Must be a minimum of 100 words each, and contain useful and relevant content that ads to the conversation.

1) Chapter 8 Internet connection

The most common types of internet connections are DSL (Digital subscriber line), dialup, cable. satellite, wireless hotspots, and cell phone networks. Each one will provide the same initial service but may have differences in quality of signal and service interruption, which will depend on the company and your location. DSL is a broadband connection that comes through your phone line but still allows you to make calls while you're connected to the internet. It uses fiber-optic cables and phone lines for transmission. With dialup you use a modem that connects to your service provider through your home phone. But you cannot make calls while connected to the internet. Connecting to the internet through your cable provider is another broadband connection. The speeds are pretty fast but you have to pay a monthly fee. In order to connect via satellite, a satellite dish has to be installed. Not all providers offer satellite connections. Wireless hotspots are connections that somebody else had made. A wireless device can pick up hotspots and allow you to connect to the internet free or for a fee. When connecting through your cellphone you are using your providers 3G or 4G network. This also will deplete your data and you will be charged if you go over and you don't have an unlimited data plan.

2) Chapter 8: Keys to planning a network

Every network is going to be a little different, but some things to keep in mind as you plan your network are:

1. Get a map- Understand the layout of your space where you are installing the network. Draw a map of the office or see if you can get a map of the office. Add distances or a scale if possible so you can determine how far you will need to run cables or how many wireless access points you'll need. Label Power locations and their capacity. Mark any possible hazards such as lights, pipes, bricks and any potential obsticals that may be in the way of you running cables.

2. Locate your server(s)- If you are installing a small network, you may not have to worry about this. But if you have a network with one or more dedicated servers, decide were they will be located. They need to be in a secured location where only authorized people will have access to them.

3. Identify where clients computers will be- If you are setting up an office in a cubicle farm, just assume one computer (or more, depending on the cubicle type) per cube. This will help you determine where you need shared network resources as well as cable placement.

4. Locate network resources- if your network users are going to share resources such as printers, where will they be located?

5. Determine how you are going to connect-If you are going to go all wireless, you can start figuring out how many wireless routers or access points you'll need. If you are going to have wired connections, start determining how long the cable runs will be. Remember that UTP has a maximum segment distance of 100 meters. If you have to go up from a patch panel, into a ceiling, and down through a wall or conduit, take that into account too!

6. Designate additional connectivity areas if needed. If you are running cables and some systems are outside of your maximum cable length, you will need to install a repeater of some sort. The best choice is probably a switch, which repeats signals. If you have several hundred computers, though, and you want to separate out networks, then a router is the best choice. These connectivity locations can be just a small closet. Other times, if no space is available, some administrators will put the switch in the drop ceiling.

3) Chapter 6: Servers Reply to Class

Re:Why wouldn't a non-dedicated server be preferred to rather than a dedicated server?

In my working experiences, there are justifications for each (nondedicated and dedicated) and it usually depends on the role, environment and configuration of the server and the amount of resources it will be supporting. For example, if the print/email server is a secured one that needs to be isolated and contained to meet security compliances that would be one common reason. Another one would be the workload of dedicated server is such that all of its resources are needed to primarily focus on its data transmission or work tasks/request and sharing it as a nondedicated server might require too much contention in sharing its resources. These are some real-world examples that have been the case with me.

4) Discussion Question: Wireless networking and Security Protocols

Research security protocols used for wireless networking; including WEP, WPA, and WPA2.

Describe the key characteristics of these protocols, including differences and similarities.

Post your findings to the discussion forum.

5) Discussion Question:Encryption Technologies

Research encryption technologies.

Determine which technologies work with the security protocols; WEP, WPA, and WPA2.

Post your findings to the discussion forum.

6) It Pro TV Secure: WPS

The IT pro guys covered Wifi protected set up or WPS and basically said don't let the word "protected" fool you . On most devices there is a wps button either on the front or top of the equipment and pressing this button automatically signs the device on to the network. Also there is an 8 digit WPS pin number that can be manually entered like a pass phrase. The device does have to be WPS capable and usually when attempting to connect to a network there will be instructions to press the button. The option to sign in with the pass phrase is usually available on WPS capable devices. It's not recommended for SOHO and corporate offices because its too easy to gain access to the network which essentially makes the network unsecured.

7) Lynda.com: Comp Tia Exam Prep Mac Address Filtering

ach Ethernet based node and Ethernet switch/bridge port has a globally unique unchangeable MAC address stored locally on the network interface card, or on the on-board network controller used in network switches or system boards with built-in Ethernet interfaces. And each NIC/controller also has a unique hardwired OUI-derived MAC address, commonly known as the burned in address (BIA) MAC. Even so, it is possible for a node to use a user-defined MAC address to mask the BIA address and take the BIA's place as the MAC address used for sending and receiving Ethernet frames. So although the MAC is a pretty good bet to filter and track on, it's not foolproof. However, if a system is compromised or if you have rouge system administrator on your hands, all bets are off.

Then of course, there are all of those "soft MACs." These virtual MAC addresses are used by Layer 3 switch VLAN interfaces, by Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP) interfaces and by the various ether-channel NIC bonding and host availability schemes. (How else would nodes be able to forward packets to these interfaces?) While these "soft" addresses do not mask the BIAs, they do come up as part of the results of a network inventory and will be seen as active hosts on that network. The issue for auditors is that these "dual-identity" nodes now appear twice in the inventory. They are discovered, in both cases, with a different MAC and IP address.