Network Design: Stages, Topologies, and Methods

This article discusses the iterative process of network design, including generating requirements, selecting a suitable topology, and identifying methods for implementation. It explores the pros and cons of flat versus hierarchical topologies, flat LAN topologies, and flat WAN topologies. The article also references relevant studies on network design.

NETWORK DESIGN

Network design
Network design is an iterative process that deals with implementation of a network and data
transmission. Like other processes, it follows the following stages. The requirements that are
needed are first generated. In this case the network to be designed requires two PCs, two routers
and servers. Each router in the network should be in its on LAN. This networking devices will be
configured using different IP addresses to be uniquely identified in the network (Ioannidis, &
Maguire, 2008). Different types of servers are required in the network this include DHCP, DNS
and WEB mail server that requires a URL address. These servers will be used for different
functionality like DHCP is used in assigning IP addresses to client PCs.
The next stage after the requirements are generated is finding a suitable network topology that
will be used in the implementation of the network. The choice of the network to be implemented
depend on various factors (Park, 2008) .They include the following:
The network equipment to be implemented in the network. In this case the network only requires
TWO PCs, router and server. This network can be implemented using star topology. Reliability
is another factor that determines the topology of a network .This is how any malfunctioning
component in the network can be easily repaired.
After the topology to design the network is selected the methods that can be used in designing
the network are now identified. In this the following methods can be used in designing the
network in assessment 4.
Flat versus Hierarchical Topologies
This is method that is suitable for small networks that involve very few network components. It
has no hierarchy arrangement. The routers and PCS will have the same function in the network,
this because they are all in the same layer (Suh, 2008). This kind of topology is very easy to be
implemented. On the other hand it cannot easily be easily repaired in case there is a problem. It
has the following pros and cons.
Cons
 It can be easily implemented.
 It can easily maintained.

 Creates room for networks to grow
Pros
 Has no room for expansion.
 Troubleshooting is difficult.
Flat LAN Topologies
This is another method that can be used in network design. The PCs and servers are connected to
one or more switches in the network. Devices implement a media-control access e.g token ring
that has collision detection mechanism to control the bandwidth that is being supplied in the
network. The pcs and servers are attached switches rather than hubs .it has the fooling pros and
cons.
Cons.
 It is easy to be implemented.
 It can be used to connect many devices.
 It has no data collision hence high speed.
 It is the best for LAN network implementation.
Pros
 It cannot be used in implementing WAN network
 It is difficult to be repaired.
Flat WAN Topologies
This is a method that is used in designing small area networks that will be used for
communication. Each site has a router that will connect each other through point to point link.
It’s among the best methods since routing protocols can easily converge with one another hence
recover even if it fails (Wang, 2010). If there are many hops within the network that are
configured using this method then the transfer of protocols will fail due to a lot of traffic in the
devices. To avoid redundancy in this network routers and switches will be placed on upper layers
It has the following advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages
 It can be easily implemented.
Disadvantages
 It cannot be used in larger networks where many switches and routers are required.

References
Ioannidis, J., & Maguire Jr, G. Q. (2009, January). The Design and Implementation of a Mobile
Internetworking Architecture. In USENIX Winter (Vol. 93).
Park, H., Burke, J., & Srivastava, M. B. (2008, April). Design and implementation of a wireless
Sensor network for intelligent light control. In Proceedings of the 6th international
conference on Information processing in sensor networks (pp. 370-379). ACM.
Suh, C., & Ko, Y. B. (2008). Design and implementation of intelligent home control systems
based onactive sensor networks. IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, 54(3).
Wang, S. Y., Chou, C. L., & Lin, C. C. (2010). The design and implementation of the NCTUns
network simulation engine. Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, 15(1), 57-81.
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