Introduction to Computer Networks

This report discusses the importance of networking in modern businesses and how IT infrastructure can improve profitability. It covers network infrastructure, LAN types, cabling plan, networked services, and data processing facilities. The report also provides solutions to the problems faced by EZY-Books, a specialized publisher for customized book publication service, and how the company can adopt modern IT infrastructure to ease their day-to-day operations.

Introduction to Computer
Networks

Executive summary
Business in this modern age need to adapt to the change that arise with advancement of
information technology. This is to say that business should adapt to use of current technological
structures in order to meet high profitability. Essentially networking has become a utility in
business in order to speed up other processes of a business and to ensure security of company
data. The use of modern technologies like servers help in storing both customer and company
data, thus improving the way a business operates. The advantages that govern the use of IT
infrastructure in business has led to an increasing realization of the need to derive profit
through venturing in IT within networking.
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Table of Contents
Executive summary.....................................................................................................................................1
Problem...................................................................................................................................................3
Solutions.................................................................................................................................................3
Network Infrastructure...............................................................................................................................4
Network Convergence and unified communication...............................................................................4
LAN types................................................................................................................................................4
Cabling plan.............................................................................................................................................5
Networked Services....................................................................................................................................6
Intranet Business Application.................................................................................................................6
Extranet Business application.................................................................................................................7
VOIP........................................................................................................................................................7
Email........................................................................................................................................................7
Data processing facilities............................................................................................................................7
Data storage solutions............................................................................................................................7
Data Processing model...........................................................................................................................8
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................8
References.................................................................................................................................................10
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Introduction
It is evident that traditional businesses have decided to adopt IT in realization of the realities of
the new machine age. This is mainly done to improve the profitability of a business in terms of
ease of relaying business information between producers and consumers. EZY – books being a
specialized publisher for customized book publication service needs to implement the use of IT
infrastructure to ease their day to day operation to both the employees and customers alike.
The use of the various components of IT has led to the grow and evolution of businesses,
implying that IT has become a necessity. The current economic environment is dominated by
globalization, hyper-competition and the knowledge revolution. This new innovative age is
obvious through increased interest in PC handling and information planning apparatuses in the
assembling what's more, benefit enterprises and broadcast communications foundation, and
furthermore to it’s across the board utilization in government offices, instructive associations,
and, all the more as of late, in the family. Because of this innovative advancement, the usage
and utilization of IT is a huge main impetus behind numerous financial changes. As the usage
and commercialization of IT moves toward becoming broader all through the world, the
appropriation of novel IT can create new business openings and different advantages (Herring &
Androutsopoulos, 2015). The IT tools supply the required infrastructure, which is necessary for
providing appropriate types of data at the right time.
Problem
It is important to ascertain the problems that has led to the need of the new networking
structure in EZY – Books. The problems in this case include the fact that the operation of
business in quite old in relation to adoption of modern networking infrastructure in that
customer services rely on paper-based forms. This is accompanied by many problems that the
company has noted and thus the need for the new IT infrastructure set up.
Solutions
The network planning solutions will involve the different makeup of the entire networking of
the business and its subsequent branches in Melbourne and Brisbane. This is to imply that the
report covers the constituent parts of the new proposed infrastructure:
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Network Infrastructure
Network Convergence and unified communication
This involves having the best mix of technology in regards to addressing specific business needs.
The EZY- Books organization can adopt this infrastructure which mainly entails the use of: IP
telephony, unified messaging, voice mail, Web conferencing and Videoconferencing. In this case
this can act as a solution to reduce intra office and long distance communication cost. These
technologies can also act on increasing productivity by use of means of communication such as
e-conferencing, by reducing downtime which is implicit in business transactions. The new
infrastructure will enable the linking of all customers’ phones to multiple offices by treating the
telephones as an intercom and thus a need for only a single internet connection. Basically, this
will form an integrated network since there will be a single access point. This will result to easy
management as there will be no multiple tools or network infrastructure to manage. This will
mainly benefit operation of business since employees can be able to collaborate more
effectively. The key reason for adopting this infrastructure setup is because it makes it easier
and faster for customers and employees to exchange information and ideas, query, and
accessing of data.
LAN types
This is the network mainly made for an office, building or room. This is the interconnection of
devices within a small geographical area allowing for sharing of resources like printers and
information within a business building. The local area network comprises of different
technologies like: bus technology, ring technology and star technology. In the bus technology
interconnectivity of computers is done through a single wire. Computers continue to share files
and data even if one of the connected computers stops working. This is the oldest technology in
the networking business.
The ring technology involves interconnection of computers in a ring or circle form. In this
topology a computer is connected to each computer on either sides. If the computer decides to
send a file to a computer that is further in distance, then the file is transferred through residing
computers.
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Unlike the ring topology the star topology, though similar, makes use of a switch in the center
that is connected to every computer in the ring (Liang & Turban, 2011). Through a hub the
other computers are connected to the switch. Data transfer between connected computers
happen through the switch in that all conveyed data travels from hub to switch then to
designate machine. Wi-Fi can also be considered as a local area network when its put in
consideration of wireless LAN.
The above topologies can be applicable in the office environs to help in daily operation of the
business in relation to transfer of information between offices. This set up can also help in the
storage of documents in a file server to allow for easy retrieval by the sales representatives.
This can be applicable in both the head branch in Sydney and the branches.
Cabling plan
The most prolific cabling plan for the head office of EZY - Books is adoption of a local area
networking topology in this case the star topology is more applicable since it is effective in
transfer and interconnection of computers and other devices. The most effective cabling for
this setup is use of Ethernet cables for connection between the devices, cat 6 and above being
most recommended for the setup. The connection from switch to computers and routers will
involve a straight-through cabling while that of switch to switch will involve a crossover
connection. Wi-Fi connection can also be applicable through connection from switch to the Wi-
Fi modem.
The connection between the head office and branches at Melbourne and Brisbane will involve
the use of wide area network that will require a connection through fiber optic cables since
they allow for transmission of data and information over long distances and at a higher
bandwidth. Wide area network is as a result of connecting more than one local area network. In
this case the connection will be from server to router which will then be distributed to the
branch through connection of switches. This connection will help in the collaboration of head
office and branches. It will also help in the operation of both the head office and branches.
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The cable plan in the offices were as below
Above is the cabling plan of the offices. Computers are connected through star topology as
shown above .Each office will a printer that is connected to the network in the office. The
network from the server are linked to the server through firewall that filters data. The server is
located in the cloud and accessed by all offices regularly at equal rates.
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WAN connection
A WAN consists of more than one local-area networks. This entails connection of computers
through public networks or through satellites. Internet is considered to be the largest existence
of WAN. Effectiveness of communication is vital and this connection seeks to provide viable
channels for communications. The branch office which can be found in remote areas are mostly
connected to head office by WAN. Resources in branch office are limited to the number of
employees in the branch and thus they have less important servers (Kim & Feamster, 2013).
The most important servers are kept in the man office and as such the WAN connection
happens between the servers either through wireless transmission like satellites or through
wire connections like the fiber optic cables which is the most considered media of transmission.
The WAN connection in this case can be of three topologies full mesh site to site WAN, hub and
spoke site to site WAN and partial mesh site to site WAN. Connections like this are done
through routers where branch office connects to the router of head office. Traffic is routed
through head office router when branches need to communicate to each other. The WAN
connection comprises of LAN network in each office connected together has shown below to
form a wider network
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Networked Services
Networked services runs at the application layer and above providing data storage,
communication, presentation and manipulation implemented using a client server or peer to
peer architecture basing on application layer. The four networked services that can be deployed
in this case are: intranet, extranet, VOIP and email.
Intranet Business Application
This is a web-based application that runs on the local area network displaying company
information. It is considered to be a versatile cost-effective way to support business needs.
Intranet can help EZY- Books in strategic business support, knowledge management, surveys on
customers, monitoring processes and collection of data, video and teleconferencing and forms
the server, all this is achieved in conjunction with other software like databases. Attributing to
the range application of intranet it goes to prove of how important it is to the growth of a
business.
Extranet Business application
EZY- Books’ intranet can be extended to the supply chain through extranet application. It is
mainly an extension of company network. Is a collective Internet association with clients and
exchanging accomplices intended to give access to particular organization data, and encourage
nearer working connections (Comer, 2018). The applicable devices in an extranet are a router.
Firewall, server and a dedicated WAN. Extranet can be applied in helping customers in their
order inquiry, online discussions and mostly customer services. This will help resolve customer
complaints.
VOIP
It is a technology that mainly works by converting voice into digital signals thus enabling one to
make a call from a computer, a voice over IP phone or any other data driven device. This can be
applicable in both the intranet and extranet as a mode of communication since it enables
flexibility. It can proves advantageous to EZY- Books by being cost effective, accessible and has a
good voice quality.
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Email
It can be utilized for intra-organization correspondences, showcasing purposes and planning
with colleagues, providers and clients. Some normal favorable circumstances of business email
over conventional mail or phone interchanges are cost reduction, bring down overhead and
speed. Email software is accessible for each size business, taking into consideration altered
business and representative connections. Email works by a sender sending a message using
email client, where the text is uploaded to Simple Mail Transfer Protocol serves as outgoing.
The outgoing mail is queued and waits as SMTP communicates to DNS in order to connect to
recipient email server. On logging in to email account the email client downloads all the new
messages from the recipient’s email server.
Data processing facilities
Data storage solutions
The most applicable storage for the EZY- Books would be cloud storage since it’s the perfect file
sharing tool, in cases where emails can’t send large multimedia files and documents. This
storage offers a reliable data backup solution, effective access to files and a simpler way of
sharing files. Cloud storage also allows access to any type of computer thus allows for usability.
In business recovery of data due to an accident is something that is of utmost importance,
which through use of cloud storage can be easy to recover. Cloud storage allows for
accessibility of stored files from anywhere provided there is an internet connection. Distributed
databases can also be used in the branches since the resources in branches are limited in terms
of servers (Pathan, 2016).
Data Processing model
The applicable data processing model in this case would be the client to server model which
works by partitioning workloads between source providers (servers) and the clients (service
requesters). This can be used to source data from the main servers of EZY- Books by the
branches and employees of the company. It is mostly used to source information from the
cloud.
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Another applicable processing model is the peer to peer which involves more than one pc are
connected to each other and share resources without necessarily going through a separate
server computer. This can be most effective in an office setup where employees need to share
information with each other or to the head of the company. Mainly used in LAN networking.
Conclusion
It is evident from the report that application of modern IT will help in facilitating EZY- Books
business to take care of the complaints that were raised as a result of using an old form of
relying service by the business. This can be accomplished by the paper-based forms being
replaced by email applications or a website application. Video conferencing can help in
communicating with customers to ease the trouble of face to face communication. In this way
the email forms filled can be hosted in the company’s server thus avoiding loss over the same.
Processing orders will be improved by applying the use of the IT infrastructure (McConnell,
2014). The documents stored locally by the sales representatives of the company can be shared
to each one of them through peer to peer connection or host their documents on a common
server like the cloud server for easier and fast retrieval of information. Observing of best
applicable IT practices and infrastructure goes a long way in ensuring profitability of a business.
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References
Comer, D.E., 2018. The Internet book: everything you need to know about computer networking
and how the Internet works. Chapman and Hall/CRC.\
Herring, S.C. and Androutsopoulos, J., 2015. Computer-mediated discourse 2.0. The handbook
of discourse analysis, 2, pp.127-151
Liang, T.P. and Turban, E., 2011. Introduction to the special issue social commerce: a research
framework for social commerce. International Journal of electronic commerce, 16(2), pp.5-14.
Kim, H. and Feamster, N., 2013. Improving network management with software defined
networking. IEEE Communications Magazine, 51(2), pp.114-119.
McConnell, D., 2014. Implementing computing supported cooperative learning. Routledge.
Pathan, A.S.K. ed., 2016. Security of self-organizing networks: MANET, WSN, WMN, VANET. CRC
press.
.
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