3. Preparation

Before starting this assignment, make sure to:

• Install and set up Cisco Packet Tracer.

• Review relevant lecture materials and tutorials.

• Understand OSI and TCP/IP models, particularly DNS query flows.

• Familiarise yourself with quantization and signal sampling concepts.

4. Assignment Tasks

Task A: Network Topology Design (8 marks)

You are working as a networking engineer at Car Sales Melbourne City, which recently relocated from Richmond. The company has four departments: Marketing, Administration, IT, and Sales, and has been assigned the IP address 192.100.30.0. You are required to design and configure a functional network topology using Cisco Packet Tracer for your department head. Your topology should include:

• Four servers, each assigned to one of the following departments: Marketing, Administration, IT, and Sales.

• A workstation PC connected to each departmental server to simulate employees' access.

• A printer located in the IT department.

• Routers (if needed) to ensure interdepartmental communication and efficient data flow.

Task requirements:

1. Network Configuration (3 marks):

a. Configure all PCs, servers, routers and printer to establish connectivity.

2. Application Services (3 marks):

a. Configure the Sales department server to host a web application using TCP.

b. Configure the IT department server to host a real-time streaming service using UDP.

3. DNS Query (2 marks):

a. Initiate a DNS query by providing a domain name of your preference. The responses are exchanged over UDP.

b. Monitor the flow of DNS packets at the data link layer, network layer, and transport layer of the OSI model, and show the address related information in the header field.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Keep screenshots concise.

• Avoid unnecessary images to keep your submission within a 3-page PDF limit.

• Your student ID must be appended in every device name in your configuration and shown clearly in your screenshots. Failure to do so will result in marks deductions.

Task B: Quantization and Signal Sampling (6 marks)

In the real world, all the data is analog, i.e., values are infinite, and the sampled data is generated continuously for the computer to process the data. Quantization is the process of assigning these samples to corresponding levels, as shown in Figure 1, in which the input values (Vin) are quantized by 2-bit output values (Vout), i.e., there are 4 outputs including 00, 01, 10, and 11.

Figure 2 shows that the human voice is converted into an electrical signal using a microphone.

Figure 2

You are required to read the estimated values, 3-bit outputs and 8-bit outputs at timestamp 0, timestamp 1, timestamp 2, … , timestamp 9 into the table below.

Task C: Professional Report (6 marks)

In this task, you are required to write a professional report. The specific requirements are as below:

• (1 mark) Explain the reason for your design choices in Task A within 200 words.

• (1 mark) What issue can be identified with Figure 1? Give your rationale.

• (2 marks) Regarding Task B, discuss the pros and cons of 3-bit and 8-bit depth sampling within 200 words.

• (2 marks) The report has a clear structure and logic, good presentation (including codes, figures and tables), and necessary referencing if needed.

5. Submission Guidelines

The submission is a single PDF file containing the network topology screenshots and device configuration captures from Packet Tracer in Task A, the table and calculation flow in Task   B, and the report in Task C. Overlength answers will result in marks deduction, so ensure that your content adheres strictly to the required length limits.

6. Late Submission & Extensions

• Penalty: 10% per day (2 marks/day) for late submissions, including weekends.

• Extension Requests: Email the course coordinator (fengling.han@rmit.edu.au) before the due date with supporting documents.