Abstract
This paper presents an overview of firewalls. The paper elaborates on personal firewalls, network firewalls and testing firewalls. Examples of firewalls are discussed in the paper and the network costs involved are examined.
Table of Contents
Firewall Overview
What is a Firewall
How Firewalls Work
Need for Firewalls
Testing Firewalls
Personal Security Firewalls
Personal Firewall Employment
Features of Zone Alarm
Zone Alarm Interface Example
Network Security Firewalls
Network Firewall Employment
Cisco Pix 510 Mid-range Features
Firewall Tracking
Network Security Cost Example
Examples of Network Firewalls
Conclusion
Works Cited

From the Paper
"A firewall is a users best defense from invasions by outside intruders. It will protect unwanted traffic on a PC or network from an outsider. A firewall acts as a buffer between the PC or network and all external networks, especially the Internet.

"Michael Palmer defines a firewall as being a software, hardware or combination of both employed to restrict who has access to a network, to specific segments, or to certain resources.""

Tags:computers, firewall, network, networking, security, technology

From the Paper
"...Paging is reliable, timely and cheap, but it is limited in the type and amount of information it can send. Wireless LANs remove the need for costly infrastructure and other hassles that come with a fixed LAN but have a limited range. Wireless WANs can cover a much larger area than wireless LANs, but are slower and more expensive. Cellular networks are the most widely used and cover the largest area, but have limitations in security and reliability."

Tags:LAN, paging, snpp, WAN, Computer, technology

Abstract
This paper investigates the various precautions available for ensuring the security of data on computers within businesses and preventing invasion by hackers. The paper surveys the latest network security advances and examines their current applications. They are studied in terms of security levels, vulnerabilities, ease of use and cost to implement and maintain. The advantages and disadvantages of these applications are mentioned, as well as their suitability to specific needs. The paper also examines the current and projected needs of the Network security field. It concludes by making predictions on the future of IT security.

From the Paper
"Computer security and the protection of data has been an issue since the early 1980s when computers became standard office equipment. Company sensitive information is stored on computers. Protecting the access to and integrity of this information has been a key concern for managers and computer specialists alike. The issues in data security have not changed, however the advent of the Internet has made keeping data secure more difficult. The Internet did not change the key issues, just the number of users trying to access the information. Network administrators have been facing these issues for quite some time."

Tags:hacker, development, application, vulnerability, use, cost, implementation, advantage, diadvantage

Abstract
This paper produces a system analysis and design for a privately owned hospital which needs to upgrade its computerized information system. The paper discusses ways to upgrade both hardware and software throughout the clinic, establish a clinic-wide network in a single information management system and to acquire off-the-shelf software and hardware to provide data services for the clinic-wide network. The paper also shows ways in which the clinic could outsource the development of department-specific software where required and create an in-house MIS Department to manage the clinic-wide network and maintain all hardware and software. The paper includes illustrations.

From the Paper
"The utility of information technology is enhanced in health care institutions when it is implemented in network configurations because this approach allows information and resources to be shared by all elements of an institution. Expanded computerized information system capability can support cost reduction and productivity improvement initiatives within health care delivery organizations. For example, the cost and time spent on duplicate tests can be reduced if all patient treatment data are available to all clinicians in a health care delivery organization. Additional time and cost savings can be realized by automating new treatment protocols and the tools used to monitor variances from treatment standards (Murchison, 1999)."

Tags:LAN, WAN, broadband, communication

Abstract
This paper analyzes the efficiency of the access algorithms in IEEE 802.11 infrastructure wireless LANs. The first part of the paper provides an overview of the access algorithms that are in used in IEEE 802.11 implementations. A mathematical model of the carrier sense protocols is introduced and analyzed through the second part. The main part of the paper is devoted to simulation of IEEE 802.11 infrastructure networks. For this purpose a discrete event simulator has been designed and implemented. Finally the results are presented and discussed.

Table of Contents
IEEE 802.11 Wireless LANS
IEEE 802.11 Access Algorithms
Mathematical Analysis of the Carrier Sense Protocols
Non-Slotted Non-Persistent CSMA
Slotted Non-Persistent CSMA
Simulation of IEEE 802.11 Infrastructure WLANS
Traffic Modeling
The Simulation Model
Simulation Results
Summary
References
The Simulator Source Codes

From the Paper
"Nowadays, wireless LANs, also known as WLANs, are used widely as an alternative for the wired LANs. In Comparison with the traditional wired LANs, WLANs provide more flexibility and higher ROI (Return On Investment) for both providers and customers. Also in some cases (such as disaster discovery), it is impossible to set up a wired LAN. Since setting up a WLAN does not need a great starting investment (especially in the case of ad hoc operation), it is considered to be an ideal choice for any temporary network connectivity requirement in local scales. For these reasons, the WLAN's productivity has increased rapidly during recent years."

Tags:analysis, based, carlo, carrier, collision, communication, computer, contention

Abstract
This paper examines how Microsoft Windows NT has the responsibility of distributing the available memory between applications or processes effectively, as well a number of other functions. It covers the areas of virtual memory, virtual addressing, paging and user modes as well as other relevant issues related to these areas. The main focus is on the issues regarding paging and how that fits into the operating system.

Outline
Introduction
What is an Operating System?
Windows NT Design Goals
Main Features of Windows NT
Virtual Memory
Virtual Addressing
Memory Management
Paging
Working Sets
Page Table
Translation Lookaside Buffer
Policies
Page Frame Database
User Modes
Section Objects, Views and Mapped Files
Memory Protection
Summary
Bibliography

From the Paper
"Modern personal computers are multi-user, multitasking systems. A user is no longer forced to wait for a given process to complete before attempting to start the next process. With the introduction of time slicing, the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of the computer can have its time divided up and shared between numbers of different processes. However the concept of multitasking brings with it the problems associated with managing the computer's memory. The operating system, in the case of this report, Microsoft Windows NT has the responsibility of distributing the available memory between applications or processes effectively, as well a number of other functions."

Tags:buffer, frame, lookaside, management, page, paging, policy, table, translation

Abstract
This paper looks at Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks and switches including the problems associated with the old existing networks and the introduction of Broadband Integrated Networks. The paper also compares ATM networks with the traditional circuit and packet switching systems as well as discussing different categories of ATM switches and buffering schemes.
Outline
Origins of ATM
Evolution to a Broadband Integrated Network
Service Characteristics
Information Rate and Burstiness
Service Examples
Transfer Modes
Extreme Transfer Modes
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
Benefits of ATM
ATM Cell Structure
Cell Size
BISDN Protocol Stack
Transmission Delay
Header Functionality
Virtual Paths
Statistical Multiplexing
Making an ATM Call
ATM Switching
Classification of Switch Fabrics
Time Division Switch Fabrics
Shared Medium Single Bus Structure
Space Division Fabrics
Single Path Self Routing Switch
Switch Problems
Buffering

From the Paper
"Asynchronous Transfer Mode is a digital technique for high speed switching. The unit of multiplexing and switching is a cell which comprises a short fixed length information packet with a fixed length header to carry signaling information. By offering access at the cell level, information from many sources with widely differing activity patterns and transmission rates can be interleaved on a single transmission link or switched through an ATM node. As in other packet switching environments capacity is used only when it is needed."

Tags:bisdn, broadband, integrated, isdn, modes, multiplexing, packet, paths, recirculation

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that information technology plays a major role in every business, ranging from a small corner shop to a large multinational organization, as it can be an important source of competitive advantage. This essay is based on a hypothetical scenario concerning a newly-established business, making and selling greeting cards to specialist shops and retailers but not directly to the public. The writer discusses how information technology can improve the way in which the business operates. The writer then suggests a new vision and mission statement and discusses any changes that will be required to the IT system following a change in the business's strategy to begin selling greeting cards directly to the public.

Outline:
Introduction
Task 1 - Using IT to Improve Business Operations
Task 2 - Selling Greeting Cards Directly to the Public. New Vision and Mission Statement and Changes to IT System
Conclusion
References
Appendix

From the Paper
"When starting a business, the establishment of organizational objectives and strategy to be followed is critical in order to gain competitive advantage. The IS strategy should be designed to reinforce the organization's overall business strategy, in this case, to only sell our products to specialist shops and retailers. In preparing a practical strategy four elements must be considered: the business vision, Information Technology, key people, and application systems. To establish sound objectives and an appropriate strategy, the external, as well as the internal factors that can influence a firm's operations have to be identified. These can be determined by conducting PESTLE and SWOT analysis. Moreover, Porter's Five Forces Model developed in 1980 sets out to identify the factors that can influence an organization's competitiveness."

Tags:storing, communicating, application, systems

Abstract
This paper looks at how for the past few years computer scientists, in particular those concerned with research, have been fascinated by the interaction of social insects and the way in which a community of simple single individuals can come together to perform complex tasks. It analyzes how ants, termites and bees are all simple individuals and how in order to survive the form complex communities they interact to complete certain tasks. It describes how these interactions can be useful in providing new ways of solving such computing issues as routing, robotics and security. It shows how as networks and datasets continue to increase in the future, many current systems will simply be unable to cope with the strain and demand and how swarm intelligence offers a novel way to produce low cost, easy to understand and scaleable agents and applications for the future.

From the Paper
"One of the most influential figures in the study of this behavior was the French biologist Pierre-Paul Grass. In 1959 he observed the behavior of nest building in termites and discovered the incredible way in which they achieve this complex task by working together. When termites start nest construction hundreds of individuals move around at random. At first each termite starts to drop small pellets of masticated earth which are infused with pheromones, these form slight elevations in the ground. As time goes on another termite will find these elevations by sensing the pheromones and its behavior will change, it will start to place pellets on top of these elevations. As more and more individuals start to do this a column will begin to form until it reaches a specific height."

Tags:ants, bees, networks, recurity, robots, routing, termites

Abstract
A router is used to manage network traffic and to find the best route for packets to be sent. This paper discusses the algorithms available in order to find the best route to destination for these packets in the network environment. The two main algorithms are "Global routing algorithms" and "Decentralized routing algorithms". The paper evaluates in detail these two methodologies together with their bottlenecks and illustrates examples with diagrams, graphs, tables and code.

From the Paper
"In this step, routers should choose the best route for packets to every node. They do it by using an algorithm such as "Dijkstra Shortest Path Algorithm". In this algorithm, router, based on information that has been collected from other routers, build a graph of network. This graph shows the location of routers in network and their links. Also every link will be labeled with a number that is called weight of link and is also known as cost of link. This number is a function of delay time, average traffic and sometimes simply, it is the number of hops between nodes. For example if there were two links between a node to destination, the router chooses the link with the least weight."

Tags:computer, decentralized, dijkstra, graph, table, vector, cluster