Network Design for University of Maryland University College

This article discusses the network design for University of Maryland University College (UMUC) including technical requirements, proposed solutions, and justifications. It covers hybrid topology, cables and connectors, networking and internetworking hardware, wide area network design, and computer systems hardware.

Network Design
Student Name:
I. Network Design
A. Network Topology
Technical Requirements
Good network designers have an understanding that productivity and learning experience is
impacted by availability of well-designed IT infrastructure services. The following comprises of
technical requirements for University of Maryland University College School. The university has
leased two - two buildings. This decision was arrived at by the administration in order to offer
spacious learning environment for the students. In addition, the university has a number of research
courses that it offers to within its premises. The shifting of the IT infrastructure should be done in a
manner that will not affect the activities of the campus. Students should also have same experience
they had before when they were in the old building. No down time should be experienced.
Printing services should be available regardless of the physical location of the class rooms of
computer labs. This implies that we are going to have shared printers over the network which will be
used by both students and the faculty staff. MyQ application will be used to manage printing
services. Faculty and students will need access to learning materials. A shared file server will be used
to will be used to perform this task. However, as much as we will be sharing the files, HR’s files will
not be available to students and some faculty staffs due to the biodata sensitivity.
Wireless communication will be required for the students to perform their classwork research. One
building on one side will be required to be in connection with the other building on the other side.
This will be addressed by implementation of WAN technology. To be specific, frame -relay will be
used together with VPN technology to even enable access of resources remotely.
Proposed topology
Network topology denotes to physical layout of computing devices on the floor of a building. In our
network design for University of Maryland University College, we believe that hybrid topology
will be the best option in comparison to other network topologies namely: bus, mesh, ring and star
[1]. In hybrid topology, there exists a mix combination of more than one network topologies. Our
topology will look as below:

Figure 1: Hybrid Network Topology [2]
Justification
Hybrid topology will be our best solution on the basis of the floor design and requirements described
by University of Maryland University College. We will be using a mixture of star, ring and bus
topology. In computer labs star will be used while offices will be using ring topology. Interconnection
from one room to another will be best be suited with bus topology. In bus topology, nodes lie on
straight floor one device connecting to another device until the last node is reached.
Hybrid topology is selected amongst other topologies as it combines the advantages of the
combined topologies. For UMUC, hybrid topology will be of advantage to the institution as it is
reliable, scalable flexible and effective. Our education institution requires fully reliable IT
infrastructure which is offered by hybrid topology.
B. Cables and Connectors
Technical requirements
Cable denotes to the medium via which information travels from one computing device to another.
Our network designers understand that selection of appropriate network cables and connectors will
not only enhance data transfer but also it will minimize during the transit. We understands that
there is a need for devices communicate within the University of Maryland University College. In
fact, the two buildings require to be interconnected in a seamless manner and computer devices
require to be interconnected and should be able to communicate to each other.
Proposed Cables and Connectors

This will be implemented by use of fibre cables from one building to the other building. Cat 6 cable
will be used to connect computer nodes to the switches. The CAT 6 cable will be used to
interconnect computer nodes to the switches. The Cat 6 cables will use Registered Jack 45 (RJ45
cables) whereas the fibre cables will be using SC connector (Standard Connector) that uses a push-
pull latching technique [3].
Justification
Below table justifies cable and connector requirements:
Item
name
Specifications Justification Required
amount
Cost of each
(in USD)
Total
cost
Fibre
cable
Mono mode
fibre cable
with speed of
1000BaseSX
Fibre cable is a high speed cable
that will be used to transfer data
between the two buildings.
20 m 0.69 13.8
STP
cable
Shielded
Twisted Pair
cable Cat 6
with speed of
10, 000Mbps
Cat 6 cable will be used for cable
connection from patch panel
interfaces to the wall patrices
for connection of computer
nodes.
5 boxes
each with
300m
cable
49 245
RJ-45 RJ-45 required to interconnect
the PC and LAN
200 0.05 10
[4]
C. Networking and Internetworking Hardware
Technical requirements
Our network designers team understands that use of latest technological networking devices offers
the best solution to the management and users. University of Maryland University College users
are always happy with a fast and reliable network. On the basis of the management and student
requirements, our choice of hardware devices should be of standard class. Our team believes having
hardware devices that are capable of securing network resources and having network hardware
devices that are able to sustain heavy traffic are the best devices [5].
Proposed Networking and Internetworking Devices
The following are the networking hardware components proposed. We provide the device model,
specifications, and cost per item, required quantity and justification of why the component is
necessary for University of Maryland University College:
Item name Vendor Specifications Cost per
Item
Justifications
Router Cisco Cisco 2900
Integrated
Services Router
618.99 Routers are necessary for
routing of packets from UMUC
to outside world and from the
outside world networks to
UMUC network.
Firewall Cisco Cisco ASA 5510 2,475.00 UMUC management

Security Plus
Firewall Edition
emphasizes that security to the
IT infrastructure is very key.
Firewall will be used to filter
both incoming and outgoing
packets
Switch Cisco Cisco Catalyst
6509-Edge
Switch
5,354.95 UMUC has a number of
workstations that have to be
connected to the network.
Cisco switch will be used to
extend the networking, thus
allowing UMUC PCs access the
network.
UPS APC CyberPower
CP1500AVRLCD
- 900 Watt - 8.5
Ah
149.99 UMUC administration asked
our network designing team to
come up with a strategy that
will make sure there is minimal
downtimes. Most of the down
times are brought about by
powerless or power faults. APC
UPS will be used to mitigate
power losses.
Access
Point
Cisco AIR-CAP2602I-
A-K9 Cisco
based Access
Point
8,225.47 Students and staff at UMUC
poses handheld computing
devices. This devices access
the network by the aid of
Wireless access-points. We will
use Cisco access points to
support the wireless handheld
devices.
D. Wide Area Network Design
Technical Requirements
University of Maryland University College IT technical team believes that WAN protocols
extends Local Area Network to other Local Area Networks in remote sites. It is very essential for
UMUC to have exchange of information at remote sites.
This therefore means we have to install WAN type that will enable access to remote sites.
Proposed Wide Area Network Design
Frame relay and Site-to-Site VPN are our best selected WAN protocol technologies we selected.
Frame relay’s packet-switched feature makes it less expensive as compared to leased lines.
Additionally, frame relay is capable of supporting non-cisco proprietary devices. This frame
relay’s features makes it best suitable for UMUC on the basis of technical and business
requirements [6].
Justification
Frame relay and VPN will enable faculty and staff access UMUC IT infrastructure services at the
comfort of their homes or abroad seminars. This will enable them provide requested reports on

time since they are able to work on them while they are at a far distance. This will minimize a lot
of delays.
E. Computer Systems Hardware
Technical Requirements
UMUC management understands that having computer hardware that are of small size factor and
are of high-speed does not only preserve on space but also improves the production rate of both the
students and staff. Our technical team understands the following technical requirements. The
university has two server rooms, one on the ground floor and another on the first flow, each server
room will require a server housed in a cabinet closet, two computer labs each with 25 PCs of which 1
will be used as a server and of the remaining 24, 1 will be used by the instructor and the rest 23
used by students.
The library requires 10 computers for perusal of available books and another 5 computers for library
staff usage. We also understand that each we have a total of seven offices, each office will require a
computer except for admissions office which requires 5 computers.
Proposed Computer Systems Hardware
On the basis of the mentioned technical requirements, below is tabulation of hardware,
specifications, and cost.
Item Name Specification Model Cost (USD)
Server Processor speed: 3.6 GHz
Processor: Intel
RAM: 64 GB
Windows Server 2012 64
HPE ProLiant
DL380 Gen10
Server
9,399
Personal Computers Processor speed: 2.8 GHz
Processor: Intel
RAM: 4 Gb
Windows 10 Professional 64
7th Generation Intel
Core i7 processor
HP i7 Desktop
PCs
809
Printer Technology: Laser Colour
Speed: Up to 60/30 pages
per minute A3/A4 in colour,
70/28 pages per minute
A3/A4 in b/w
Kyocera Task
Alfa 5550 ci
1,200
Justification
UMUC requires computer hardware system to enable staff and the students carry out their research
and studies. In our hardware requirements, we assume that the university does a lot of printing,
hence inclusion of the Kyocera Printer.

References
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[2] M. Weda, "Hybrid Network Topologies," Study.com, [Online]. Available:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/hybrid-networking-topologies-types-uses-examples.html.
[Accessed 5 11 2018].
[3] "Effect of Twisted Pair Cable Arrangement on Manual Termination with RJ 45 and the Quality of
Communication in Auto-Sensing Port Devices," International Journal of Computer Science and
Mobile Computing , vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 1-9, 2013.
[4] T. Lammle and W. Tedder, CCNA Routing and Switching Deluxe Study Guide, Hoboken: John
Wiley & Sons, 2014 .
[5] T. Lammle, CCNA Routing and Switching Complete Review Guide: Exam 100-105, Exam 200-105,
Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2016.
[6] R. Rampal, "Design and Implementation of a Wide Area Network," Journal of Cases on
Information Technology (JCIT), vol. 20, no. 5, p. 13, 2014, 10.4018/978-1-93070-840-2.ch029.
[7] B. Llc, Network Topology: Star Network, Grid Network, Tree and Hypertree Networks, Spanning
Tree Protocol, Metro Ethernet, Token Ring, Mesh Networking, Memphis: General Books LLC,
2010.