which port numbers were they on?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary depending on the server. Could include Telnet, HTTP, FTP, and so on, with
corresponding port numbers
Step 9: Uninstall MBSA using Control Panel Add/Remove Programs

a. This step is optional, depending on whether the host will be automatically restored later by a network
process.
b. To uninstall MBSA, click Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs. Locate the MBSA
application and uninstall it. It should be listed as Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.0.1. Click
Remove, and then click Yes to confirm removal of the MBSA application. When finished, close all
windows to return to the desktop.
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Step 10: Reflection

a. The MBSA tool is designed to identify vulnerabilities for Windows-based computers. Search the
Internet for other tools that might exist. List some of the tools discovered.
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary
b. Which tools might there be for non-Windows computers? Search the Internet for other tools that
might exist and list some of them here.
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary
c.
Which other steps could you take to help secure a computer against Internet attacks?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary
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CCNA Discovery
Lab 9.2.7 Troubleshooting Using Network Utilities
Objectives
Use network utilities and the integrated router GUI to determine device configurations.
Select the appropriate network utilities to help troubleshoot connectivity problems.
Diagnose accessibility problems with Web, FTP, Telnet, and DNS servers.
Identify and correct physical problems related to cable types and connections.
In this lab, you use the browser and various troubleshooting utilities, such as ipconfig, ping, tracert, netstat,
and nslookup to diagnose and correct connectivity problems. These command line interface (CLI) utilities are
available on most current operating systems, although the exact command and syntax may vary. Windows
XP commands and syntax are used in this lab.
Your instructor will set up the network topology similar to the one shown here and will preconfigure the client
computer, integrated router, server, and external router for each scenario in the lab. Various software and
hardware connectivity problems will be introduced, and you will diagnose the cause from the client computer.
This lab requires setup by the instructor to create various connectivity problems, mainly by enabling and
disabling services, disconnecting cables, or using the wrong type of cable (straight-through or crossover). The
troubleshooting environment must contain a server with Web, FTP, Telnet, and DNS services installed. The
DNS server must be able to resolve the names of the other servers to a common IP address.
The integrated router is both a DHCP client and server and must pass IP address, subnet mask, default
gateway, and DNS server information to the client. The internal address should be 192.168.1.x/24, and the
external addresses can be determined by the instructor. The external router is configured as a DHCP server
to give the integrated router client its IP configuration. The external server should have a static IP
configuration. Students have access to the Host-A command line and integrated router GUI, but do not have
access to the router or server CLI or GUI.
Problem Scenarios:
1) Web server software disabled, but physical connectivity to server present.
2) Web server software enabled and physical connectivity present, but DNS server has incorrect
name/address resolution.
3) FTP server software enabled but physical connection to server not present.
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4) FTP server software enabled and physical connection present, but local host not configured as DHCP
client.
5) Telnet server software enabled, but wrong cable type used to connect the server to the router.
6) All server software enabled (Web, FTP, Telnet, and DNS) and connections present. Check TCP
connections.
There are six scenarios. Work in teams of three, with each person taking the lead in two of the scenarios, and
the other team members assisting.
Computer running Windows XP Professional with Web, FTP, and Telnet clients (CLI or GUI).
Server running a combination of DNS, HTTP, FTP, and Telnet services (preconfigured). This server
will simulate Internet connections and can be a server with these services actually installed and
running or a server running the Discovery Live CD.
Integrated router configured as a DHCP server and client (default configuration).
Router with two Ethernet interfaces configured as a DHCP server to integrated router (preconfigured).
Ethernet Cat-5 (minimum) straight and crossover cabling to connect hosts and network devices.

a. Have your instructor set up a network topology similar to the one shown with the Host-A client
computer, integrated router, server, and router preconfigured.
b. Work from Host-A to issue commands to troubleshoot problems introduced by the instructor.
c.
All commands are issued from a command prompt window. Open a command prompt window by
clicking Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. Keep the window open for the
duration of the lab.
Step 2: Record the baseline IP address information for computers and integrated router
NOTE: Perform this step before the instructor introduces problems.
a. Host-A configurationIssue the command that displays the IP address information for Host-A,
including the DNS server, and record the information below. Which command did you use?
__________________ ipconfig /all
IP address: ________________________________ May vary 192.168.1.x
Subnet mask: ______________________________ 255.255.255.0
Default gateway IP address: __________________ May vary 192.168.1.1
DNS server IP address: ______________________ Will vary IP address of Server set by instructor
DHCP server IP address: _____________________ May vary 192.168.1.1
How did Host-A obtain its IP address? ___________ DHCP from integrated router
b. Integrated router configurationFrom Host-A, open a browser and go to the integrated router GUI by
entering 192.168.1.1 as the URL address. Log in to the integrated router using the default user ID
and password (check with your instructor if necessary). Check the internal and external IP address
information and record it below.
Internal IP address: _________________________ Setup > Basic Setup - 192.168.1.1
Subnet mask: ______________________________ 255.255.255.0
Is the DHCP server enabled? __________________ Yes
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External (Internet) IP address: _________________ Status > Router Will vary IP address
assigned by DHCP server of Router - Set by instructor
Subnet mask: ______________________________ Will vary Assigned by DHCP server from
Router - Set by instructor
Default gateway IP address: __________________ Will vary IP address of next hop interface on
Router - Set by instructor
DNS server IP address: ______________________ Will vary IP address of Server - Set by
instructor
c.
Server configurationObtain the Server IP configuration from your instructor and record the
information below.
IP address: ________________________________ Will vary Static set by instructor
Subnet mask: ______________________________ Will vary Static set by instructor
Default gateway IP address: __________________ Will vary Static set by instructor - IP address of
next hop interface on Router
Web Server 1 protocol and name: ________________________ (May vary Live CD server name is
http://server-1.discovery.ccna
Web Server 2 protocol and name: ________________________ (May vary Live CD server name is
FTP Server 1 protocol and name: ________________________ (May vary Live CD server name is
FTP Server 2 protocol and name: ________________________ (May vary Live CD server name is
Step 3: Scenario 1Diagnose Web server access

a. After your instructor sets up the problem for this scenario, use various utilities to diagnose the
problem.
b. Open your browser and enter the name of the Web Server 1 from Step 2. What happened?
____________________________________________________________________________
Host-A is unable to reach the server website
c.
Which commands did you use to diagnose the problem? _______________________________

Browse by name and IP fails; 2. Ping server by name succeeds
d. Report the problem or suspected problem to the instructor. What was the problem?
____________________________________________________________________________
Problem: Web server software was disabled. Network connectivity tested good. DNS is working. Must
be problem with the HTTP server
e. What did you do to correct the problem, if anything?
____________________________________________________________________________
Nothing student can do but report suspected problem to instructor to start HTTP server
f.
You may need to contact the instructor to correct the problem. When the problem is corrected, retest
and verify access to the server.
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Step 4: Scenario 2Diagnose Web server access

problem.
b. Open your browser and enter the name of the Web Server 2 from Step 2. What happened?
____________________________________________________________________________
Host-A is unable to reach the server website
c.

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
1. Browse by name fails. 2. Browse by IP succeeds. 3. Ping by name fails. 4. Ping by IP succeeds.
nslookup for http://server-2.discovery.ccna reveals that the server name is associated with the
wrong IP address
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Web server software enabled and physical connectivity present, but DNS server has incorrect
name/address resolution
Browser can get to web server by IP but not by name. Network connectivity tested good. Suspected
DNS server could be down, but nslookup discovered bad entry in DNS table
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Nothing student can do but report suspected problem to instructor, or student can browse to
http://server-1.discovery.ccna, which resolves to the correct IP address. If DNS is running stale
information, solution could be to wait for information to expire and then flush tables (not possible
without admin access) or redirect client to another name server
f.
Step 5: Scenario 3Diagnose FTP server access

a. After your instructor sets up the problem for scenario, use various utilities to diagnose the problem.
b. Use your FTP client (CLI or GUI) to connect to FTP Server 1 from Step 2. What happened?
____________________________________________________________________________
Host-A is unable to reach the FTP site
c.
Which commands did you use to diagnose the problem? ______________________________

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
1. FTP client to server by name fails. 2. FTP client by IP fails. 3. Ping to server by name or IP fails. 4.
Ipconfig on Host-A shows correct IP info. Tracert to server fails at router connected to server
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____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
FTP server software enabled, but physical connection to server not present
FTP and ping network connectivity testing failed. Host-A IP config is OK. Traceroute indicated
problem at router connected to server. Visual inspection reveals cable to server NIC is disconnected
____________________________________________________________________________
Connect cable to server NIC and retest to verify that this is the only problem
f.
Step 6: Scenario 4Diagnose FTP server access

problem.
b. Use your FTP client (CLI or GUI) to connect to FTP Server 2 from Step 2. What happened?
___________________________________________________________________________
Host-A is unable to reach the server FTP site
c.
Which commands did you use to diagnose the problem? ______________________________

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
1. FTP client to server by name fails. 2. FTP client by IP fails. 3. Ping to server by name or IP fails. 4.
Ping to default gateway (integrated router internal address) fails. 5. Ipconfig on Host-A shows
incorrect static IP info. 6. Tracert fails at integrated router
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Problem: FTP server software enabled and physical connection present, but local host has wrong
static IP address and not configured as DHCP client
FTP and ping to server testing failed. The ipconfig command indicated that Host-A had noncompatible static address. Host-A should be a DHCP client
____________________________________________________________________________
Configure Host-A as DHCP client, and retest to verify that this is the only problem
f.
Step 7: Scenario 5Diagnose Telnet server access problem

problem.
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b. Use a Telnet client (CLI or GUI) to connect to the name of Server 1 identified in Step 2. What
happened? __________________________________________________________________
Host-A is unable to reach the Telnet server
c.

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
1. Telnet client to server by name fails. 2. Telnet client to server by IP fails. 3. Ping to server by name
or IP fails. 4. Ping to default gateway (integrated router internal address) succeeds. 5. Ipconfig on
Host-A shows correct IP info. Tracert to server fails at router connected to server
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Problem: Telnet server software enabled, but the wrong cable type (straight-through) used to connect
the server. Server NIC and router interface are both hosts and are considered to be like devices.
Should be a crossover instead of a straight-through cable, because there is no switch or hub in
between
Telnet and ping to server testing failed. Host-A IP config is OK and Host-A can ping its default
gateway. Traceroute indicated problem at router connected to server. Visual inspection reveals cable
to server NIC is wrong type
____________________________________________________________________________
Replace the straight-through cable from server to router with a crossover cable and retest
f.
Step 8: Scenario 6Analyze TCP connections to Host-A

a. Ask your instructor to verify that all problems introduced with the lab setup have been corrected.
Using the appropriate clients, connect to the Web, FTP, and Telnet servers simultaneously from
Host-A.
b. From the command line, issue a command to display the current active TCP connections to Host-A
with names of the servers and protocols. Which command did you use? ___________________
netstat
c.
Which named connections did you see? _____________________________________________

HTTP, FTP, Telnet, and possibly others
d. From the command line, issue a command to display the current active TCP connections to Host-A
with IP addresses and protocol port numbers. Which command did you use? _________________
netstat -n
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e. Which IP addresses and port numbers did you see?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Should see the foreign IP address of the server and ports 80 (HTTP), 21 (FTP), 23 (Telnet), and
possibly others.
f.
From the command line, issue a command to display the current active TCP connections to Host-A,
along with the program that created the connection. Which command did you use?
__________________ netstat -b
g. Which program executable (filename with an .exe extension) is listed for each of the connections?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Executables for each client (GUI or CLI) used to initiate the connection: iexplore.exe, ws-ftp.exe,
ftp.exe, telnet.exe, and so on.
Step 9: Reflection
a. When troubleshooting the problem scenarios during this lab, which troubleshooting technique did you
use primarily (top-down, bottom-up, or divide and conquer)?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary - Mostly top-down
b. Which utility or command do you feel was the most useful for network troubleshooting?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary probably ping
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Lab 9.3.3 Troubleshooting Physical Connectivity
Objectives
Examine device LEDs to determine proper Ethernet connectivity.
Select the correct Ethernet cable for use between various types of devices.
Visually inspect cables for potential problems.
Use a cable tester to help identify cabling problems.
Physical cabling is one of the most common sources of network problems. This lab focuses on connectivity
issues related to network cabling. You will visually inspect cabling and LED link lights to evaluate physical
connections and to determine if the correct type of cable is being used based on the devices they
interconnect. You will also use a cable tester to identify problems with cables.
The instructor will set up the network topology similar to the one shown and will preconfigure the hosts and
network devices. The instructor will introduce various connectivity problems, and you will diagnose the cause
of these problems by inspecting link lights and testing cables between devices. Various cable types, both
good and bad, will be used to interconnect devices for each scenario in the lab.
This lab requires setup by the instructor to create various connectivity problems, mainly by using an incorrect
cable type (straight-through or crossover) or using a defective cable (miswired or improperly terminated). The
focus is on link connectivity and cable testing.
The integrated router is both a DHCP client and server. The external router is configured as a DHCP server to
give the integrated router client the required IP configuration. The external server has a static IP configuration.
Students have access to the Host-A command line, but not to the integrated router, router, or server
command-line interface (CLI) or GUI. They have visual access to all network interface cards, device
interfaces, and ports.
The focus of this lab is on physical connectivity problems. No software configuration problems are introduced.
End-to-end connectivity is tested by pinging from Host-A to the server.
Cabling Problem Scenarios:
1) Incorrect cable type between Host-A and integrated router (crossover instead of a straight-through)
2) Miswired cable between hub/switch and router (incorrect pinouts send/receive to pins other than 1, 2, 3,
or 6)
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3) Incorrect cable type between router and server (straight-through instead of a crossover)
4) Improperly terminated cable between integrated router and hub/switch (open on wires to pins 1, 2, 3, or 6
at RJ-45 connector)
Work in teams of two, with each person taking the lead in half of the problem scenarios.
Computer running Windows XP Professional (preconfigured)
Server (preconfigured)
Integrated router configured as a DHCP server and client (default configuration)
Router with two Ethernet interfaces configured as the DHCP server to integrated router
(preconfigured)
Mix of Ethernet Cat-5 (minimum) straight-through and crossover cabling, both good and bad, to
connect hosts and network devices
Basic Cat-5 Ethernet cable tester (RJ-45 pin-to-pin continuity checker)
Advanced cable tester (optional), such as Fluke 620 (or similar)

a. Ask your instructor to set up a network topology similar to the one shown with a preconfigured Host-A
client computer, integrated router, server, and router. Initially, correct and properly functioning cabling
is used so that end-to-end connectivity can be verified. The instructor then introduces cabling
problems in each scenario.
b. Problems can consist of using the wrong type of` cable between two devices (straight-through or
crossover) or using a defective cable (miswired or improperly terminated). Observe device interface
link lights, visually inspect cables, and use a cable tester to determine the problems.
c.
Complete steps 2 and 3 of this lab before the instructor introduces problems.
Step 2: Record the correct cable types used between devices

a. Refer to the topology diagram and record the cable type that should be used (straight-through or
crossover) based on the devices being connected. Have your instructor verify this information before
proceeding.
b. Which type of cable should be used from Host-A to integrated router?
______________________________
Straight-through cable
c.
Which type of cable should be used from integrated router (router portion) to Hub/Switch?
____________________________________________________________________________
d. Which type of cable should be used from Hub/Switch to Router? ________________________

e. Which type of cable should be used from Router to Server? ____________________________
Crossover cable
Step 3: Record the IP address information for the computers

a. Use the ipconfig command, or get the IP address of Host-A from your instructor, and record it here.
Host-A IP address: ________________________________ Will vary DHCP 192.168.1.x
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b. Get the server IP address from your instructor and record it here.
Server IP address: ________________________________ Will vary Static set by instructor
c.
Before starting on problem scenarios, verify end-to-end connectivity by pinging from Host-A to Server.
If you do not get a reply from the server, check with your instructor. There may be a problem with the
initial hardware or software setup.
Step 4: Scenario 1
a. After your instructor sets up the problem, use visual inspection and a cable tester to isolate the
problem.
b. Ping from Host-A to Server. What happened?
____________________________________________________________________________
Host-A is unable to reach destination host (Server).
c.
Check the LED link lights on the various device interfaces. Write down any that are not lit.
____________________________________________________________________________
Host-A NIC LED and LED on front of integrated router switch that corresponds to the port where hostA is connected.
d. Disconnect and inspect the cable connecting the network interfaces that were not lit. Describe the
problem and how you were able to identify it.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Problem: Incorrect cable type between Host-A and integrated router (Crossover instead of a straightthrough)
Visual inspection could reveal an incorrect cable type based on those identified in Step 2. A basic
cable tester would show that wire continuity was good but that this is a crossover cable. A straightthrough cable should be used for connecting a host to a hub/switch (or switch port of the integrated
router)
e. What did you do to correct the problem?
____________________________________________________________________________
Replaced the crossover cable with a straight-through cable
f.
When the problem is corrected, retest and verify end-to-end connectivity by pinging from Host-A to
Server. Was the ping successful? ________ Yes
Step 5: Scenario 2
problem.
____________________________________________________________________________
Host-A is unable to reach destination host (Server)
c.
____________________________________________________________________________
Router Ethernet interface link LED, and LED on Server NIC
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____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Problem: Miswired straight-through cable between Hub/Switch and Router (incorrect pinouts
send/receive on wrong pins).
Visual inspection could reveal incorrect cable pinouts. A basic cable tester would show that cable
continuity was good but that send/receive wires (those that go to pins 1, 2, 3, or 6) are going to the
wrong pins. A straight-through cable is used for connecting a host router interface to a hub/switch.
____________________________________________________________________________
Replaced the miswired cable with a tested straight-through cable
f.
Step 6: Scenario 3
problem.
____________________________________________________________________________
Host-A is unable to reach destination host (Server).
c.
____________________________________________________________________________
Server NIC LED, and LED on Router Ethernet interface.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Problem: Incorrect cable type between Router and Server (straight-through instead of crossover).
Visual inspection could reveal an incorrect cable type based on those identified in Step 2. A basic
cable tester would show that wire continuity was good but that this is a straight-through cable. A
crossover cable is used for connecting two hosts (or like devices). The router Ethernet interface and
the Server NIC are considered like devices.
____________________________________________________________________________
Replaced the straight-through cable with a crossover cable
f.
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Step 7: Scenario 4
problem.
____________________________________________________________________________
Host-A is unable to reach destination host (Server)
c.
____________________________________________________________________________
Integrated router Internet interface link LED, and LED on hub/switch port to which it is connected
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Problem: Improperly terminated cable between integrated router and Hub/Switch (open on
send/receive wires to pins 1, 2, 3, or 6 at RJ-45 connector).
Visual inspection could reveal cable open connection at RJ-45 connector. A basic cable tester would
show that that the cable continuity failed on the wires where the open occurred. A straight-through
cable is used for connecting the router Ethernet (Internet) interface from the integrated router to the
hub/switch.
____________________________________________________________________________
Replaced the improperly terminated cable with a tested straight-through cable
f.
Step 8: Reflection
a. What are some general rules to help you determine which type of Ethernet cable (straight-through or
crossover) to use to connect different types of network hosts and devices?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary
Possible answers: Direct connections between similar devices (computer-to-computer, hub-to-hub,
hub-to-switch, router-to-router, and so on) typically require a crossover cable. Remember that a
router interface is considered a host. Direct connections between dissimilar devices (computer-tohub, computer-to-switch, router-to-hub or switch, and so on) typically require a straight-through cable.
b. Which types of problems can a cable tester detect that might not be determined by visual inspection?
____________________________________________________________________________
Answers will vary some shorts, opens
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Networking for Home and Small Businesses: Course Summary
Capstone Project Putting It All Together

Objectives
Understand the steps involved in planning and implementing a technical solution for a small business.
Gather relevant information to help devise a technical solution to a problem.
Devise a technical solution for a small office environment.
Prototype a proposed technical solution using Packet Tracer 4.1.
Plan the installation of a technical solution for a small business environment.
Prepare and present a technical report to a diverse group.
Configure a wireless router to support the requirements of a small business environment.
You have just successfully completed the first course in the CCNA-Discovery series and have obtained a contract
position at a small advertising company called AnyCompany Corporation to help them update their IT resources.
The company originally started with two partners who produced print flyers for local businesses. Their list of
customers has greatly expanded, and their customers are demanding more interactive advertising media,
including video presentations. The partners recognize the business potential in this new market and have hired
you to review their existing IT resources and produce a proposal that allows the company to take advantage of
this new market. The partners have stated that if the proposal meets their requirements, they may hire you fulltime to implement and manage these new resources.
The following resources are required to complete this project:
Access to the Internet and course curriculum for research
Office application suite for the preparation and presentation of the report
Packet Tracer 4.1 for prototyping
Linksys 300N wireless router or equivalent
A Windows XP computer to act as wired host
A Windows XP computer to act as wireless host
Straight-through and crossover Category 5 Ethernet cables for testing (quantity variable)
Step 1: Gather information and determine customer requirements

You now have an idea of the scope of the project that you have undertaken, but do not have all of the information
required to proceed. The first step in any IT project is to gather information. What is really required? What are the
budget and the time frame to complete this project? What restrictions, if any, are there in equipment and resource
selection? What resources are currently in place? The more information that you gather at the beginning of any
project, the better.
A good way to start the information gathering process is to conduct interviews with the key individuals within the
company, who are usually divided into three main groups: managers, end users, and IT support. Each group can
provide valuable information.
Managers Managers can answer questions regarding budget, expectations, and future plans. Any IT solution
must take into account the plans that the company may have for growth, either in the number of employees or the
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technology being deployed. Managers can also provide you with information regarding company policies that may
affect the proposed solution. Policies could include such things as access, security, and privacy requirements.
The following information is normally gathered from managers:
Budget
Requirements and expectations
Restrictions
Staffing
Future growth
End users End users are the people directly impacted by the solution you design. While managers are also end
users, their requirements may differ drastically from the majority of the employees. It is important to talk to as
many employees from as many departments or work areas as possible to determine their requirements. It is also
important to determine the actual, rather than perceived, requirements. From a customer service perspective,
including employees in the initial discussions improves their buy-in and acceptance of the final solution.
The following information is normally gathered from end users:
Requirements and expectations

Current perceived performance of the equipment
Applications used
Work patterns
IT department Most small businesses do not have an IT department and responsibilities may fall on one or
more individuals, depending on their job role and expertise. Larger businesses may have a separate IT
department. Those individuals who handle the IT can provide you with more technical information. For example,
an end user may complain that an existing network has become slow, but an IT person can provide the technical
information to determine if performance has been degraded.
The following information is normally gathered from IT:
Applications used
Work patterns
Hardware resources
Network infrastructure (physical and logical topology)
Network performance and issues
Activity 1
AnyCompany Corporation has provided a written summary containing a floor plan, and a verbal interview with a
company manager. Gather as much information as possible from these two sources to help you plan a technical
solution for AnyCompany Corporation.
AnyCompany Corporation Information
Because AnyCompany Corporation is a very small business, it has no IT department. Everyone has taken
care of their own resources. If they could not fix the problem, they would call in an outside service
technician. The machines are connected together through a 10 Mbps hub using Category 3 cable. The
two partners and the secretary all have P2-300 MHz machines with 256 MB of RAM and 13 GB hard disk
drives. The systems are all running Windows 98SE, and each a low-capacity, monochrome laser printer is
attached to each machine. These machines are not capable of running the software required for video
development.
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Since the current machines are not capable of running the required software, they must be retired and
new machines purchased for all employees. The existing laser printers are also not capable of producing
color output or supporting the increased output required. They too must be replaced. This also provides
you with the information that no IT department exists, and no one person is fully knowledgeable about the
network.
The office will be reorganized, and additional employees will be hired to handle the new video production
work. The company will have the following employees:
Administrative Manager (currently the secretary) Duties include scheduling work, hiring and
managing part-time workers, weekly payroll, and project tracking. The administrative manager uses
spreadsheet and database software and must be able to use e-mail provided by the ISP.
This user requires a desktop computer with the ability to run office application software and a web
browser. Since the administrative manager is storing and sharing files with another worker, a large hard
drive is needed.
Film and Graphics Production Editor (one of the partners) Requires special editing software that
uses very high-resolution graphics and requires at least 2 GB of memory to run effectively. The software
also interfaces with a video capture interface board that uses a PCI slot in the computer. This specialized
software only works in a Windows XP environment. It is important that the computer purchased for this
position support high-resolution video and have enough memory to enable the editor to work quickly. The
production editor produces the final copies of the films and works within very tight deadlines. The editor
must also be able to use e-mail provided by the ISP.
The production editor requires a desktop computer with a high-resolution video card and monitor, and an
available PCI slot for the video capture card. In addition, the specialized software that this person is
required to run suggests a fast processor with a minimum of 2 GB of RAM. A large hard drive is required
to store the video files during processing.
Film Crew The other six employees are mobile workers, consisting of two production assistants, two
camera people, a production manager (one of the partners), and a film director. They are in the office an
average of two days per week. The rest of the time is spent either at customer sites or on film locations.
Because all of the mobile workers are required to have access to e-mail and production schedules, both
at the office and while on location, it is important for them to be able to connect to the main office from
anywhere. They have no special software requirements, but they do need a large hard drive to store the
film files while they are working on them. The mobile workers must work at various locations and may not
always be able to plug into a data port. It is important that they are able to connect to the internal network
wirelessly.
These users all require laptops with wireless connectivity, FTP, and web browser capability. Because they
are working on large files, they need large hard drives and lots of RAM for manipulating files.
Because of the sensitive nature of some of the documents and records required by the administrative
manager, a private color laser printer must be installed in the managers office. A combination
copier/printer and high-resolution scanner must also be purchased and shared among all employees.
This private printer should have a USB interface to connect to the desktop computer. The shared
printer/copier requires a network interface to ensure that it is always available to all users.
For the purposes of training and compatibility, all of the computers should use the same operating system
and applications, if possible.
Because the production editor requires Windows XP, all machines should have Windows XP.
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No budget has yet been established for the completion of this project. The company is moving into this
area to prevent bankruptcy, so it is important that the project be completed with the lowest possible
expenditures.
This statement clearly outlines the fact that the prime consideration at this point is providing a good
working environment with the lowest possible expenditure.
Because the office is being reorganized and new staff is being hired, it is a safe assumption that data
drops and power outlets may need to be installed.
Office Floor Plan
The floor plan provides a mechanism for planning the layout of equipment such as computers, printers, and
servers. It is also required to plan the installation of data drops and power outlets that must be installed to support
this new network. The workflow pattern obtained from the interview with Susan Roberts, the floor plan, and the
need for all mobile workers to be able to connect to the internal network wirelessly provide enough information to
plan out the required technology, devices, and physical location.
Interview with the Administrative Manager
Susan Roberts: I am the new administrative manager for AnyCompany Corporation. I am very glad that
we have hired you to help us plan our IT requirements and would like to discuss these with you. I
understand that you have already been supplied with a list of our planned staff and some information
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about how they use their computers. I have some details that might be important as you select equipment
and media for our new facilities.
You: It is nice to meet you, Susan. Yes, I received a letter that listed the numbers and types of
employees working at the redesigned office. It is my understanding that there will be eight employees:
two office employees and six mobile workers. Any information you can provide about how these workers
will use the network can help me prepare the proposal for your local network.
Roberts: Both Fred Michaels, the film and graphics production editor, and I are in our offices during
regular business hours. We need access to e-mail, which we currently get from our ISP. The e-mail
system that they provide uses a web client that we can access over the Internet. We are also able to
access this e-mail from our home computers
It is necessary for both of us to share files between ourselves and also with the mobile workers. These
files are usually spreadsheets and documents, but sometimes, when we are close to deadlines, we have
to send large film files back and forth between the mobile workers and the office. Files must be available
for download during the day, and also at night, when we are away from the office. These film files are
usually between 512 MB and 2 GB in size.
You: The information I received also indicated that you require a shared printer. How do you plan on
using this printer?
Roberts: We want to have a color printer that is also capable of making copies. Since we expect this
printer to be expensive, it is necessary for everyone to be able to print to it when they are in the office.
Some of our storyboard documents are over 100 pages, with lots of graphics.
You: How often are the mobile workers in the office? What do they need access to when they are in the
office?
Roberts: Our mobile workers can be in the office anytime, day or night. They usually work out of their
homes or on location, but when we are near a deadline, they can be in the office for 24 hours at a time.
When they are in the office, they need to be able to use the printer and scanner. I do not want to keep
files that the mobile workers need to use on my computer, because they might need them at times when I
am not in the office, and the computer is not turned on. I also need to share files with Fred while we are
working in the office. These files can be kept on my computer or his.
You: I understand that your e-mail accounts are provided over the web by your ISP. Do you see a need
for locally hosted web or e-mail accounts?
Roberts: We also employ temporary, part-time employees when we need them. We want to be able to
set up e-mail accounts for them to use while they are working with us. We usually dont have more than
five or six temporary employees at any one time. All of them work from their homes and use their own
computers.
You: Thank you for your time. I think I have enough information to get started. Are you the contact person
if I have any further questions?
Roberts: Yes, please call me if you need more information. Thank you.
This interview has provided some new information. First, a server is required to store the large video files and that
this server must be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Because employees must be able to download
files either in the office or at home, FTP services are indicated. Because e-mail addresses must be provided for
the temporary workers, a mail server must also be established. The low volume of e-mail that this server would
handle would allow it to be run on the same machine set up for FTP downloads. The interview has also pointed to
a high-resolution, high-speed, color copier/printer with a high-speed network interface.
Page 5 of 10
CCNA Discovery
At this point, it is a good idea to review the notes and information that you have gathered and clearly summarize
the requirements. If something is not clear, go back to the information-gathering step. Do not guess or assume
anything, because mistakes can be very costly.
Step 2: Select the appropriate services and equipment

Once you have gathered all the appropriate information, it is time to do some research. You must now use your
knowledge and research skills to propose an appropriate technical solution for their limited budget and time
requirements. Proposing a solution that is beyond the financial capabilities is of no benefit. However, it can be
helpful to propose a solution within the current budget, and offer suggestions that would improve network
performance or productivity if additional funding becomes available. If you can justify these extra expenditures,
the company may consider them for later implementation or may even find the extra funding needed.
When developing a plan, it is often easier to start at the end user and then work back toward the network and any
shared resources, and then finally, any external connections to the Internet or other networks. Many different
forms have been developed to help with planning and equipment selection. It is a good idea to use one of these
forms or to design your own to keep everything organized.
Activity 2
Use the following form to develop a proposed computer system for each of the employees at AnyCompany
Corporation. Search the Internet or local sources for availability and pricing information. Use the same form to
propose a server that can support their e-mail and FTP requirements.
Computer System Planning Form
Job Role:
Location:
Component
Processor:
(manufacturer/model/speed)
Memory:
(type, amount)
Hard Drive:
(type, capacity)
CD-ROM/DVD:
(R, R/W, speed)
USB Ports:
(number, location)
Video Card:
(manufacturer, model, video RAM)
Sound Card:
(manufacture, model)
Modem
(internal/external, speed, standard)
Network Card(s):
(Ethernet: speed, wireless, standard)
Operating System:
(manufacturer, version, compatibility)
Monitor:
(size, resolution, refresh)
Recommendation
Page 6 of 10
CCNA Discovery
Printer:
(manufacturer, model, type, speed)
Speakers:
(manufacturer, model, type)
Internet connection:
(USB/Ethernet/wireless)
After the end-user systems have been selected, it is time to look at the workflow and decide on any shared
components and network technology to support this workflow. This can include such things as shared printers,
scanners, and storage as well as any routers, switches, access points and ISRs. When planning a network
infrastructure, always plan into the future. For larger companies, because it is usually a substantial investment,
the infrastructure should have a lifetime of about 10 years. For smaller companies and home users, the
investment is significantly less and change occurs more frequently.
Activity 3
Using the Internet and locally available resources, select a high-speed, color copier/printer for the AnyCompany
Corporation office.
Activity 4
Propose a network layout for AnyCompany Corporation. Because the company has limited funds available for this
project, it is important that only equipment designed for the small business and home markets be used.
With the current level of knowledge, the best solution would be a single Linksys 300N ISR to connect to the
Internet and provide the wireless connectivity. The server and shared printer plug into the LAN ports on the ISR. A
third LAN port on the ISR connects to a switch that provides a wired connection to all offices.
It is important to plan the Internet connectivity, and which services are provided by the ISP and which services
must be provided in-house. Larger companies usually provide services in-house while small businesses and
individuals normally rely on an ISP to provide these services. Most ISPs offer a variety of services and service
levels. Selecting an ISP is complicated, and not all technologies and services are available in all regions of the
world. There are a number of excellent online resources to assist in the selection process. One such resource has
been produced by the Australian government and is available at
http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_1723.
Activity 5
Using the curriculum and other available resources, select a local ISP to provide connectivity for AnyCompany
Corporation. It will rely upon this ISP for DNS and web mail, and also needs the ISP to provide 99.999% uptime
for access to the internal FTP/e-mail server. Because you are the only IT person at AnyCompany Corporation, it
is also important that the ISP provides a high-level of technical support. Create a comparison worksheet for
several local ISPs, including costing.
Activity 6
Which internal services must be offered by AnyCompany Corporation, and which devices provide these services?
It has been stated that name resolution (DNS) will be the responsibility of the ISP, and all internal hosts can make
use of the DNS servers of the ISP. Addressing must be provided internally, and creating a DHCP pool on the ISR
for both wired and wireless hosts is appropriate. The server requires a static address with port forwarding for the
e-mail protocols (SMTP, POP3, IMAP4) as well as for FTP. For remote access to this server, Remote Desktop
and SSH should also be permitted. Because Telnet is an insecure protocol, its use should be discouraged.
Wireless connectivity is provided by the Linksys 300N.
Activity 7
Page 7 of 10
CCNA Discovery
Complete the following network planning form as it relates to the proposed AnyCompany Corporation network.
Are wired connections required?

Are wireless connections required?
Wireless standard
Firewall required?
ISP connectivity required?
Type of ISP connectivity
Internal or external modem required?
Cables required?
Battery backup required?
Number:
Number:
Choice of a/b/g/n
Yes/No
Yes/No
Choice of DSL, cable, serial, dialup
Yes/No (if Yes, then type of modem)
Yes/No (if Yes, then type of cable)
Yes/No
Step 3: Plan the installation

After the equipment has been selected and the required services planned, the physical and logical installation is
planned out. Physical installation includes the location of equipment and devices, along with how and when these
devices are to be installed. In the business environment, it is important to minimize disruption of the normal work
processes. Therefore, most installations, changes, and upgrades are done during hours when there is minimal
business activity. For the home, this is less important but should still be considered. Physical installation should
also consider such things as adequate power outlets and ventilation, as well as the location of any necessary data
drops.
Activity 8
Using the provided floor plan and other appropriate information, plan the physical layout of all equipment data
drops and power outlets. In addition, devise an implementation schedule that takes into account the work
practices within AnyCompany Corporation.
The location of desktop machines is in the appropriate offices. All offices including the conference room should
have sufficient power and data drops to allow individuals to use this as a workspace. The conference room should
have additional power and data drops to allow groups to work together. Wireless connectivity in the conference
room is a possibility that would minimize the number of data drops required. The server should be placed in a
location that has proper ventilation and also controlled access. The closet may not be appropriate because air
flow may be problematic. If construction of a small area with proper ventilation for the server is not possible, it
may be a good idea to locate it in the managers office. Wireless connectivity should not be a problem with the
Linksys 300N, but care should be taken to locate the device away from the microwave oven in the small kitchen
area.
Equally as important as planning the physical layout of the network and equipment is planning the logical layout.
This includes such things as addressing, naming, data flow, and security measures. Servers and network devices
are assigned static IP addresses to allow them to be easily identified on the network and to also provide a
mechanism for controlling access to these devices. Most other devices can be assigned addresses using DHCP.
Activity 9
Devise an addressing scheme for AnyCompany Corporation. The scheme must provide all network devices and
servers with a static address and allow all other hosts to be configured via DHCP. Assign all devices an
appropriate name.
Activity 10
AnyCompany Corporation is concerned that their files and resources may be vulnerable through the wireless
network. Provide a security plan that allows only AnyCompany Corporation employees to connect to the wireless
network and gain access to company information and resources.
Page 8 of 10
CCNA Discovery
This should include disabling the SSID broadcast, MAC address filtering, and WPA.
After the network is planned, it is important to verify that it works as expected. This is the prototyping stage and is
not normally done for home or small business installations. Many different prototyping tools exist in the enterprise
world.
Activity 11
Use Packet Tracer to prototype the planned network. Test various scenarios such as traffic coming from the
Internet to the internal servers and host traffic moving to the Internet. Also confirm that the wireless network
behaves as expected. Not all features of the designed network will be able to be tested using Packet Tracer.
Step 4: Prepare and present the proposal

All of the gathered information and the proposed technical solution must be assembled into a format that makes
sense to the company or individual who has asked you to provide a solution. In the small business and home
markets, this may be simply a summary report that lists the key points in a manner that is easily understood. In
the enterprise market, this process becomes much more structured and formal. The formal report usually contains
many different sections, including:
Cover letter
Title page and table of contents
Executive summary
Project proposal, comprising needs statement; goals and objectives; methodology and timetable;
evaluation; budget summary; detailed budget; future funding plans
Appended information
The report is often presented to various groups for approval. When presenting the report, present it in a confident,
professional, and enthusiastic manner. This includes dressing appropriate to the target audience. The report and
presentation must be technically accurate and free from spelling and grammatical errors. Always proof read your
report and presentation before delivery. Have it reviewed by peers as well. A good technical solution does not
overcome a bad proposal or presentation.
Activity 12
Prepare a proposal for AnyCompany Corporation that includes all the components listed above. Be sure to
include all cost information and network diagrams. After the report is prepared, have it reviewed by a peer. When
you are confident in the proposal, present it to the class for consideration.
Step 5: Install and configure the network

After the proposal has been accepted by the individual or company, it is time to do the installation. This is another
stage where planning is important. If devices can be preconfigured and tested before installation, it saves a great
deal of time and frustration.
Activity 13
AnyCompany Corporation has decided to accept your proposal for the installation of their new network. All of the
recommended equipment is on order and scheduled for delivery within a month.
1) Create a checklist for the installation of the PCs at the customer site.
2) Create a checklist for the configuration and installation of the network equipment at the customer site.
3) Create a checklist for the implementation of the standard security necessary at a small business.
Page 9 of 10
CCNA Discovery
Activity 14
Configure the ISR as per the proposed plan.
Step 6: Test and troubleshoot

During the installation, it is important to test the network under as many diverse situations as possible. Use the
various troubleshooting tools available in most operating systems and network devices to ensure that the network
behaves as expected under the normal workflow that it will be exposed to. Document all tests.
Activity 15
Test all aspects of the ISR configuration and document your results.
Step 7: Document and sign-off

Sign-off is when the customer indicates satisfaction that the solution performs as promised. This is usually the
point that payment is made. Many internal IT departments also request sign-off when a job is completed to the
end user satisfaction.
When sign-off occurs, printed copies of the performance and testing reports are delivered, along with the
configuration information. For larger networks, much more information is required at sign-off, including physical
and logical topology maps.
Activity 16
Prepare documentation for sign-off from the manager at AnyCompany Corporation. This includes the testing and
performance documentation generated, along with any other prepared documentation. Have this information
reviewed by a peer and then submit it to your instructor for final sign-off.
Step 8: Support
The last step in any solution is the provision of ongoing technical support. This requires a thorough understanding
of the solution, technology, and customer requirements. The more thorough the documentation, the easier this
stage is. Equally as important at this stage is an excellent grasp of customer service skills.
Activity 17
Take turns playing the technical support and customer roles. The customer contacts the technical support person
and reports a problem with the newly implemented AnyCompany Corporation network. The problem should be
realistic. The support person tries to determine the problem by interacting with the customer.
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Lab 1.3.2 Determining Data Storage Capacity

Determine the amount of RAM (in MB) installed in a PC.

Check other types of storage devices (floppy, CD-ROM, DVD).

Computer with Windows XP installed

Step 1: Identify the RAM in a computer

Step 2: Determine the size of the hard disk drive

b. What is the used space of your hard drive in GB? ____________________________________

What is the free space of your hard drive in GB? _____________________________________

Step 4: Check for other storage devices

Lab 1.3.3 Determining the Screen Resolution of a Computer

Determine the current screen resolution of a PC monitor.

Determine the maximum resolution for the highest color quality.

Calculate the number of pixels needed for resolution settings.

Identify the type of monitor and graphics card installed.

Capability of the monitor

Capability of the graphics card, especially the amount of onboard memory

The following resources are required:

Computer with Windows XP installed

Step 1: Determine the current screen resolution

Step 4: Identify the type of graphics card installed

Step 5: Identify the type of monitor and available refresh rates

Lab 1.5.3 Installing a Printer and Verifying its Operation

Manually install a printer using the default Windows XP driver.

Verify printer and driver installation and troubleshoot any problems.

Computer with Window XP installed

Step 1: Add a printer

Step 2: Verify the printer installation

Step 3: Download and install an updated printer driver

In the download dialog box, click Save.

Double-click the icon for the downloaded file.

m. Click Have Disk in the Printer Driver Selection window.

Step 4: Verify the new driver installation

There is a Paper Handling Options section

There is an Optional Paper Sources section

There is a Fonts checkbox

There is a Memory Options section

There is a Printer Model section.

There is a Color Management tab that was not there before

Lab 2.3.3 Examining OS and Application Versions

Determine the operating system (OS) version and revision.

Examine the method used for configuring Windows XP updates.

Determine the revision number of a particular application.

Computer with Windows XP and an application such as Microsoft Word installed

Step 1: Determine the Windows XP version and revision number

Which version of Windows XP and service pack is installed on your computer?

d. How much physical memory (RAM) is available to Windows XP?

Step 2: Configure Windows XP for updates

Which four options are available for automatic updates? ___________________________________

Expand the How Are Updates Installed? section.

Close the Automatic Updates window.

Are the options the same as before? _______________________________________________ Yes

Close the System control panel.

Step 3: Determine an application version

What is the application version? ___________________________________ Application-dependent

g. Close the application.

Lab 3.1.5 Building a Peer-to-Peer Network

Verify connectivity between the peers using the ping command.

An Ethernet crossover cable

Step 1: Diagram the network