Top Network Company LAN Design Report: Data Communication and Networks

This report presents a LAN design for Top Network Company (TNC), an IT company based in Sydney, Australia, with three departments: Administration, Marketing, and Sales. The report outlines the use of a Local Area Network (LAN) to facilitate communication and data sharing between these departments. The design incorporates switches for intra-departmental connections and routers for inter-departmental and internet connectivity. Key components include Layer 2 switching, MAC address utilization, and Meraki MX84 routers. The report also suggests the use of FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) protocol with a star topology. Furthermore, it describes the essential interconnecting devices like switches, routers, hubs, and fiber optic cables. The conclusion highlights how this LAN design can improve internet speed and connectivity within the organization.

DATA COMMUNICATION
AND NETWORKS

Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1
2. DESIGN AND DESCRIPTION OF LAN...................................................................................1
3. DESCRIPTION OF ALL INTERCONNECTING DEVICES....................................................2
4. CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................2

1. INTRODUCTION
The mode by which two or more system can communicate with each other like sharing
data and information is known as network. There are three types of network:- LAN(local area
network), MAN(metropolitan area network), WAN(wide area network).
Top Network Company (TNC), a Sydney based IT company having three main
departments in the building Administration, Marketing, Sales. LAN is best option for making
inter-personal as well as intra-personal connects between all three departments. Networking is
one of the key requirements for an Top Network Company as it help the system to communicate
with each other can make sharing of data and informations easier.
2. DESIGN AND DESCRIPTION OF LAN
For making a small system of LAN, use of switches and routers are the best option. As
making a system which is extendable in future can make the system cost efficient. Company can
use switches to make intra-personal connection between the systems and Routers to make
connection between the networks. Here, Top Network Company can create a network using a
switches for an individual department and using routers all departments will get connected to
each other.
Here each and every workstation of an individual department in Top Network Company
get connected through Layer 2 switching, which is based on OSI layer 2. On each network node
the MAC address of NIC is used to transmit data between the systems. They copy the MAC
address of each received frame by coping it or by listening to device on network and maintaining
the MAC address in forwarding table. Then routers can be use for providing internet and LAN
connection to the systems. Here company can use Meraki MX84 router on each floor which is
able to provide services for up-to 200 clients. Use of router make it easy to establish connects
between departments.
FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data interface) can be use as LAN protocol, which can be
installed over the server hub having router in each department. This is a set of ANSI and ISO
which uses fiber optical cable for establishment of physical connection. The topology that can be
use in this are Ring and Star topology. Star topology can be more convenient for the system as it
have a hub like router and then get connected to each and every system to provide services to
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them. This topology allow user to get connect individually to the hub, due to which whole
system do not get affect if any switch or system meet failure.
3. DESCRIPTION OF ALL INTERCONNECTING DEVICES
To establish the connection some hardware are required in the system and to connect
hardware wires are also required. Some of basic hardware required are:-
 Switches- Switches are devices use to connect systems in LAN, which use to transmit
data in packet form. This device have functionality similar to bridges but have higher
speed for transmission comparing to bridges. Due to it's speed and accuracy of sending
data packets, this is very commonly used device in LAN connection,.
 Router- Router is a device which works on network Layer 3. This help to route data
between similar as well as dissimilar data networks. This device have more power then a
bridge and a LAN switch, as it use to check network protocol as well as address of the
systems involving in network. This device also can use to make connection between
different departments and hubs. Top Network Company can also use them to provide
internet connection to the system.
 Hub- Hub is the centre of the system which is used in star topology network, this work to
repeat and amplifies signals. This device basically use to connect 'n' number of devices
present to make a LAN. Multiple hubs can be connected to one another for expanding the
size of the network.
 Wires- For this LAN system, fiber optical cable is used. This type of cable are little more
expensive then compared to twisted pair, but this have thousand of times more copper
then twisted pair and can carry hundreds of times more data then repeaters. These cable
are use to connect long distance switches also.
4. CONCLUSION
With the help of above mentioned report, a LAN network is designed for Top Network
Company based in Sydney (Australia) having three different departments- Administration,
Marketing, and sales. For making this network switches, router and hub are the basic
requirements along with fiber optical cable. This could help this organisation in experiencing
high speed internet with the help of LAN connection between the systems and departments.
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