Project: Network Design for 5Star Software Company, Semester 1

This project presents a detailed network design proposal for 5Star Software Development Company, addressing the limitations of its existing network infrastructure. The project proposes a three-layered hierarchical networking model, with servers hosted on the cloud to enhance scalability, availability, security, and performance. The design includes network circuits (fiber and Ethernet cables), hardware components (switches, routers, and wireless access points), server components (DNS, mail, web, file, DHCP, database, and print servers), and software components (network operating system and anti-virus software). The logical and physical network designs are illustrated, emphasizing the interconnection of the company's three buildings. The project aims to improve network accessibility, reliability, and manageability to meet 5Star's business goals. The document includes references to relevant sources.

Table of Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................1
Network Design for Recommended Network(s).............................................................................2
Network Circuits..........................................................................................................................2
Fiber cable................................................................................................................................2
Ethernet cat5 cable...................................................................................................................2
RJ 45 Plugs...............................................................................................................................2
Hardware Components.................................................................................................................2
Network Switches.....................................................................................................................2
Router.......................................................................................................................................2
Wireless Access Point (WAP)..................................................................................................3
Server Components..................................................................................................................3
Workstations devices................................................................................................................3
Software Components..................................................................................................................3
Network Logical Design..................................................................................................................3
Physical Network Design................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................6

Executive Summary
5Star Software Development Company currently has a poorly designed network located in three
of its buildings. That is, software development building, technical building and administrative
building respectively. Each building has its own server located in one of each building’s room.
All these LAN are interconnected together using a router. This network does not allow
employees to log into it using their laptops or iPads. This therefore means that the entire layout
of this network is not scalable and does not allow connectivity of extra computers other than
those that are already connected. The current network is less secured, not easy to manage or
troubleshoot and the fact that it does not have a defined structure makes it slow in performance.
Computers are connected to the network via Ethernet cables and there is no availability of
Wireless Access Point to accommodate extra connections wirelessly. The central point of
connectivity where all the LANs are interconnected is vulnerable to failure and in case of a
router failure the whole network will be paralyzed thus making it less reliable.
To achieve the main business goals for this company, which include, scalability, availability,
security, improved performance, reliability , accessibility and availability, a better network
design that support all these ought to be put into place (Coleman, 2012). The company therefore
should implement a three layered hierarchical networking model with its all of its servers hosted
on cloud. The three-layered architecture will enhance network performance as well as make it
easy to manage and troubleshoot. This network model will also enhance scalability as it makes it
possible to extend the network on each of the three layers of the model (i.e Access, Distribution
and Core Layers) (CISCO, 2014)..Cloud servers also will make the network more reliable and
available to all the employees in the company. To accommodate more users especially
employees with ipads and laptops a wireless access point would be appropriate this will enhance
network accessibility thus improving employee’s performance. Software such as Networking
Operating System will enable the overall network administrator to monitor and control network
resources thus making it manageable. Also the company should install Anti-Virus software to
ensure that they avoid external malicious attacks that could be targeted on their network. From
all these issues, it is clear that a client-server network model will be appropriate to attain 5Star
Company Business goals laid.

Network Design for Recommended Network(s)
This is the evaluation, understanding and the scope of the network that need to be implemented
by 5Star Company (Techopedia, 2017). The network consists of various components ranging
from network cabling (circuits), hardware components and software components. These
components are interconnected to form a network layout or topology that represents how the
network design looks like and operates.
Network Circuits
This consists of transmission media that allow computers to communicate with each other across
the network. The main media being the network cables that are required for the proposed
network include:
Fiber cable
This will act as a transmission media and connects networking devices for faster transmission
across the network. This transmission cable will connect core components to distribution
components and end user components in the network.
Ethernet cat5 cable
This cable shall be used to connect access layer devices to the whole 5Star Company LANs in
each building.
RJ 45 Plugs
This will be used for network cable termination for the proposed network design.
Hardware Components
Network Switches
This provides interconnection of other network devices within a network (Mitchell, 2017). The
types of switches that 5Star Company should go for based on future extensibility factor are
modular switches. This kind of switch will enhance flexibility and future extensibility for 5Star
Company. These switches support modular line cards that allow addition of ports on the switch
in the case of scaling the network.

Router
This device will allow connection of 5Star networks and extend to internet accessibility. The
router will enhance communications between the three LAN networks for 5Star Company.
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
This will ensure that additional or other clients or workstations are connected to 5Star network
wirelessly. The device will broadcast digital signals across 5Star Company at a given range.
Server Components
These include; DNS server, mail server, Web server, file server, DHCP server, Database server
and print server. The devices will provide important functionalities in the network design.
Workstations devices
These are employee’s personal computers, office IP phones among other devices connected to
the 5Star Network.
Software Components
These include operating systems, Network Operating System (NOS) which are executed other
network for sharing resources across the 5Star Network.
Another software is Anti-Virus software to enable the company overcome malicious attacks from
external attackers.
The network to be designed will therefore rely on the named components in order for the design
to be successful (Mbaocha, 2012).
Network Logical Design
The diagram below represent 5Star Network logical design based on the three-layered
hierarchical network model proposed for the network.

5Star Data Center hosts all the dedicated servers available on this network design. The data
center processes all the requests from the workstations as well as providing assignment of IP
addresses to new devices in the network. Therefor all the operations of the company will highly
rely on the dedicated server hosted at the data center.
Physical Network Design
The following depicts a physical layout of the proposed 5Star Software Development Company.

The diagram above represents the three buildings of the company which are Software
Development, Technical and Administrative Building. All these three buildings have different
LANs which are interconnected in the core and all accessed servers that are centrally hosted in
the cloud.
References

CISCO, 2014. Campus Design Summary. Singapore: Cisco.
Coleman, N., 2012. Happy Haven Day care network design proposal. Michigan: Network
Solution Inc.
Mbaocha, C.C., 2012. DESIGN OF CAMPUS LAN WITH FUTO AS A CASE STUDY. Academic
Research International.
Mitchell, B., 2017. Internet and Network. What is Computer Networking?, pp.1-3.
Techopedia, 2017. Networking. [Online] Available at:
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/30186/network-design/ [Accessed 27 September 2017].