• Review the network interfaces of PC
• Investigate configuration status of NIC (Network Interface Card)

• PC/Laptop with at least one network interface
• 1 Ethernet (LAN) cable

[1] Computer port (hardware), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_port_(hardware)

There are two parts in this assignment. In the first part, you will investigate the installed Network Interface Card(s) (NIC) of the PC. Various physical and upper layer properties/configuration will be explored. In part B, you will watch two online videos, and write your understanding.

Task 1: Find the Physical Configuration of NIC

(a) From the Control Panel (Network and Internet), click Network Connections. A window showing all the installed NICs will appear (Fig. 2).

Alternatively, you can right-click on the network icon in the notification area (See Fig. 1). Click Open Network and Sharing Center. On the left pane, select Change Adapter Settings.

Figure 1: Network icon in the notification area.

Figure 2: Network connections

(b) In your PCs, you may find several virtual NICs (e.g. created by VMware or other software). We are interested only in the physical NIC. In Fig. 2, the physical interfaces are indicated by dotted red circles. Identify the physical NICs in your PCs and list names in output box, Output#1 (at the end of the handout).

Right click the interface that you are currently connected with to see the status. See Fig. 3.

Hint: Red X marks in the NIC icons in Fig. 2 indicates that the interface is not currently connected anywhere. Greyed icons are disabled interfaces.

(c) Click Properties button to open up the properties window for the particular NIC you connected right now. See Fig. 4.

(d) Click on the Configure button besides the interface name. See Fig. 5 for reference. Depending on the adapter (Ethernet or WiFi) and driver, you may have different configuration items. Explore the tabs. Fill up Table 1 in Output#2 with the properties listed in Advanced tab. Refer to the web site of the NIC vendor(s) for the explanation of the items.

(e) Cancel the windows of Fig. 4 and 5, and bring back the window of Fig. 3.

Task 2: Find IP configuration of NIC

(f) Let us explore the MAC and network layer configuration of the adapter. Click on the Details button of Status window shown in Fig. 3. The window in Fig. 6 shows the network connection details (basically IP settings) of the adapter.

Figure 6: MAC and IP setting of Local Area Connection

(g) From this window, note down the items in Table 2 of Output#3.

(h) You can obtain all the information in Table 2, for all the interfaces, from Command line. Open a Command window (StartRuncmd).

(i) Type ipconfig in the command window prompt. You will get something like Fig. 7. This is the summary information about all the adapters (both physical and virtual) installed in your PC. Take a screenshot of the output the ipconfig command, and place in Output#4.

Important: Make sure to take a clean, clear screen (Alt+ PrintScreen) capture of the command window.

Figure 7: Output of the command ipconfig

(j) Type ipconfig /all to get more detailed information about the adapters. The result will be something similar to Fig. 8. Take screenshot and provide in Output#5.

(k) Make sure your observation in Table 2 matches with the output of (j). Answer the questions in Output#6.

Figure 8: Detailed IP configuration.

Task 3: Checking Connectivity between PCs Using Automatic IP Setting

(l) Make sure that your active network interface (LAN or WLAN) is configured to get IP address automatically from the DHCP server. To do this, from Network Connections, view the properties of the NIC you are using. Make sure that Obtain IP address automatically is selected in Internet Protocol version 4 properties, as shown below.

                              (a)                                                                                                    (b)

Figure 9: Automatic IP setting

(m) Check the connectivity between your PC and the device (139.130.4.5). Use the ping utility command to test the connectivity. Type ping 139.130.4.5  at command prompt. If properly connected, you will response similar to Fig. 10.

Figure 10 PING result.

(o) Did you get response? If not, troubleshoot. (Possible causes: Firewall in either/both of the PCs, interface is not connected yet, wrong IP address, )

(p) Provide a screenshot of your ping result in Output#7.

(A) Find and watch the two videos mentioned below.

1. Andrew Blum: Discover the physical side of the internet (https://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_blum_what_is_the_internet_really)

June 2012; Approx 11:56 mins

2. What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?

(https://youtu.be/S64s3GrZlSM)

Published on Mar 17, 2015; Approx 12:29 min

(B) Take notes while watching and spend time to reflect on the issues made by the respective speakers as well as you can. There will be questions on these presentations in the midterms and/or final test.

(C) Now independently for each video, identify the core points made by the respective speakers and summarize these into 250 words or less in essay format.  Verify this with a word count at the end of the summary! Place word count at the end of each essay.

(D) Grading will be based on how well you are able to identify, integrate and articulate the core issues made in each of the respective videos.

Submission Check List