Computer Systems Report: Network Design for Strata Ltd

This report presents a comprehensive network implementation plan for Strata Ltd, addressing their need to transition from manual operations to a digital system. It begins with an introduction outlining the company's objectives and the need for a centralized database system. Part A details the required software and hardware components, including specific system requirements for different employee roles (Directors, Lawyers, Office Administrators, and Consultants), specifying operating systems, processors, RAM, and storage. The report also discusses commercial hardware solutions like additive manufacturing, drivers, and code scanners. Part B focuses on the Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) network, explaining the use of UTP cables and the selection of star topology for network configuration. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, emphasizing the benefits of digitization and the implementation of an efficient SOHO network to meet Strata Ltd's operational goals. References to relevant books and journals are also included.

Foundation of Computer
Systems

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
PART A...........................................................................................................................................1
1. List of components with technical requirements................................................................1
2. Commercial hardware for Strata Ltd..................................................................................4
PART B............................................................................................................................................5
Small office/ home network (SOHO) network.......................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Strata Limited makes use of manual operations for managing their client's data. But as
per the current condition, their number of clients has been increased, so it is quite hard for them
to manage all the data and information of their client's manually because it is a very time
consuming process. So, the company has decided for implementing a network that can help them
to share all the data and other necessary resources centrally. The report is about implementing a
network that can help the company to replace all their manual operations with some digitalised
technology that can also help them in sharing all the centralised files on a server.
PART A
1. List of components with technical requirements
As Strata Ltd has to manage the client's data and wants to replace their processing of
manual operations, including a centralised database can help the organisation. It is because the
centralised database system can help the company in using a system in which they can simply
enter the detail of the specific client once and then as per every meeting, the centralised database
system will update the information of the system and the employees no longer have to manually
update and modify the information. In case of any failure when all the system have lost the data,
in that case the centralised database system can help them in retaining all that information
because a centralised system holds all the information of all systems over the network. It will
help the company in saving a huge amount of time. So, the list of components along with their
technical requirements is discussed as following :
Components Requirement
Software Software complies of a set which helps in
managing and controlling the whole database.
In a centralised database system, there is a
database management system software which
is already present (Baker, 2011). It enables the
sharing of all the information and data from
any system to other over the whole network.
Hardware The hardware of a centralised database system
compiles of all the input, output devices and it
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gives a sort of interface within the real world
systems and the internal systems, that is
computers.
Query processor This processor translates the query of the client
into a set of instructions which is efficient
enough for further execution (Curino and et.al.,
2010).
As per the illustration, there is a centralised database system on which all the information of all
the systems will be stored on it. Also, the database will be connected to every other device,
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Centralised database system
Workstation 1
Workstation 2 Workstation 3
Printer 1
Printer 2
Illustration 1: Basic network connection diagram

whether they are computers, input output devices like printers etc., the centralised database will
be connected to each single device on the network.
The requirement tables for each employee are demonstrated as below :
 Directors
System Requirement
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 (64 bit)
CPU Type / Processor Intel Core i7, 4.2 GHz
Graphic Designing AMD Radeon RX 480 (8 GB)
RAM 24 GB
Hard rive Samsung PM1633a (16 TB)
As for directors and for office administrators, they want special requirements, so Microsoft
Windows 10 (64 bit) is being used in their systems. The processor which is being used will be
Intel Core i7, 4.2 GHz, for graphic designing, AMD Radeon RX 480 (8 GB) card will be used. A
RAM of 24 GB will be alloted to it. The hardrive that is considered most effciient will be sued in
this and it is Samsung PM1633a (16 TB).
 Lawyers
System Requirement
Operating System Microsoft Windows 8 (32 bit)
CPU Type / Processor Intel Core i5
Graphic Designing Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
RAM 16 GB
Hard rive Seagate Enterprise Capacity Helim Drive (12
TB)
For lawyers, an operating system of Microsoft Windows 8 (32 bit) is being used. I5 processor is
being used with a graphic card of Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. A RAM of 16 GB is allotted to
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the systems of lawyers. Seagate Enterprise Capacity Helim Drive (12 TB) hard-rive is being
used.
 Office administrators
System Requirement
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (64 bit)
CPU Type/ Processor Intel Core i7, 4.2 GHz
Graphic Designing AMD Radeon RX 480 (8 GB)
RAM 24 GB
Hard rive Samsung PM1633a (16 TB)
For office administrators, an operating system of Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (64 bit). Processor
Intel Core i7, 4.2 GHz is being used with a graphic card ofAMD Radeon RX 480 (8 GB). A
RAM of 24 GB is allotted to the systems of lawyers.Samsung PM1633a (16 TB) hard-rive is
being used.
 Consultants
System Requirement
Operating System Microsoft Windows 8 (32 bit)
CPU Type / Processor Intel core i5
Video cards Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
RAM 16 GB
Hard rive Seagate Enterprise Capacity Helim Drive (12
TB)
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For Consultants, an operating system of Microsoft Windows 8 (32 bit) is being used. I5
processor is being used with a graphic card of Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. A RAM of 16 GB
is allotted to the systems of lawyers. Seagate Enterprise Capacity Helim Drive (12 TB) hard-rive
is being used.
2. Commercial hardware for Strata Ltd
It is obvious enough that when Strata Ltd will implement centralised database system for
replacing the manual process, the company also have to include the use of various hardware
solutions. So, the hardware components, Strata can use for better and efficient results will
involve the following :
Additive manufacturing
Additive manufacturing is also known as 3D printing. It can be achieved by 3D printers.
It helps in making three dimensional objects from any digital file. After involving digitalisation,
the employees can take the print out of three dimensional solid bodies as well, whether it is
regarding their architecture or any related factor. In this printing, the final output is being
achieved by means of various additive processes which are meant to be done by these 3D
printers.
Drivers
As the company will move completely from manual to digital, it is obvious enough that
they have to use various software's and applications. So, for that proper drivers must be installed
so that they can use it efficiently. Without the proper installation of drivers, the application may
not run properly, so it can waste much time of the company. So installation of drivers of all
specific applications is a must and Strata should ensure it for attaining efficient and reliable
outputs.
Code scanner
A barcode reader can also act very beneficial for Strata Ltd as it reads the specific
barcode of a product and automatically updates the price of that specific product on the screen.
So, it can be used for a faster demonstration, thus it will fasten the rate of delivery as well. The
barcode reader has a source of light, lens and a sensor that interprets the optical impulses and
decodes it in electric ones.
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PART B
Small office/ home network (SOHO) network
SOHO refers to the small office or home office network. It can also be considered as
virtual office sometimes. The internet connection will be provided with the help of an Ethernet
hub and the connections will be made by using the unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables (Saucez
and et.al., 2015). A UTP cable consists of two unshielded wires that are twisted from each end. A
benefit of using this cable is that it is quite less costly than optical fibre, etc. There are a variety
of cables such as optical fibre, shielded twister pair and everyone has some specific speciality
according to the requirement but in this network connection, unshielded twister pair can help the
most as it will help in blocking out the unnecessary interference or load and so the cable will be
able to carry the data faster. So, it can prove beneficial for Strata Ltd and for its functioning as
well.
Network Topology
Network topology is considered as the arrangement of a network in which different
connections are made as various nodes are connected from the connection line. Although there
are various topologies through which connections can be made such as Bus topology, ring
topology, mesh topology etc. describing a few of them as under :
Bus topology
Bus topology is that type of network topology in which all the workstations are connected
to a single network cable (Curino and et.al., 2011). So, the data is being transmitted in a single
direction only. So, this cannot be considered as an efficient connection for Strata Ltd. Also, the
company is a two story building and cable used in this topology is of limited length. So, it can
restrict the whole working of the company.
Ring topology
Ring topology is that type of topology in which every computer is connected to each
other, forming a ring structure. The last node is always connected to the first one in this.
Troubleshooting in ring topology is quite difficult, so it can cause troubles in Strata further, so it
is better not to go for this topology.
Mesh topology
Mesh topology means point to point connection for all the present devices on the
network. The data transmission can be done by two ways in this, either by routing or by means of
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flooding. This can give a better network connection to the Strata Ltd but it causes unwanted load
to the systems which can hang the systems and act as a barrier in the work (Pandey, Suman and
Ramani, 2010). So, it can be considered as the second choice.
Star Topology
In star topology, all the workstations are connected to a single Ethernet hub with the help
of a cable. In this, hub is termed as a central node and from it, various connections are being
made to the other workstations. As Strata is a two story building and the requirement of Strata is
that at the ground floor, directors and office administrators sit and at the ground floor, lawyers
and consultants sit. So, as per the requirement, star topology can be considered efficient enough
that it can complete the requirement of the network. Star topology is considered as the topoplogy
that can help Strata Ltd. in achieving the structure they want.
The SOHO network for this is represented as under :
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CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that as the need of Strata Ltd. has been increased in the market, so
does the number of clients as well but manual operations are now not able to cope with the work
load, so the company has decided to involve some sort of digitization which can help the
company. So, efficient software and hardware components for each party has been included and
a SOHO network implementation has also been made for Strata Ltd that can help the company in
achieving all the targets and goals for the betterment and growth of the company.
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Illustration 2: SOHO network implementation