AusEd Network Design: Project Proposal for Scalable IT Infrastructure

This project presents a comprehensive network design proposal for AusEd, an educational institution aiming to support over 2500 hosts. The project begins with an introduction that highlights the need for a scalable and manageable IT infrastructure. It describes the project's scope, which includes maintaining existing accounting systems, improving customer relations using SUGAR CRM and Microsoft Exchange Server, and designing a detailed network architecture. The proposal outlines assumptions, such as management support and the use of a hierarchical design model. The project details the use of various networking devices like routers, switches, servers, and security devices, and includes a logical network design diagram created using Packet Tracer. The project justifies the hardware choices, focusing on compatibility and interoperability. Furthermore, it addresses how AusEd can sustain its economy through the implementation of the proposed network design, emphasizing the importance of scalability and waste management. The conclusion summarizes the project's key elements, including the network diagram, equipment list, and cost estimates, emphasizing the need for a manageable and scalable network to support various departments within AusEd. The project also provides a list of references used in the proposal.

Table of Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................2
Project description.....................................................................................................................................2
Scope and the purpose of the Problem.....................................................................................................3
Assumptions and the system Scope..........................................................................................................3
Logical Network Design Diagram...........................................................................................................5
Justifications to used hardwares..............................................................................................................6
Growth of AusEd to become an economy that is sustainable.................................................................6
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................................7
References List...........................................................................................................................................7

Introduction
When we want to understand the way an IT firm work when you do not have any knowledge
with information technology or ICT then it might be very hard for the management of an
organisation. There are concepts that can only be explained by the IT experts in the company.
AusEd is in need of a plan on how to implement its current network design to a network that will
be scalable and that will be used in future to support over 2500 hosts in the school premises
(Adato, 2015). The first task of the IT manager is understanding the number of hosts that are to
be expected to use the network after the implementation of such design. After identifying the
number of hosts we have to know the number of equipment’s that are already available and we
will try to analyse and know which one we can use and which ones we cannot making it easy for
us to have a clear mind. Thirdly, is that we need to know the set budget by AusEd for the
proposed project so that we can give them our quotation and see if the school will afford. When
explaining some of the things to be widely considered when doing the formulation of such
project we will advise on some of the best considerations when networking such as the security,
the flexibility and scalability of the entire network. The main idea is developing a network design
that will be easy to manage, can be extended easily and much more that will be affordable to the
company and in case of errors or issues we can be able to troubleshoot.
Project description.
The idea being brought about in this context is the need for maintaining its accounting system in
running the exclusive MYOB software’s, to greatly improve the relationship with the customers
or clients where their intention is using the SUGAR CRM SOFTWARE and Microsoft exchange
server in the system of receiving and sending emails. The idea behind this project is giving a
clear and detailed analysis on the design of the network. AusEd have over 2500 host from the
students to marketing, course delivery divisions, sales and admin and this will need us to do a
detailed evaluation on the appropriate model to use and how the following chosen model will be
used for designing the required system. The networking devices that are to be interconnected
includes things like the personal computers, laptops for administrations, printers, scanners among
others.
In developing the IT infrastructure which is a wide area network we are needed to come up with
a logical diagram clearly stating all the resources that have been used and if they meet the

requirements of the school. The other description is that we need to extend our local area
network in the institution so that we can have wireless connections where students with their
own laptops and smartphones can be able to access the WI-FI signals in all corners of the
institution.
Scope and the purpose of the Problem.
The reason to as why AusEd need to achieve its strategic plan was to do an analysis of their IT
Infrastructure. The strategic plan of AusEd is intended to increase the diversified funds sources
and minimize the costs of the core non-activities. After they achieve the strategic plan AusEd
have an idea that they think they might implement in future after the network has been set and
that is the technology plan whose main idea is to achieve two major tasks. The first task in the
technology plan is creating an offline Moodle in cases where students want to access their
personal computers and lastly is developing kind of Moodle which is like an add-on that will
help the students to do photo exams on the school machines. The purpose and scope of the
problem is to understand how the network will be scalable and flexible so that it will help the
AusEd to accommodate any more devices when needed in the future (Coleman, 2012).
Assumptions and the system Scope
In any project we must give some assumptions with regards to what we are expected to achieve
at the end of the day. In this case we might have some several assumptions made with respect to
the plan and implementation of the system. The first assumption is that we think the management
will support us fully and that they will not interrupts or involve themselves during
implementations. Secondly we assume that the logical diagram is just a diagram to give the way
forward and that it will be used to explain the details of the expected network design. Third
assumptions is that AusEd will manage to buy all the required network devices without a
problem. Fourth is that the cost given is just an almost estimate in the real world as the explained
expected network devices. Last but not least is that in this context we intend to use the
Hierarchical design model which has the three layers?

Networking Devices.
Device Name What it Does
1. Router This is the devices that connects the Local area network LAN to the
internets. It is used by both the client and the ISP
2. Cables This are the devices that are used for transmitting info and carrying
information from one place to the other through the networking devices, it
is also joined with RJ 45 Connector to interconnect between devices.
3. Switch A device that helps to enhance how flexible and scalable a network is when
we are doing configuration. Switch do usually have ports where the RJ 45
connectors are inserted.
4. WAP transceiver This are devices used for broadcasting the wireless signals which are known
as the WIFI signals.
5 Server This is a device that is used in the storage and resources shared in the
network. There are so many servers that exists in the when setting the
network and in this case we can mention some of them such as the.
1. DHCP- this is a server that assigns the IP address automatically to
the devices connected over the network.
2. Mail server is used for managing the emails transfers in the network.
3. A file server is used for storing and managing all the resources
transferred
4. Doman Name Server is a server used to match the domain names
with their corresponding Ip addresses in the specified network the
network.
6 Access devices Devices that access the network in AusEd institution such as the
workstations, IP-phones, laptops, scanner among others.
7 Security Devices These are devices used to offer provision of securities in the area where
they are supposed filter the data coming and going out which is done by a
device called firewall. Another security device is the use of virtual private

network that is used in providing encryption that will help both the intended
recipient and the sender to be the only people interpreting the message.
8 Among the mentioned devices we might have other devices such as the use of a hub, gateway,
bridge, repeater, RJ 45 connectors, printers, scanners, photocopiers etc.
-
Logical Network Design Diagram
Figure 1 packet tracer using logical diagram
From the diagram simulated above we can clearly say that we have computers, Iphones and
servers among others which are interconnected to work as a team. The work of the DHCP server
in this context is to assign IP addresses to all other networking devices by configuring them
automatically the moment they are detected to be using the network so that in case of anything
we can be able to troubleshoot where the problem initiated. (Macken, 2016). The work of the
DNS server in this context is matching the web files of the hosted resources on the server while
all the webservers are used for hosting the exact website of AusEd which will help the distant

learning student to have information close to them because they only need to login in to the
school website and access all the materials (Meena, 2017).
Name of Device used Manufacturer Quantity needed Price total Cost ($)
Computers Dell 1500 1500000
Servers Cisco 10 250000
IP-Iphones cisco 80 16000
Switches Cisco 20 20000
Routers Cisco 1 2500
Cables 4000 feet 100000
Firewall device Cisco 3 4000
VPNs Cisco 2 4500
WAP Transceiver Cisco 10 18000
Other Costs 30000
TOTAL 1,945,000
Justifications to used hardware’s
The reason behind using the two major companies that is the Dell and Cisco for their hardware’s
is because they integrate very well in that they allow interoperability and they are compatible in
so many ways.
Growth of AusEd to become an economy that is sustainable.
The application of the E-waste technique will be needed to be applied where we will have to
consider the technique of the electronic waste where all the obsolete devices will be dismantled
immediately after the analysis. The analysis of the existing equipment’s which will be achieved
will help us in breaking down the problem in to small pieces. AusEd have decided to sustain its
economy by making sure that what will be set in the institution is a network design that will

allow future scalability and extensibility. The decision to use the three hierarchical network
design is the major idea that will help the network as it will be broken down in to three layers
namely the core, distribution and the access layer.
In sustaining the economy we see that the waste will be put in to good waste and the setting of
the hierarchical network design will allow the institution to add more devices in future as well as
making it easy to troubleshoot when a problem arises. When we have a good network in AusEd
we will have many people commenting on how easy it is when accessing the leaning materials in
AusEd which will lead to promotion of the institution and this will lead to many students
enrolled to the online materials through the distant learning which will lead to more income
making the economy to be very sustainable.
Conclusion
The research above was based on the showing the network diagram, the list of equipment’s to be
used and an estimate of the entire expected cost. From the students to the course delivery
division to the marketing division to the sales and lastly to the administration will need a network
design that will be easy to manage and in case of problem we can be able to troubleshoot. The
idea behind choosing the three hierarchical was to allow future flexibility and scalability of
AusEd network.
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