Facilities
Hands On
"Hands On" is the principle followed in the design of all ANTC rooms, as well as in the new and revised courses. New computers, switches and routers are installed in the rooms so students may work individually or in small groups, as appropriate.
One room serves mainly for "here's how to do it" lecture-demonstrations covering networking server and client software selection, installation, use, performance monitoring and troubleshooting.
Network operating systems (NOS) for servers include Novell Netware, Microsoft NT Server, Microsoft 2000 Server and Linux (Unix). Workstations run Windows 2000.
A unique feature of the room's hardware is a Cisco Catalyst 5500 switch divided into three different virtual LANs. Any workstation can connect instantly to any of the three LANs. This allows simulation of Wide Area Networks.
Break Out
This unique flexibility is carried out in a second room that serves as a supervised laboratory known as the "Network Breakout Lab." Here students physically install software that has been explained and demonstrated in the first room. Work areas are arranged in clusters so that group projects, as well as individual projects, can be assigned.
Physical Layer
A room, designated as the "Physical Layer Lab" (from terminology of the Open Systems Interconnection standards), is fitted with work tables and tools to permit training and practice in network cable construction and installation. Esoteric tasks such as making fiber optic taps and junctions and pulling cables through existing walls, floors and ceilings are mastered.
Networks put together in this room will use communications links constructed by the students themselves. Hardware and software troubleshooting on actual computers "bugged" for problems also occurs here.
All rooms have access to each other and the outside world through cabling designed for Gigabit Ethernet. Two additional classrooms rcently were renovated to support the CCNA and CCNP programs. Cisco 2500 and 2600 routers are installed along with Catalyst 4000 and 2924 switches. In addition, a Voice Over IP network complete with Call Manager capability is used to teach voice/data integration.