• A single trainer solution for training in various types of networks
• An instrument for structuring training courses in networking
• For facilitating development projects in networks

• Students at B.Tech/B.S. & M.S. levels in engineering/technical institutes (CS & EE)
• Technical training centres in network organisations
• R&D personnel and practicing engineers in research labs and industry

• In-depth exposure to networking concepts
• Experimentation through programming in several protocols and network layers

The Benchmark LAN-T has been designed so that its experiments reinforce the theory covered in lectures, while hands-on programming exercises train users to fit into networking positions in industry. Moreover, the Trainer can also be used for projects involving many layers of networking hierarchy.

In short, the Benchmark LAN-T's versatility, expandability and cost-effectiveness makes it the perfect solution for all LAN trainer needs. The following will help to illustrate the reasons why...

With just a minimal investment in a single trainer and 2-3 PCs, users can obtain hands-on experience with a wide variety of different network topologies and protocols, including all the popular ones such as CSMA/CD (Ethernet) and token passing (Arcnet, Token Ring).

• User configurable data rates
• Generation of bit errors and frame errors between nodes
• Variable network size
• User configurable delays between nodes
• ALOHA, CSMA, CSMA/CD, Token Bus, Token Ring, Star, Stop-and-Wait and various window protocols for reliable data transfer

The Benchmark LAN-T's NEU emulates 6 nodes, which can be configured to Bus, Star or Ring topologies. It also has error generators and delay generators between nodes. Each NIU card emulates 2 independent nodes supporting various MAC layers, on a single PC. The system scales up to emulate larger networks by adding on more NEUs, NIUs and PCs.

The Benchmark LAN-T LAN Trainer consists of a Network Emulator Unit (NEU) with PC plug-in Network Interface Units (NIU) and Windows 98SE and/or Windows 2000 based experiment software. The software contains a series of experiments in the form of stand-alone applications, 'C' source code for the experiments, and a 'C' library to access the NIU. The source code provides better understanding of the experiments, while the library allows users to program new experiments, modify existing experiments, and try out various network layers and protocols.

Comprehensive set of experiments to observe and measure the behaviour of several LAN protocols:

1.MAC Layer: ALOHA, CSMA, CSMA/CD, CSMA/CA, Token Bus, Token Ring, Star

2.Data Link Layers: Stop-and-Wait, Sliding Window – Go-Back-N and Sliding Window – Selective-Repeat

• User configurable data rates – 8, 16, 32, 64,128, 256, 512 Kbps, 1Mbps
• Generation of Bit errors and Frame errors between nodes – up to 10-6
• Variable network size – upto six nodes with each NEU. NEUs can be cascaded to increase the network size
• Emulation of two nodes by each PC . Halves the number of PCs required
• User configurable delays between nodes – emulates the propagation delay in real networks
• Allows experimentation using the software provided; source code included for better understanding. Allows programming all experiments from scratch using the library, for more in-depth exposure
• Menu driven user interface to experiments
• Comprehensive manual – suitable for both lab instruction as well as self-study, requiring minimal involvement on the part of the lab staff

Observation and measurement of behaviour of various network protocols. Step-by-Step instructions given in manual under "Trying it out" section.

• ALOHA: Exposure to multiple access to a shared medium, throughput vs offered load
• CSMA: Throughput vs offered load for various node distances in the form of bit delays
• CSMA/CD: Throughput vs offered load, packet delay vs throughput at various loads
• Token-Passing BUS: Demand assignment when compared to random access protocols, packet delay vs throughput – comparison with CSMA/CD
• CSMA/CA: DCF mode operation – Throughput vs offered load – comparison with CSMA/CD performance

• Token Ring: Throuhgput vs average packet delay at various loads and timeout values, performance comparison with CSMA/CD

• Stop-and-Wait: Throughput vs BER for different packet lengths and timeout values
• Sliding Window – Go-Back-N: Pipelining concept – throughput vs BER for different packet lengths and timeout values – comparison with Stop-and-Wait
• Sliding Window – Selective-Repeat: Pipelining with selective re-transmissions concept – throughput vs BER for different packet lengths and timeout values – comparison with Go-Back-N

• Distance Vector routing: Hop-by-hop routing, routing table updation, count-to-infinity problem exposure
• Link State routing: Routing table updation, effect of shortest path algorithm, comparison with DV routing

• File transfer using sockets: TCP connection establishment, session management

• Data protection: RC4 symmetric stream cipher-key generation, encryption-decryption steps
• Network threat: Sniffing of raw data and encrypted data in a LAN

• ALOHA, CSMA, CSMA/CD, Stop & Wait and Sliding Window GBN protocols performance in STAR topology
• Switching in LAN: Switching at Layer 2, self-learning using Baran's backward learning algorithm

• CSMA/CA – PCF mode
• CSMA/CA – Ad-hoc network
• Sliding Window – Jumping Window
• Routing in a Mesh WAN
• Network Management
• Spoofing in a LAN