You have been hired to consult with a local architecture firm and suggest improvements t...

You have been hired to consult with a local architecture firm and suggest improvements to update its LAN. The firm’s staff of 35 full-time and 8 part-time employees hasn’t had time to pay attention to the network, which was set up many years ago by another consultant. Currently, the LAN consists of 30 desktop PCs, 8 laptops, and some peripherals, such as printers. Employees use their laptops at home as well as at the firm, so they have been configured for use with broadband Internet connections. At the firm, a router connects the LAN to a local ISP through a T1 link. Connected to the router are five switches positioned at different locations around the building. Each network client connects to its nearest switch. Every client is assigned a static IP address based on the group of addresses the firm leases from its ISP. Not surprisingly, staff have reported frustrations with maintaining this setup and worry about whether it will allow them to increase the size of their network. What steps do you take to simplify the firm’s client IP assignment process? What measures will help conserve IP addresses as the firm grows? Draw a simple network diagram that includes the firm’s LAN clients, its existing connection to the Internet, and all necessary connectivity hardware to implement your suggestions.