Introduction to Computer Networks - EZY-Books IT Infrastructure Services

This article proposes IT infrastructure services required to improve the service delivery processes of EZY-Books. It covers network infrastructure, network services, and data processing, including topics such as LAN types, cabling plans, WAN connections, and cloud storage.

Introduction to computer networks
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Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................3
Network infrastructure..........................................................................................................................3
Definition...........................................................................................................................................3
Network convergence and uniform communications........................................................................3
LAN types...........................................................................................................................................3
Cabling plan.......................................................................................................................................4
WAN connection................................................................................................................................4
Networked services...............................................................................................................................5
Data processing facilities.......................................................................................................................6
Cloud.................................................................................................................................................6
Data processing model......................................................................................................................6
Executive summary...............................................................................................................................6
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Introduction
EZY-Books is a professional publisher who does customized publication of books. In
current times of age, each and every business is craving for IT services to support its
business processes. EZY is not an exception. Indeed, in this twenty-first century, IT has
become the driver of every business in every street, city country, continent and the whole
world.
For EZY-Books to survive in the present competitive business environment, it has to
improve on its service delivery processes. Information Technology is the deliverer of our
mention company.
In this article we will be proposing IT infrastructure services required to salvage the
situation of EZY-Books environment. Such IT infrastructure include but are not limited to file
sharing, data processing, internet as a service, mailing and messaging and network services.
Network infrastructure
Definition
Network infrastructure refers to the software and hardware resources of a whole
network which enables network communication, management connectivity and operations
of a business networked environment. That is to say, network infrastructure provides
services and communication path amongst applications, users, processes and the external
internet. Our proposed network design structure comprises the following key areas to be
provided with solutions.
Network convergence and uniform communications
Instant information availability obviously makes it faster for decision making
amongst the administration team. This does not only improve the performance and service
delivery process of any business enterprise.
Instant communication can only be achieved with real time systems. For our
business case study, we propose to have a means of communication that will be relying
messages from the sender to the recipients in a real time manner.
To implement the above goal, we have a dedicated mail and messaging server that
will be handling the service. The server will be kept at the head quarter in Sydney. The mail
server will be handling mail delivery and reception. On the other hand, messaging service is
necessary as the customers may want to have live chat with company representatives in
quest for information. The two services will provided unified communications as messages
will reach the recipient in time and just in case there is action to be taken then it will be
taken in time (Anderson, 2015).
MDaemon is proposed to be our software resource to manage mail and messaging IT
infrastructure services.
LAN types.
A LAN (local-area network) refers to a computer network which spans a moderately
small area. Most of the time a LAN confines to single room or at a times a building. LANs are
usually connected to other LANs. In most cases, LAN enables connection of devices. This
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enables communication, data exchange and integration of experiences. LAN has home,
personal, public, offline, storage and embedded systems network types.
A home LAN is used to integrate computing components in homes connecting them
to the internet. A home enables everybody in a home to access files that are shared on their
personal computing devices. Office network on the other hand denotes to wireless and
wired kind of network the office location. It offers workers and systems a means of
collaboration, communication and data sharing. We propose to have such a type of LAN for
our EZY-Books company.
Personal network is a network for a single user, public network creates a public Wi-Fi
network that allows internet connection. Public Network will be used to supplement of LAN.
This will be purposely meant for visitors and customers.
Cabling plan
In any computing environment, network cables are deployed to link and transfer
information among routers, computers storage area networks and switches. The cables
really required as they are basically the media through which information flows.
For our EZY-Book IT infrastructure, we propose to use different types of cables for
communication purposes. The appropriateness of a kind of cable will vary on the basis of
the topology and structure of the entire layout of our proposed network.
Twisted pair cable will be our commonly used commonly used cable. In our LAN
networks, we will concentrate on twisted copper cable for data communication. The twisted
cables comprise of four pairs of copper conductor or wires which are also enclosed in
insulation material. The pairs are further twisted into a number of twists. The twists are
necessary as they prevent interference other adjacent cables and devices.
Fibre optic is another kind of cabling that we are going to implement. In our high
bandwidth areas such as data centers where high capacity is required, we will be required to
use fibre optic kind of cabling.
Other types of media necessary in this times is wireless connection. In our proposed
design, wireless media is necessary to allow wireless handheld devices to access the
internet. Wi-Fi will have to be used to allow guests and customers have an access to our
network.
WAN connection
In our network structure layout, it is important to remember that, our child branches
located in different towns have to be accessible via the internet. Cabling media mentioned
above will not assist. A WAN interconnection will help.
WAN denotes to a physically dispersed private telecommunication network which
interlinks multiple LANs. In our EZY-Books enterprise, a WAN will consist of linking Sydney-
the head quarter and branches (Brisbane and Melbourne). The router will be used to
connect the LANs to the WAN. EZY-Books enterprise WAN will allow the employees to share
access to services, applications and some centrally located service resources. This
technology will not only eliminate the need for installation of the same firewall or
application in multiple locations. For instance, it will be so expensive to install Mdaemon to
each branch. Hence, the application will only installed at the headquarter (Sydney).
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To implement a WAN, will be using a virtual private network facility. The Virtual
Private Network will facilitate the connection between our WAN sites. That is to say,
connection between Melbourne-to-Sydney-to-Brisbane (Neves, et al., 2014).
It is important to mention that we will be using IPsec VPN to continuously have open
site-to-site connections. In addition, we will be using SSL VPN for enabling remote
connections for individual user computers. This will enable huge data transfer in a secured
manner.
Direct fibre optic link could have the best option for WANs due to its greater
reliability, security and performance as compared to virtual private networks. However, cost
will be our major hindrance.
Remember that, WAN infrastructure will be leased as a service from our internet
service provider.
MPLS (multiprotocol label switching) will be our WAN type of connection that we will
be using.
Networked services
A network service refers to a function that the network infrastructure provides in
order to offer value to business processes.
For our EZY-Books enterprise, the following networked services have to be implemented
to offer value for our business processes.
i. Voice over IP: this networked service denotes to a technique and a number of
technologies for delivery of voice multimedia sessions and communications over
Internet Protocol networks. Voice over IP works by changing sound to digital
voice communication then it sends via Internet broadband. EZY-Books really
requires VoIP for ease of communication.
ii. WWW: World Wide Web refers to system of interconnected, hypertext
documents retrieved via Internet. The service is managed by Hyper-text transfer
protocol. EZY-Books require WWW for access of its information by customers at
comfort of their zones rather than travelling to EZY-Books premises.
iii. Intranet: an intranet denotes to private network which is contained in an
enterprise. Computers connected to the LAN are the ones able to access the
intranet as service. Intranet will be required by EZY-Books to avail information to
users within the company.
iv. Extranet: EZY-Books will require extranet as a network service to securely share a
portion of EZY-Books’ information to the vendors, partners, public businesses
and suppliers.
v. Email: messages will have to be sent using the SMTP protocol. The user mail will
be delivered to m-sender mail server from an m-receiver mail server. The final
server will then send the mail to the appropriate mailbox. The client will the
download the email.
vi. Hardware sharing: EZY-Books need to have hardware sharing as a network
service. Shared hardware will include printers and scanners.
vii. DNS: Domain Name as a service, will be required to perform name resolution
purpose.
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viii. DHCP: Dynamic Host Configurations Protocol will be used to manage IP
addressing (Dong-dong, et al., 2015).
Data processing facilities
Data processing denotes to the manipulation of data input with an application
software to output desired output as a graphic, text data file, or video/audio.
Cloud
Cloud storage refers to cloud computing model stores information on the Internet
via a cloud computing supplier. The provider operates and manages data cloud data storage
as a service. EZY-Books require cloud storage which saves them purchase of data storage
and management of the data store (Marie & Keith, 2013).
Data processing model
Client/server system will be used in data processing for EZY-Books. Technically, the
C/S system puts application near to the user increasing the performance. EZY-Books will
benefit from the latest improvement in the not only pricing but also performance features
of computer nodes together with capabilities (Mehedi, et al., 2014).
Executive summary
In this article, we have been offering a solution to EZY-Books business enterprise in
terms of Information Technology Infrastructure services. Our main areas covered network
infrastructure, network services and data processing. These are the major areas that EZY-
Booking has been having a challenge with customer relations.
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References
Anderson, P., 2015. Network Infrastructure Configuration. IEEE JOURNAL ON SELECTED
AREAS IN COMMUNICATIONS, 27(3), pp. 249-256.
Dong-dong, Zhang, C.-r., WangZi-xuan, Z.-y. & Yu, W.-b., 2015. Research on Networked
Collaborative Technical Service of Manufacturing Enterprise in Cloud Computing
Environment. Amsterdam, Atlantis Press.
Marie, B. & Keith, K., 2013. How Do We Make School Network Infrastructure Affordable?
Together! as Districts Adopt 1-to-1 or BYOD, They Need to Adapt New Ways of Financing
and Maintaining Their Networks. T H E Journal (Technological Horizons In Education), 7(8),
pp. 65-71.
Mehedi, M., HassanBiao, Shamim, S. & Alamri, H., 2014. Efficient Resource Scheduling for
Big Data Processing in Cloud Platform. New York City, Springer.
Neves, P., Soares, J. & Sargento, S., 2014. Media Independent Handovers: LAN, MAN and
WAN Scenarios. s.l., IEEE Globecom Workshops.
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