CN – Lab Exercise 1

Definition

What is Ping?
A utility to determine whether a specific IP address is accessible

Step 1 Connect into the Internet

Establish and verify connectivity to the Internet. This ensures the computer has an IP address.

Step 2 Gather TCP/IP configuration information

Use the Start menu to open the Command Prompt, an MS-DOS-like window. Press Start, then type cmd for Command Prompt. 

The following figure shows the Command screen. Type ipconfig and press the Enter key. The spelling of ipconfig is critical while case is not. It is short for IP Configuration.

This screen shows the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. The IP address and the default gateway should be in the same network or subnet, otherwise this host would not be able to communicate outside the network. In the figure the subnet mask tells us that the first three octets must be the same to be in the same network.

Note: If this computer is on a LAN, the default gateway might not be seen if it is running behind a Proxy Server. 

Step 3 Record the following TCP/IP information for this computer

IP address: 192.168.11.65

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway: 192.168.11.1 

Step 4 Compare the TCP/IP configuration of this computer to others on the LAN

If this computer is on a LAN, compare the information of several machines. (Maximum of 3)

Are there any similarities? Yes (Subnet Mask, Default Gateway)

What is similar about the IP addresses? 192.168.11.1

What is similar about the default gateways? 192.168.11.1

The IP addresses should share the same network portion. All machines in the LAN should share the same default gateway.

Record a couple of the IP Addresses:

192.168.11.64 and 192.168.11.67

 Step 5 Check additional TCP/IP configuration information

To see detailed information, type ipconfig /all and press Enter. 

The host name, including the computer name and NetBIOS name should be displayed. Also, the DHCP server address, if used, and the date the IP lease starts and ends should be displayed. Look over the information. Entries for the DNS, used in name resolution servers, may also be present.

The previous figure reveals that the router is performing DHCP services for this network. This would likely be a small office or home office (SOHO) or small branch office implementation.

Notice the Physical Address (MAC) and the NIC model (Description).

In the LAN, what similarities about the Physical (MAC) Addresses are seen?

There is no similarities between the Physical (MAC) Addresses seen

While not a requirement, most LAN administrators try to standardize components like NICs.

Therefore, it would not be surprising to find all machines share the first three Hex pairs in the adapter address. These three pairs identify the manufacturer of the adapter. 

Write down the IP addresses of any servers listed: 

61.6.254.147 and 61.6.254.166

Write down the computer Host Name: 

LAB2

Write down the Host Names of a couple other computers: 

A couple of oyhe computer has the same Host name call LAB2

Do all of the servers and workstations share the same network portion of the IP address as the student workstation? No

It would not be unusual for some or all of the servers and workstations to be in another network. It means that the computer default gateway is going to forward requests to the other network.

Step 6 Close the screen

Close the screen when finished examining network settings.

This concludes the lab.  

Reflection

Based on observations, what can be deduced about the following results taken from three computers connected to one switch?

Computer 1

IP Address: 192.168.12.113

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway: 192.168.12.1

Computer 2

IP Address: 192.168.12.205

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway: 192.168.12.1

Computer 3

IP Address: 192.168.112.97

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway: 192.168.12.1

Should they be able to talk to each other? Are they all on the same network? Why or why not? If something is wrong, what is most likely the problem?

Answer:

No, the three computers should not be able to talk with each other because some of them are on the different network. But three of them have the same subnet mask and default gateway. Only computer 1 and 2 can talk to each other because they are on the same network. They will be able to connect and share files with each other. However computer 3 will not be able to talk with computer 1 and 2. If something is wrong between the three computer, most probably the problem could be because of they  does not have same network address or they have different subnet mask from each other.