Overall Theme

The assignment tests your understanding of:

• Network components (routers, switches, servers, etc.)
• Network performance (bandwidth and delay)
• Communication media (Ethernet, fiber, etc.)
• DNS protocol
• Packet analysis using Wireshark
• Practical network design using Packet Tracer

So it mixes theory + math + practical tools.

Task 1 Network Design for a Clinic (Abu Dhabi Scenario)

In this task, you act like a network consultant.

There is a clinic with:

• Many staff members
• Workstations
• Telemedicine systems
• Tablets
• A weak router
• Poor Wi-Fi coverage
• Security concerns

You must:

1. Propose a new improved network design
2. (better router, managed switches, firewall, access points, etc.)
3. Explain:

• Why your solution is better
• How it improves performance
• How it improves security
• How it solves latency problems

1. Draw the network in Cisco Packet Tracer
2. (no configuration needed, just topology)
3. Explain scalability
4. (how the network can handle future growth)

This part checks:

• Network components knowledge
• Real-world design thinking
• Security awareness
• Performance optimization

Task 2 Network Design & Delay Analysis (Logistics Company)

You are given a network with:

• Two routers
• One server
• Two PCs
• Four segments
• Different bandwidths
• Different propagation delays
• Router processing + queuing delays
• Packet size = 1500 bytes

You must:

1. Choose the best communication medium for each segment
2. (e.g., fiber, Ethernet, etc.)
3. and compare with one alternative.
4. Calculate the total delay from PC0 to PC1.

That includes:

• Transmission delay
• Propagation delay
• Processing delay
• Queuing delay

1. Explain pipelining in packet-switched networks:

• What it is
• Why it improves file transfer time
• Why it matters for streaming

This part checks:

• Mathematical understanding of delay
• Media comparison knowledge
• Packet-switching theory

Task 3 DNS Analysis Using Wireshark

You must:

1. Capture DNS traffic in Wireshark.
2. Filter DNS packets.
3. Analyze:

• Source & destination ports
• Transaction ID
• Record type (A, AAAA, etc.)
• TTL
• Returned IP addresses
• MAC addresses

1. Explain:

• Why DNS uses UDP
• What TTL means
• What DNS spoofing is
• Why Google has multiple IP addresses

This part checks:

• Protocol understanding
• Packet structure knowledge
• Logical vs physical addressing
• Practical networking skills