Create a network

[muno]

I have an assignment from school. I need to create an internet connection for a company, and then lan.

It's said, the the isp has copper wiring to the office.
Now, I assume the internet is supposed to be provided through this copper cable, can I use a switch, that has only fx ports for a core switch?

I was planning on having a core switch with only fx ports, connect the servers to the core along with two other switches. Is it possible to build a network like this? Or do I need some devices between the copper and the core switch to make it work?

I'm sorry if that sounds like a mess, but I don't myself understand alot about that

[Agent_Embryo]

That really depends on whether the ISP provides you with all IP adresses. But I'd think that you'd need/want a gateway/router between the backbone switch and the ISP copper.

[muno]

Ok, since this is a theoretical assignment, it doesn't matter. I'll put a router there

I understand that 'copper' is like utp, stp, or whatever. But regular cat5e cable. Is that so?

[DVNT1]

"copper" can be any form of copper wiring IMO. In the US, if you had copper coming to your building for an Interent connection it would likely mean copper wiring that was setup for a leased line, like a T1.

Some really good switches are modular and would allow you to add a serial ports or RJ45 ports.

[muno]

Hrmpf.. I really need to get to school for this

It's really interesting but I can't understand a whole lot about it. Our teacher (for the current assignment) couldn't teach anything, so I skipped a whole lot of his classes.

I put a core switch which had some kind of module for internet access, and which is connected to other switches then.
The network consists of three active devices.

I sent the report back. Hope it passes

[VHockey86]

rather than a router however, you're prolly better off setting it up with a gateway PC... and i dont mean the cow gateway lol =)

If you had a linux server running, connected to the internet from the isp (presuambly a business dsl line or something), then you could use this as your primary firewall and you could also set it up as a DHCP server (this way it will assign all the intranet pcs an IP.. probably ona a 192.xx system).

Although a router would work, for something like a business you'd prolly be having a webserver and such, all of which would prolly be easier to setup on a gateway pc rather than a straight forward router.

[Agent_Embryo]

A webserver would probably be in the DMZ if a hardware router is used. Possibly NAT:ed. It really depends on the size of the LAN, I agree that a Linux box would be the way to go fora small to medium size business.

What I meant with router was a what VHockey said. That's how I would do it too. But a hardware router could do the same thing. We're talking about a business, so I was thinking more high-end stuff, and not the kind of router you buy for your home network.

I know some Cisco switches can also do DHCP.

Bleh I don't even know what I'm typing anymore. Too tired.