PROCUREMENT GUIDE FOR PCs, LAPTOPS AND LAN

PROCUREMENT GUIDE FOR PCs, LAPTOPS AND LAN INSTALLATION IN
THE GOVERNMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 4
1. PERSONAL COMPUTERS (PC) ............................................................................................................... 4
2. LAPTOPS ............................................................................................................................................ 12
2.1 Weight............................................................................................................................................ 12
2.2 Budget ............................................................................................................................................ 12
2.3 Warranty ........................................................................................................................................ 12
2.4 Laptop size ..................................................................................................................................... 13
2.5 Screen dimensions ......................................................................................................................... 13
2.6 Main memory or Random Access Memory (RAM) ........................................................................ 13
2.7 Processor........................................................................................................................................ 14
2.8 Typical key specifications for laptops ............................................................................................ 17
2.8.1 Mainstream laptops ................................................................................................................ 17
2.8.2 Mini Laptops or Netbooks ....................................................................................................... 17
2.8.3 Lightweight.............................................................................................................................. 18
2.8.4 Desktop replacement .............................................................................................................. 19
2.8.5 MacBook ................................................................................................................................. 19
2.8.6 Tablet PCs................................................................................................................................ 20
3. LAN INSTALLATION (DATA AND ELECTRICITY EQUIPMENT) .............................................................. 21
3.1 LAN INSTALLATION – DATA NETWORK TRUNKING ............................................................... 21
3.1.1 General appearance ................................................................................................................ 21
3.1.2 Equipments ............................................................................................................................. 21
3.2 NETWORK RACKS ........................................................................................................................ 22
3.2.1
Wall mounted racks ......................................................................................................... 23
3.2.2
Floor Standing Network/Server Racks ................................................................................ 23
3.2.3
Accessories for network Racks ............................................................................................ 24
3.3 PATCH PANELS ............................................................................................................................. 24
3.4 ACTIVE COMPONENTS ................................................................................................................... 25
3.4.1
Switches ........................................................................................................................... 25
3.4.2
Routers ............................................................................................................................. 27
3.1 LAN INSTALLATION – ELECTRICITY ......................................................................................... 30
0. INTRODUCTION
This document discusses general issues related to preparation of technical specifications for frequently
acquired IT equipment across the government. This guideline is meant for local ICT officers who can
read through different options and adjust given specifications according to the needs of their
institutions.
1. PERSONAL COMPUTERS (PC)
To purchase a PC one needs to keep in mind that:
-PC prices keep dropping, more and more are being manufactured each day. Economies of scale come
into play
-PC Specifications keep getting better, as technologies keep improving
-Blindly going in for super specs isn't the smartest thing to do! Always buy a PC which meets your
requirements.
-Determine your minimum CPU requirements based on what software you will be using and what the
minimum requirements of that software are. Most new computers are capable of handling common
software tasks such as email, web browsing, word processing, and spreadsheets. Non-standard software
may require you to increase your minimum requirements.
-Research computers in your price range that meet or exceed your minimum requirements.
-Choose a model balancing value and performance. The model you select should last three to five
years. Bottom-of-the-line models may become obsolete fast, and top-of-the-line models are usually
much more expensive for little performance over lesser models.
-Make sure you get enough memory. Today's general purpose computers come standard with 2-4GB.
Consider additional memory based on the applications you will be using.
-Make sure you have enough storage. For most business use, where data is stored on a separate server,
most standard hard drives provide adequate space for your operating system, applications and common
work related data and documents. But to accommodate files such as digital photos, music, videos, extra
money can be spent on hard drive additional space.
-Select a monitor based on your preference and comfort. Be aware that flat LCD displays look their best
when operating at their maximum/native resolution. Look for a ratio of the resolution to size of screen
that displays text and icons at a size that you are comfortable with. LCDs can look blurry when operated
at lower-than-native resolutions.
-Select a video card based on your desired application use and Operating System (OS). Consider
purchasing a more powerful video card; especially if the intended use is to run 3D applications such as
CAD or other video and image editing software.
Following are standard specifications for a decent every day PCs. In the last column more details are given for each described item along
with other options.
Personal Computer (PC)
Service
Standard / Indicator
Motherboard form factor
Motherboard’s FSB speed (Front
Side Bus)
ATX
 1GHz
Number of CPU’s
 2 cores
CPU Clock Speed
CPU Word Length
 2.4 GHz
 32 bits
Description
The motherboard's FSB (Front Side Bus) speed is an important indicator of a
Computer's speed. It is a bi-directional bus (i.e., interface) that carries all
electronic signals to and from the CPU to the components - Hard Disk, Main
Memory, etc. The faster the FSB, the faster your Computer! Today's fastest
FSBs come at speeds above 1 GHz!
Intel and AMD used to raise the performance of their CPUs by raising the
frequency but eventually, they both hit a speed wall, making it very difficult
to go beyond a certain speed. So they decided to put multiple CPU cores on
a single chip. So, the rule of thumb is that the more cores, the better, but
more cores will increase power consumption too. Sometimes, less cores, but
higher frequency, is the best solution.

32-bit desktop systems can have up to 4GB of RAM. This limitation can be
lifted by switching to a 64-bit processor. But real benefits of 64-bit
processors are seen with more demanding applications such as video
encoding, scientific research, searching massive databases; tasks where
massive amounts of data need to be loaded into the system's memory.
Personal Computer (PC)
Service
Cache Memory (Level 2)
Standard / Indicator
 4 MB
RAM Capacity
 2 GB
RAM Speed
 700 MHz
Description
The cache memory is a smaller, faster memory which stores copies of the
data from the most frequently used main memory locations. There are three
different levels of cache. These levels are dependent on where the cache is
located. Cache memory directly built into the CPU is considered to be Level 1
(L1) cache. Level 2 (L2) and level 3 (L3) are cache memories placed onto
separate chips next to the CPU. Standard PCs have processors with L1 and L2
cache. Level 3 (L3) cache memories are basically used for special server
applications
The more memory you have, the more applications you can run and the
faster you can run them. How much memory you have is measured in MBs or
GBs. If all you run are simple applications (e-Mail, Browser, Word Processor,
etc.), even 512 MB Memory is decent. However, if you run larger
applications (like Design, Mathematical/ Engineering/ Statistical applications
or video/image editing); you will need at least 2 GB Memory. Today's
computers come with 2, 3, even 4 GB Memory!
The higher the speed (Memory speed is internally measured in nanoseconds,
and the speed it communicates to the FSB with is measured in MHz or GHz)
of the Memory, the faster your computer. For current Memory technologies
speeds are 667 MHz to 1 GHz and above. Theoretically the DDR3 SDRAM,
could transfer data at the effective clock rate of 800–1600 MHz (using both
edges of a 400–800 MHz I/O clock), compared to DDR2's range of effective
400–800 MHz (200–400 MHz I/O clock) or DDR's range of 200–400 MHz
(100–200 MHz I/O clock).
Personal Computer (PC)
Service
RAM Expansion Capacity
Standard / Indicator
 4 GB
Disk Storage (minimum)
 250 GB , SATA, 7200 RPM
Description
The older systems use SDRAM (Synchronous dynamic random access memory is
dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus), while
current systems use DDR2 or DDR3 SDRAM (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic
Random Access Memory). Depending on the motherboard you need to select the
matching compatible memory. It is recommended to get the highest memory speed
the motherboard supports if the maximum performance is needed. DDR-2 memory
must be run in pairs to run at double data rate. So to get 2GB of memory, you need to
buy 2 x 1GB modules. It is also best to get both pairs of memory from the same
manufacturer to avoid incompatibility. DDR3 is an evolutionary step beyond DDR2
and operates at lower voltages, thereby consuming less power, and can transfer
data at rates up to 12.8 GB per second. Typically, DDR3 based systems can address
memory modules in banks of 1, 2 or 3. In general motherboards are built to support
only one type of memory. You cannot mix and match SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, or DDR3
memory on the same motherboard in any system. They will not function and will not
even fit in the same sockets. 
o PCs currently come with at least 250 GB which is far more space than
o
o
one needs for an operating system, applications, and several years'
worth of typical documents. Capacity matters most to people who
archive or edit digital photos, digital audio, or digital video.
Nearly all new PCs come with SATA interfaces SATA interface, which
support transfer rates of either 150MB or 300MB per second but
PATA drives, which support transfer rates up to 100MB per second
or 133MB per second, are still available.
On average the rotational speed of 7200 rpm is decent, typically the
faster the disks spin, the faster the data is read and written.
Personal Computer (PC)
Service
USB ports
Expansion Slots
Standard / Indicator
 6, USB 2.0
o
o
o
PCI slots
1 PCIe
DIMM slots
Description
o
Here are some common computer accessories and peripherals that
can be attached to a PC via USB ports: Keyboard, mouse, USB flash
drive, webcam, printer, external HDD. Since everything cannot be
directly connected to the PC at the same time, 6 USB ports are
largely enough.
o The newer USB 2.0 specification supports USB 1.1 speeds and can
move data at its native 480 Mbps speed. The older USB 1.1 only
supports data transfer rates from 1.5 Mbps to 12 Mbps.
Computer expansion slots are interfaces that allow new hardware devices to
plug into a motherboard and be used by a computer in addition to its
original hardware. Today’s PCs come with following slots:
o
o
o
o
Network Interface Card or
Integrated Supported
32 bit IEEE 802.3 Ethernet
compatible 10M/100M autosensing, RJ45 Interface, PCI BUS
PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect or PCI is a standard type of
expansion slot found in most modern computers (many computers
have several PCI slots). PCI can be used to connect hardware, such as
network cards, sound cards and modems, to a motherboard.
PCIE: Peripheral Component Interconnect Express or PCIe is a faster
version of the PCI expansion bay that is commonly used to connect
high-powered video cards.
AGP: Accelerated Graphics Port or AGP is a type of expansion slot
used only for graphics display adapters. PCIe has replaced AGP in
many new computers.
RAM Slots: Most computers have two to four slots that can house
random access memory or RAM modules. These slots are not always
considered expansion slots in the true sense because they do not
add new functionality to a computer. However, adding more RAM is
a common way to speed up a computer.
Personal Computer (PC)
Service
Monitor
Standard / Indicator
o Size: 17 inches
o Type : flat panel
o 1280 x 1024
Description
The decision about size comes down to the available space on the desk and
to the budget available. The bigger the size, the more costly the screen
becomes. 17 inch is a standard size for office use.
Currently manufacturers are only producing LCD screens, CRT screen are no
more the norm. There are many advantages to LCD displays, among them no
image flicker, sharper image, no glare, low electromagnetic emissions,
reduced energy consumption and, the most obvious, space efficiency. LCD
screens use a matrix of pixels to display images; it has a fixed (or "native")
resolution at which the display looks best. Most 17-, 18-, or 19-inch models
use a 1280-by-1024-pixel native resolution. So a particular LCD is a good
choice if its native resolution is one which fits all applications.
Optical drive
o Internal
o 20 X DL DVD writer
(DVD±RW)
o SATA interface
Internal drives are cheaper than external ones. Modern PCs requires a Serial
ATA (or SATA) internal drive. For external drives, interface must match
what's installed on the computer or for maximum flexibility a better choice is
a hard drive that supports both FireWire (IEEE 1394) and USB 2.0
LightScribe is a Hewlett-Packard (HP) technology for labeling CD and DVD
discs. This requires CD or DVD discs that are specially coated on the non-data
side to work with the LightScribe drives and a special LightScribe software to
be installed. 
Graphics and Sound
Built-in
All motherboards today come with built-in Graphics and Sound. This was not the
case earlier. However, the Graphics and Sound that is built into the motherboard is
very basic. Most of the graphics-intensive programs - AutoCAD, Corel DRAW and the
like, would run much faster with an add-on Graphics card with dedicated memory. So
if you plan to run more than Word processor, e-Mail, Browser and such stuff, a
dedicated Graphics Card such as NVidia or Radeon, with 512 MB or even 1 GB of
dedicated Video RAM is a must! The same applies for sound , if you are into music
editing/ making movies/ audio CDs/ DVDs on your computer, you must go in for a
dedicated Sound Card.
Personal Computer (PC)
Service
Mouse
Keyboard
Standard / Indicator
Optical Wheel 2 Buttons PS/2 Type
Description
USB Enhanced, QWERTY keyboard
Systems Management (minimum)
DMI 2.0
ACPI compliant
Standard keyboards are designed in two basic arrangements of symbols keys. In
western countries the standard used is the QWERTY keyboard in reference to the
first six alphabetic keys in the top. The second type is AZERTY with a different
arrangement of symbols keys; this keyboard is also known as French keyboard.
The Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI) specification allows an
operating system to communicate with, and to control the power distribution to
peripherals, such as hard drives. ACPI allows the operating system to communicate
with the computer's BIOS and instruct the BIOS to power down peripherals. For
example, when your computer goes into hibernation mode, the operating system is
using the ACPI specification to control the power to the internal components.
The Desktop Management Interface (DMI) is an industry framework for managing
and keeping track of hardware and software components in a system of personal
computers from a central location. DMI is designed to be platform -independent and
operating system -independent so that programs can make the same function calls
to collect information no matter what system they're running in.
OS Support
PCs should be pre-configured (OEM)
with a licensed most recent version of
Windows (Windows 7).
2. LAPTOPS
Laptops come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, each with its own set of pros and cons. While the smallest
laptops are the most portable, they also have smaller keyboards and displays, fewer features, and
slower performance than their bulkier brethren. Conversely, more full-featured laptops are generally
more difficult to carry and take up more space on your desk and in your bag. Until perfect laptops are
made, one needs to sacrifice something. The choice is based on what's most important to you:
computing power, a complete set of features, long battery life, good looks, a small form factor, or a low
price.
A common mistake is to spend money at the most expensive laptop, thinking it will answer all questions
and give plenty of future-proofing.
The truth is, in six months' time a new technology comes along that and overshadows your current
choice. It does not mean the laptop is immediately redundant, but there should be a careful
consideration of both current needs and future needs. The notion that a computer should last at least
three years holds true for laptops so you should consider what you’re likely to need the laptop for in the
next three years and choose accordingly.
2.1 Weight
A laptop may be a computer, but it’s portable, so the first thing you need to consider is how portable
you want it to be. After all, you don’t want to buy a hulking desktop replacement if you have to carry it
around every day. Nor do you need to spend more than you have to on a slim and light laptop when it
will never leave your desk. It’s a good rule of thumb that the larger the machine, the more powerful it is
likely to be. This isn’t strictly true, as you can get powerful ultra-portables, but you would pay a
premium price for them. If the intent is to use the laptop strictly within the office, the choice would be a
machine that weighs around 3kg. If the laptop is going to be carried around all day, a better choice
would be a laptop weighing less than 2.5kg
2.2 Budget
It is important to have a maximum price in mind. It always is easy to be carried away and opt for a faster
processor and very good looking laptops when you get several offers; you need to have in mind the
implication on the final cost? Once again, think what you’ll use the laptop for and choose a specification
accordingly.
2.3 Warranty
In general the more you pay for warranty the more benefits you get in return. There is as wide a range
of warranties. Legally, the standard warranty lasts for one year but, increasingly, vendors are starting to
offer two and even three-year warranties as standard, extending the protection of your machine.
Before buying laptops it’s worth considering the issue of warranty, as it can save money in the long run.
If the basic warranty is only for a year, it’s common to extend this, but it’s worth looking at the overall
cost. If the laptops are cheap it is not wise spending more to cover the cost when it would be just as
economical to buy a new one. If the laptop is vital for the work, then it is advisable to look into those
warranties where an engineer will come to you, rather than you sending your laptop away to be
repaired. Such warranties aren’t cheap and will vary depending on your needs. A better option would be
to opt a policy that offers a free replacement laptop while yours is being taken care of.
2.4 Laptop size
The size of screen you choose for your laptop will often dictate the overall size and weight of the
machine. It is important to think how you are most likely to use your laptop. After all, opting for a 17inch laptop when you plan to carry it around with you will soon be a burden. Likewise, paying extra for
an ultraportable that will never leave your desk is a false economy. Screen sizes are changing all the time
but the most common is the 15.4-inch widescreen panel, as it's a great compromise between portability
and usability. Such machines usually weigh around 3kg. There are a variety of panel sizes starting at 7
inches to 12.1 inches for netbooks and around 10.6 inches up to 20.1 inches for fully-fledged laptops.
2.5 Screen dimensions
16:9 aspect ratio
Better known as true widescreen, these panels are squat but wider, so you can get view more
information on them. This aspect ratio is perfect for work, but - more importantly - ideal for watching
videos.
16:10 aspect ratio
This widescreen ratio used to be the most common, but it's increasingly being replaced by true
widescreen 16:9 panels.
4:3 aspect ratio
This is a square display and can be found on cheaper, standard TFT machines, although many are now
switching to widescreen.
2.6 Main memory or Random Access Memory (RAM)
Memory requirements
The more memory in a laptop PC the better but there are other concerns regarding memory in laptops.
Laptops are generally more restricted in the amount of memory that can be installed into a system. The
rule of thumb to determine the size of required RAM is to look at the requirements of the software
intended to be installed. For each of applications and OS, one needs to look at both the "minimum" and
"recommended" requirements. Typically you want to have more RAM than the minimum and ideally at
least as much as the listed recommended requirement.
Memory and Operating system
It is always advisable to go for 64-bit Windows 7, so that the laptop can support 4GB or more of
memory. Regular 32-bit operating systems will not recognize more than about 3.5GB of memory. All the
latest versions of Mac OS X support 64-bit. However the 64-bit OS version requires 64-bit device drivers
for hardware such as printers, graphics cards etc. 32-bit drivers cannot be used on a 64-bit version of
Windows. For Windows XP systems a 1GB RAM is still adequate.
Shared memory
"Shared memory" means the machine has integrated graphic card on board that uses main memory for
the display for all its graphic process. That is to say video card uses system memory. When buying
laptop, one should be careful especially when the machine is intended for graphic programs like
Photoshop, 3D Max and other memory intensive applications. When the laptop is using shared memory;
this won't meet expectations. Sharing main memory with the display function reduces the amount of
memory available to applications, and main memory is not as fast as the specialized video memory on
stand-alone cards.
Memory upgrade
Laptops generally have two slots available for memory modules compared to four or more in desktop
systems. This means that they are more limited in the amount of memory available. With current
memory module technologies for DDR3, this restriction generally comes to 8GB of RAM in a laptop
based on 4GB modules. Older DDR2 memory can go up to 4GB using 2GB modules. Some ultraportable
systems are even fixed with one size of memory that cannot be changed at all. So looking for a laptop it
is important to fix what maximum memory it can support. This is generally listed by most of the
manufacturers. This will give indication as to what upgrade potential the system has. Next, is to know
how the memory configuration is. For example, a laptop that has 4GB of memory can be configured as
either a single 4GB module or two 2GB modules. The single memory module allows for better upgrade
potential because by adding another module you are gaining more memory without sacrificing any
current memory. Upgrading the two module situation with a 4GB upgrade would result in the loss of
one 2GB module and a total memory of 6GB.
2.7 Processor
Today, there are only two largest manufacturers of processors and they are Intel and AMD. These big
names have become synonymous with the laptop processors available today. Also there is a big
competition between AMD vs. Intel to improvise their individual products to the maximum, to reign
over the market. It therefore is important to do an Intel and AMD processor comparison, so as to get a
better understanding about what these two have to offer.
Intel is a big name today and it is clearly visible that Intel has dominated the market in the war between
AMD vs. Intel processors. And that is because of its high efficient products and the high sale figures.
However, it does not mean that AMD doesn’t do good business. Let’s do a comparison of Intel and AMD
processors.
High End Processors
Intel Core i7
AMD Phenom II X6
Intel Core i5
AMD Phenom II X4
Intel Core i3
AMD Phenom II X3 & X2
Mid-Range Processors
The Intel i7 offers 2, 4 or 6 core and
is of a 64-bit processor. It comes with
Hyper Threading and with Turbo
Boost Technology which increase the
overall performance and takes into
consideration number of active
cores,
power
consumption,
processor temperature etc. On the
other hand AMDs Phenom II X6 is its
first six-core processor, for optimized
and highest level of performance.
Intel’s Core i5 built on the same line
of that of Core i7, is one level down
of the Core i7. It is also a 64-bit
processor and of 2 or 4 core
capacity. The i5 also comes with
Hyper Threading and Turbo Boost
Technology, but has lesser cache
memory. AMD’s Phenom II X4 is
amongst the latest AMD processors.
It consists of quad-core Phenom II X6
chips which are built to exceptional
quality multimedia use and advanced
applications.
Intel’s Core i3 processor is relatively
an economical processor in its class.
It is one level down of the Core i5
processor. As compared to other
Core 2 processors, it of course has an
upper hand. It comes with Hyper
Threading, but does not include the
Turbo
Boost
technology.
Its
counterpart from AMD, the Phenom
II X3 & X2 is said to be of a 3 or 2
core capacity. It is a great value for
money
with
great
overall
performance and is very economical.
Intel Core 2 Duo
AMD Phenom I X3 & Phenom I X4
Intel Pentium Dual Core
AMD Turion II / Ultra
Basic Processors
Intel
Centrino/Centrino
Duo
AMD Sempron
Intel Atom
AMD Athlon Neo / Neo X2
Intel’s Core 2 Duo has the reputation
of being amongst the most sold
processors because of it efficiency
and value for money price tag. Its
efficiency lies in its two processing
cores which enhance the video,
gaming and image output. AMD’s
Phenom I X3 & X4 has on the other
hand the same performance. They
are triple and quad core processors
along
with
64-bit
computing
capabilities.
Intel’s Dual Core is a predecessor of
the Core 2 Duo chipset. It is based on
the Core micro-architecture. It offers
decent multimedia output. AMD’s
Turion II and Turion II Ultra did good
business for AMD, reason being their
excellent multimedia output as
compared to Dual Core as they
mostly come with AMD or ATI
graphics and are economically
priced.
Centrino processors from Intel were
the best for mobile-computing. Best
for small laptops within its class.
Equivalent to the Centrino from
Intel, the AMD Sempron processor is
found in few low budget laptops and
desktop. These processors are for
some basic computing uses like
internet browsing, basic office work,
email etc.
Most found in netbooks and nettops.
Intel’s Atom processor was designed
to keep in mind the power
consumption and the price. As
compared to other processors from
Intel, it has got lesser processing
power. It has been made for the
most basic computer use. Athlon
Neo and Neo X2 are equivalent to
the Atom processor which are found
in netbooks and nettops. Since they
integrate themselves with ATI
graphics, they also give decent
multimedia output.
A quick comparison between Intel and AMD processor shows you cannot absolutely say that Intel is
better than AMD or vice versa, each processor has definitely some better features than others.
Speed: Intel has released powerful processors like the i3, i5, and i7 processor family. If speed is really
your priority, then Intel would be your first choice.
Cost/Performance Ratio: Intel may have the advantage of speed but AMD does better when you
consider the speed together with the price. This means that for an AMD processor of the same price
with an Intel counterpart, AMD slightly outperform the Intel one.
Power Consumption Efficiency: Intel processors have more efficient cores. They consume less power.
Most netbooks uses the Intel Atom. Intel has provided better technology when it comes to power
efficiency. This means that for laptops and netbooks, Intel processor uses less battery power. This would
translate to longer usage before recharging. A processor's TDP (Thermal Design Power) expresses the
amount of heat its cooling system is required to dissipate. The lower the TDP, the cooler the CPU runs.
2.8 Typical key specifications for laptops
2.8.1 Mainstream laptops
These are everyday laptops falling into the category of broad middle laptops in terms of weight, screen
size, technology, and price. They have enough capacity to do almost any task, but are too heavy and too
short on battery life to make great travel laptops.
Key Characteristics:
Screen size
Weight
Processor
RAM
Hard drive
Video memory
Optical drive
Battery
15.6-inch to 18.4-inch
2.3 Kg upward
Intel® or AMD Dual-Core™
processors
2GB to 6GB DDR3 SDRAM
250GB to 640GB
Shared or dedicated video
memory
Built-in DVD burner
Up to 5-hour battery life
2.8.2 Mini Laptops or Netbooks
These laptops are similar to the above standard laptop, but are much smaller in size. Netbooks are
primarily designed to allow users to do light tasks such surfing the internet, checking email or basic
office tasks like using Microsoft Office. Netbooks are the thinnest and lightest laptops, weighing less
than three pounds and measuring about one inch thick. Netbooks have small but bright screens and a
battery life rating of up to 8-hour depending on selected models. They have no optical drive (although
you can add an external one).
Key Characteristics:
Screen size
Weight
Processor
RAM
Hard drive
Optical drive
Battery
10.1- inch
Around 1.2 Kg
Intel® Atom™ processor
or AMD Dual-Core™ processors
1GB DDR2 SDRAM
200GB
No optical drive
Up to 8-hour battery life
2.8.3 Lightweight
Sometimes referred to as ultraportable or ultrathin, the lightweight laptop is twice the size of a netbook,
yet it still feels light and easy to carry. This category offers a perfect balance of performance and
portability, especially for frequent flyers. These models are plenty fast for most types of work and have a
mid-size screen that's comfortable to work on. Most even have built-in DVD burners, which netbooks do
not. This category can be expensive if you order the biggest hard drive or fastest processor available.
Screen size
Weight
Processor
RAM
Hard drive
Video memory
Optical drive
Battery
13.3- to 14-inch
Around 1.45 Kg
Dual to quad-core processors
2GB to 4GB DDR3
250 GB or bigger hard drive /128
GB solid-state drive
Shared video memory
Built-in optical drive
Up to 8-hour battery life
2.8.4 Desktop replacement
The largest and heaviest type of laptop, desktop replacements are designed to deliver the same power
and features as desktop PCs. Too bulky as compared to other types of laptops , desktop replacements
typically offer the best performance, the largest screens and keyboards, and the most complete set of
features available on a laptop. These systems can deliver enough computing muscle for serious gaming,
multimedia authoring, and even high-level digital audio and video work.
Screen size
Weight
Processor
RAM
Hard drive
Video memory
Optical drive
Battery
The screen size of choice for
desktop replacements is 17.3
inches but there are smaller
models with 15- to 16-inch screens
and larger ones with 18.4-inch.
Around 2.72 Kg
Dual to quad-core processors
4 GB to 16 GB DDR3
500 GB to 1000 GB
1 GB to 3 GB dedicated video
memory
Built-in optical drive / Blu-ray
player
Around 3-hour battery life
2.8.5 MacBook
The MacBook is probably one of Apple’s most famous and popular creations. This laptop is highly
popular with business users as well as the younger generation. One downfall is the price of the product
itself, although you can get cheaper models of MacBook. Macs and PCs are very similar, but have
important differences as well. A quick comparison between Mac and PCs shows that MacBook are
natively faster as they are all 64 bit operating systems with more than enough RAM, they are also a bit
more a simplistic (visual) approach, which saves up memory. Windows is offered in both 32 and 64 bit,
and is more a resource hog. Security wise also Mac is, historically, more secure, though Windows 7 so
far has no known, unpatched exploits and is remarkably secure finally Mac OS X is also considered one
of the most user friendly and easy to use operating systems that exists.
2.8.6 Tablet PCs
A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or
personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the
screen. It often uses an onscreen virtual keyboard or a digital pen rather than a physical keyboard.
Tablet PCs combine all the features of a Windows notebook PC and provide the added power of a digital
pen. Apple first brought the tablet into the limelight with their iPad, and more recently, the iPad 2.
These touch screen pads are exactly like a laptop, except for the fact that they are touch screen and
highly portable. Using a tablet PC, you can write directly on the screen with the stylus, then save and
print these notes in your own handwriting, or use resident software to convert the notes to text for
integration into other applications. Tablet PCs also come with speech recognition software, allowing
verbal dictation and vocal program control.
3. LAN INSTALLATION (DATA AND ELECTRICITY EQUIPMENT)
LAN installation task involves the installation of network equipment (active and passive) and the
installation of related electrical equipment. These installations must be carried out hand in hand as the
same trunking should have both the electrical and data cabling.
It is also imperative to standardize the LAN layout as once it is installed it is troublesome and cost
ineffective to try to alter it or add some components later on. It sometimes amounts to removing the
entire trunking and doing a fresh installation. Cables and PVC trunking used must follow standard sizes
and be of good quality.
Following are specifications for the main components, some accessories and consumables (Screws, Wall
Plugs, Cable Ties; Labels) are not mentioned as they don’t have a direct impact on the quality of the
installed LAN moreover they are assumed to inevitably be taken into consideration by the supplier of
the service.
3.1 LAN INSTALLATION – DATA NETWORK TRUNKING
3.1.1 General appearance
Trunkings should bear labels on data socket outlets which should have corresponding labels on the
patch panels for easy management and troubleshoot. These labels should also be in printed format.
Power socket outlets should be distinguished by different colors for main power and UPS power.
Generally accepted and used colors are white for mains power faceplates and red for UPS power
faceplates.
3.1.2 Equipments
Trunkings have many components and for some it is necessary to decide on quantities and specifications
but for others it is a good practice to let bidders have their input during the site visit session. Only after
the site visit some quantities and lengths of cables can be defined.
Following are the most prominent equipment that needs to be taken into consideration while drafting
the TORs to be put in the tender document. Specifications that are listed in the below table are standard
specifications but for each detailed descriptions are made so as to adjust them according to
somebodies’ needs.
Below listed are data components for a generic LAN trunking across government’s LANs
ITEM
CAT 6 CABLE ROLL
SPECIFICATIONS
Gigabit Ethernet cable, UTP Cat 6
with at least 305 meters
Cable F/UTP 500Mhz, 4 pairs
CAT 6 PATCH CORDS
Patch cord, Cat 6, 3 meters
Patch cord , Cat 6, 1 meter
PVC TRUNKING
PVC PIPES
DUAL DATA SOCKETS
DESCRIPTIONS
These cable rolls are used for
data network cabling. Quantity
estimation is left to the supplier
of the service.
These cables are meant to
connect users’ PCs to the LAN’s
data outlets. Preferred colors can
be specified. Most frequent
colors are white, grey, orange,
blue and yellow
These cables are meant to
connect active devices like
switches and routers to the patch
panels in the racks.
PVC trunking (100x50) with
dividers, Flat Angles, End caps,
Internal
angles
and
other
accessories like screws and wall
plugs
PVC Pipe (40mm)
PVC Bend
Double Sockets for data with
snaping
supporting
Rj45
connectors
3.2 NETWORK RACKS
A Local Area Network (LAN) is comprised of multiple networking equipment and devices like network
switches, routers, Servers, patch panels, cables, modems, etc. These devices are generally kept inside a
network rack, which is a closed or open enclosure that can hold them. The size occupied by networking
hardware equipment follows certain industry standards so that they could fit in the network racks,
which too follow those standards. The common width of a network rack (and the networking
equipment) is 19″ (Inches) – most of the racks are made to accommodate any equipment that can fit in
to this space. Also, networking equipment has fixed heights that are mentioned in terms of Rack Units.
1 Rack Unit (RU) = 1.7 inches / 4.4 cm.
So, if networking equipment is specified as 2U, then it has a height of 3.4 inches (approximately). So, if
one has the sizes (In RU) of all networking equipment that needs to be placed in a rack, the required
height of the Rack (in RU) can be easily calculated as the sum of the heights of all the individual
equipment – generally slightly more than that, in order to accommodate the networking equipment
freely in the rack and also to provide for future expansion.
There are two types of network racks:
o
o
Wall Mounted Network Racks
Floor Standing Network/Server Racks
3.2.1 Wall mounted racks
-Wall Mounted Network Racks are useful for housing edge devices in individual departments with fewer
networking equipment.
-Common sizes: 6U, 9U, 12U, 15U.
-The front panel generally has a hardened glass door to view they equipment inside clearly and also has
a lock to ensure physical security.
-There are two common types of wall mounted racks:
Single Section Racks: which have one glass door in the front, that can be fully opened and the cable
entry/exit is via the holes in the top and bottom of the racks
Double Section Racks: which are like the single section racks but have an additional opening behind the
rack (actually, a rear panel is fixed to the wall, and the whole rack is fixed to one side of the rear panel
firmly, and can be turned front/ back to enable one to open and view the rear side of the rack).
-Network Racks are generally made up with steel body (sometimes with aluminum enclosures) with
powder coated paint finishes.
-Network Racks generally have provisions for ventilation in the top/bottom/sides through vents/ holes.
3.2.2
Floor Standing Network/Server Racks
-The Floor Standing racks are used to house both network as well as server equipment. These are
primarily used in data centers and other places with a large number of equipment.
-Most of the points that are applicable to the above wall mount racks are applicable to floor standing
server racks as well, except that these are bigger and kept on the floor (some might even have wheels
attached, to enable their movement).
-Common sizes: 24U, 30U, 36U, 42U, 45U.
-The whole front section generally comes with full length doors with hardened glass/ lock. Some might
even have rear doors.
-In addition to the normal cable managers, these floor standing racks also offer specialized channels for
electrical cabling, network cabling,…which ensures neat movement of cables in the rear end, along the
height of the racks.
-These racks can house more equipment and can handle loads of around 450-500 Kg.
-Floor mount racks are supplied either in CKD (Completely Knocked Down) condition where individual
components are shipped to the site and the rack itself is assembled in the site (or) is assembled in the
factory and shipped as a whole.
3.2.3
Accessories for network Racks
-Fan Housing Units: These are either mounted in the roof (or) in the side plate. Each unit generally
consists of 2/4/6 fans that are used for cooling the equipment inside the racks. Some vendors also
provide rack mounted fan housing trays that can be mounted along with other equipment in the rack to
provide cooling at specialized places.
-AC Distribution Box: Network racks generally consist of a lot of equipment that need AC power. It would
be inconvenient if each unit needs to be powered from an external source separately. So, an AC
distribution box is used inside the rack to give power to individual equipment using one or two power
lines from outside. The AC distribution box generally consists of 5 to 15 sockets (5A/15A).
-Cable Manager: A cable manager is generally an open conduit (with metal holdings) for passing
multiple cables across the horizontal section of the rack. This makes the cabling arrangement look neat
as well as prevent any excessive bending of the cables.
-Fixed/ Sliding Shelves: Not all the equipments that need to be kept in a network rack are rack
mountable. Some of them come in different shapes and sizes. So, a fixed shelf plate is inserted in to the
rack and these equipments are kept over it. For example, the standing desktop based servers can be
kept over the shelves. There are certain heavy duty shelves to accommodate higher weight equipments.
There are some sliding shelves which can be used to pull out equipments placed on them for say,
frequent servicing.
-Additional cable channels and conduits: enable easier and neat arrangements of cables.
-Modem holders: Some vendors provide special chassis type shelves in order to hold more number of
modems vertically, one next to another. Otherwise, they are kept horizontally and each shelf can hold
only a few of them, which results in inefficient usage of rack space.
3.3 PATCH PANELS
When building structured cabling systems, patch panels are used in racks and telecommunication
cabinets for cable mounting in order to provide a high-quality commutation. A separate patch panel port
is designated for each line. A patch panel is a block of jacks, the number of which corresponds to that of
ports. E.g., a block of 24 jacks is a 24-port panel. Patch panels differ in the number of ports, category and
mounting technique. By the number of ports, 12-, 24- and 48-port patch panels are most widely spread.
By the standards, category 5e and 6 patch panels are mostly used.
3.4 ACTIVE COMPONENTS
The most common active components are network switches and network routers
3.4.1 Switches
A network switch is a hardware device with various LAN ports that connects multiple computers and
network peripherals within a Local Area Network (LAN).
In order to create even a moderately sized computer network, a network switch is a required piece of
equipment but careful considerations must be made to choose the right switch (es) for a LAN.
Key things to consider include but are not limited to:
The number of users the network will have to support: If you only have 5 or 6 users, then a small 8-port
switch will probably be enough for your needs. Number of ports is one of the biggest factors in the cost
of a switch, so if you buy a switch that only supports the number of users that you will have, you will
likely save a fair amount of money. Common numbers of ports on Ethernet switches are 5, 8, 10, 24, and
48 ports.
The network needs of the users: Do users need a fast network with low latency, or do they need to
transfer large volumes of data? If so, then a switch supporting Gigabit Ethernet might be appropriate. If
the network is more for Internet and network resource access, 100 megabit ports probably will be
sufficient.
Role of the switch: If you are dealing with a large network, you may have one or more switches acting as
a core switches, these switches will need to be fast, and able to handle a fairly heavy traffic load.
Usually, a gigabit switch will work for a core switch. Access switches, where the individual users connect,
will probably be slower than a core switch would be. If you are just looking to connect a small number of
computers, a single access switch will be all that is necessary.
Vendor and/or company: Chances are that people do not directly buy from a manufacturer of network
switches; however you may prefer one brand over another. Popular brands of networking equipment
include Cisco, 3com, Linksys, and D-Link. For many people, price is a higher priority, but sometimes it
makes more sense to consider features over price. Companies like Linksys (a subsidiary of Cisco) and DLink make affordable, lower-end switches for homes and small businesses. These switches can work very
well for a small network, but they are often lacking the features found in more expensive switches.
3com offers moderately priced hardware in the medium range -- while their switches won't have the
features that Cisco switches will, they are more than adequate for a medium to medium-large network.
Cisco switches are top of the line, offering the most functionality, but with the highest price tag. Cisco
switches can also be very difficult to configure.
Layer 2 and 3 switching: You need to determine whether you need layer 2 or layer 3 switches. In the
ISO/OSI model, layer 2 is the Data Link layer where the source and destination terminals are identified
by MAC addresses in the network packet. Conversely, in the ISO/OSI model, layer 3 is the Network layer
where IP and routers also operate. As such, a layer 3 switch can perform routing functions since it can
make use of the IP information inside the packet. Layer 3 switches are significantly more expensive than
layer 2 units. For smaller networks that are centrally located and located in a single subnet, a layer 2
switch is more than sufficient. As networks begin to grow and users are broken out onto separate
subnets in order to improve network efficiency and provide better traffic flow, layer 3 switching/routing
becomes the better choice.
Size of the switch: There are basically two types of switch designs: “form factor” switches and “modular”
switches. Which you choose largely depends on the size of your network.
A form factor switch is generally an enclosed chassis with fairly limited upgrade capability, ranging
anywhere from a few ports up to 48 ports. Form factor switches are excellent choices for small
workgroups of up to 48 devices—including PCs, printers, Internet connections, and so on.
A modular switch, on the other hand, is an excellent choice for larger workgroups that require more
flexibility in their port configurations. A modular switch allows a “mix-and-match” approach to
determining port configuration since it’s essentially an empty chassis with slots for adapters.
Switching speed: The speeds at which a switch can process traffic coming in and send it back out. This is
not the same as the bandwidth or backplane speed. Switching speed is generally measured in millions of
packets per second—the higher the switching speed, the better.
Buffer size: Every switch has some sort of buffering mechanism. In most cases, either a fixed amount of
storage is dedicated to each port, or every port shares a common buffer storage area. The buffer size
can have a direct impact on the speed at which a switch can forward packets. A buffer that is too small
will cause a switch to throttle back traffic in an effort to control network congestion.
Management and monitoring capability: Most switches include some method for monitoring their
performance so that you can proactively manage situations that may arise. The two most common
methods are SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) and RMON (Remote MONitoring). SNMP
has been around for a long time and is easy to support. Almost every switch that has any kind of
management capability supports SNMP. Adding RMON capability to a switch greatly enhances
management ability.
POE support: Some switches support POE (Power over Ethernet) in some of its ports or all the ports so
that POE enabled devices like IP Phones, Wireless Access Points etc. can get both data and
power(electrical) through the same port/cable that they connect to the network switch.
Network switch_Specifications
RAM
Flash memory
Network ports
MAC Address Table Size
Authentication Method
Remote management protocols
Console port
Warranty
Minimum 64 MB
Minimum 32 MB
48 x Ethernet 10/100/1000
Mbps; PoE supported or
24 x Ethernet 10/100/1000
Mbps; PoE supported
Minimum 8K entries
RADIUS, TACACS+, Secure Shell
v.2 (SSH2)
SNMP 1, RMON 1, RMON 2,
RMON 3, RMON 9, Telnet, SNMP
3, SNMP 2c, HTTP, HTTPS, SSH-2
1
1 year warranty
3.4.2 Routers
A router in general forwards network traffic (data packets) among disparate networks. A router sits in
between two networks like LAN-LAN or LAN-WAN or LAN-Internet and connects users and devices of
one network to another. Router functions in the Layer-3 of the OSI model and some switches can play
the same role as a router.
CISCO routers are considered standard throughout government network and below are key features for
each type :
Cisco Carrier Routing System
(CRS) Series




Cisco ASR 1000 Series Routers



Offers industry-leading performance, advanced services
intelligence, environmentally aware design, and system longevity
Uses Cisco IOS XR Software, a unique self-healing, modular,
distributed operating system
Cisco CRS-3, powered by Cisco QuantumFlow Array, offers from a
single-chassis to a multichassis system up to 322 Tbps
Cisco CRS-1, built on Cisco Silicon Packet Processor, offers from a
single-chassis to a multishelf system up to 92 Tbps
Ideal for service providers and enterprises seeking leading
performance with compact form factor
Allows current and future services to be switched on instantly, at
line rate, without compromising network performance or
availability, using the Innovative Cisco Quantum Flow processor
Delivers highly secure, high-performance, and integrated
software-enabled services (no service blades required), including




Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series
Switches




Cisco 7600 Series Routers




Cisco 7200 Series Routers



Cisco 3900 Series Integrated
Services Router



multi-gigabit encryption, broadband, 20 and 40 Gbps firewall,
Network- Based Application Recognition (NBAR), Flexible Packet
Matching and session border control
Establishes new price and performance class for edge routers that
deliver service integration for personalized, residential "any play"
and complex business services
Provides powerful resiliency with convenient and cost-saving inservice software upgrade (ISSU) capability
Offers software redundancy on non-redundant hardware with ASR
1002 and ASR 1004 routers
Offers highly scalable, redundant hardware and 40 Gbps services
and interface processors in the ASR 1006 and ASR 1013 routers
Extends services from the campus to the WAN edge
Ideal for convergence of data center, campus, and WAN in a single
system
High-performance switching and full WAN functionality in one
chassis
End-to-end application intelligence and resilient WAN services
Ideal for enterprise wide-area or metropolitan-area network
aggregation or service-provider environments
Business-class security supports services modules including IPSec,
firewall, SSL VPN, and IPS
Supports up to four slots for redundant supervisors and line cards;
6-, 9-, and 13-slot chassis available
Support for up to 12 Shared Port Adapter (SPA) bays and SPA
Interface Processors (SIP) for intelligent services
Application versatility supports managed network services, WAN
and broadband aggregation, MPLS, VPN, QoS, and multiservice
environments
Business-class security includes stateful inspection firewall,
software and hardware VPN encryption, service-level validation
features, and intrusion detection
Multiservice data/voice features include analog and digital voice,
Survivable Remote Site Telephony, and multiservice interchange
(MIX)-enabled backplane
Delivers scalable rich-media services including TelePresence,
highest density of service virtualization, and lowest TCO with
energy efficiency
Ideal for high-end deployments requiring business continuity,
WAN flexibility, superior collaboration capabilities, and investment
protection
Field-upgradeable motherboard, circuit-speed WAN performance
up to 350 Mbps with services such as security, mobility, WAN

Cisco 3800 Series Integrated
Services Routers



Cisco 2900 Series Integrated
Services Router




Cisco 2800 Series Integrated
Services Routers



Cisco 1900 Series Integrated
Services Router




Cisco 1800 Series Integrated
Services Routers




optimization, unified communications, video, and customized
applications
3 RU modular form factor
Designed for medium-sized to large businesses and enterprise
branch offices
Wire-speed performance with services enabled at up to T3/E3
rates; increased services density for security, voice, caching, video,
network analysis, and L2
Security features include hardware-based VPN acceleration,
antivirus defense through Network Admission Control, IPS, and
SDM support
Provides rich-media services including TelePresence, service
virtualization, and lower TCO with energy efficiency
Ideal for mid-range deployments requiring business agility, WAN
flexibility, and secure collaboration
Circuit-speed WAN performance up to 75 Mbps with services such
as security, mobility, WAN optimization, unified communications,
video, and customized applications
1-2 RU modular form factor
Designed for small to medium-sized businesses and enterprise
branch offices
Wire-speed performance up to multiple T1/E1/ xDSL rates,
increased services density for security, voice, caching, video,
network analysis, and L2; and switching
Security features include hardware-based VPN acceleration
antivirus defense, IPS, and SDM support
Entry-level secure WAN deployments, offers service virtualization,
and low TCO
Ideal for small offices requiring modular flexibility for highly secure
mobility and customizable applications
Circuit-speed performance up to 25 Mbps with concurrent
services
Factory-selectable 802.11n access point and double-wide HWIC
support; desktop form factor
Designed for small to medium-sized businesses and small
enterprise branch offices
Available in both fixed and modular configurations
Wire-speed performance with secure data services enabled at up
to T1,E1, or xDSL rates
Business-class security with stateful firewall with URL filtering,
VPN 3DES encryption and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES),
Dynamic Multipoint VPN, IPS, and secure wireless LAN option

Secure WLAN option for simultaneous 802.11a and 802.11b/g
operation with use of multiple antennas
In the table below, standard specifications are listed for decent router to support LAN across
government networks.
Network Routers _specifications
RAM
Compact flash
LAN ports
Interface card slots
VPN hardware acceleration
Console port
Auxiliary port
Minimum 128 MB
Minimum 64 MB
2x 10/100 Mbps
4x (HWIC,WIC,VIC,VWIC)
DES, 3DES, AES 128, AES 192,
and AES 256
1
1
3.1 LAN INSTALLATION – ELECTRICITY
Following are common electrical components that are part of the LAN installation across the
government. It is advisable to adjust quantities required during the site visit when all bidders give their
opinions.
DUAL ELECTRICAL POWER
SOCKETS
MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER
-Double (Dual) Colored electrical
sockets
-French type(EU)
-Two pins with ground facility
-Standard: IS 13947 & IEC 947
-Circuit Breaker with 3 Phases + 4
ways
-Voltage Rating: 240/415 V
-Frequency: 50 Hz
-Breaking Capacity: 10 KA-25 KA
-Current Rating: 125 Amperes
-Additional Features:
o Quad-pole protection
DISTRIBUTION CIRCUIT BRAKER
MAIN POWER CABLE
DISTRIBUTION POWER CABLE
GROUNDING CABLE
ELECTRICAL POWER CABLE
MCB BOX FOR MAIN CIRCUIT
MCB BOX FOR DISTRIBUTION
CIRCUIT
o Low Impedance
o Low Power Loss
o Long Electrical Life
-Circuit breaker of 2 ways
-Voltage Rating: 240V
Power current of 25 Amperes
-Electrical hard wire
-Section of 4 x 16 sqm
Electrical hard wire
Section of 4 x 6 sqm per floor
-Electrical hard wire
- Cable section of 1 x 6 sqm
-VOB electrical cable roll of 2,5
sqm
-Metallic fuse box with 100A AC
current support
-AC frequency of 50/60Hz, rated
voltage 230/400V
-Fuse box of 12 ways
-AC current support up to 100A
-AC frequency of 50/60Hz, rated
voltage 230/400V