University Network Redesign: Hotel Barranquilla Plaza Analysis Report

This report analyzes the network requirements of Hotel Barranquilla Plaza (HBP) and proposes a redesign based on a three-layered hierarchical network architecture. The report begins by outlining the current network infrastructure, which includes routers, switches, and wireless access points, and identifies performance issues such as poor wireless access and frequent network failures. A questionnaire was conducted to gather user-centric data. The report then details the advantages of a three-layered hierarchical network, including ease of setup, cost savings, security, and traffic multiplexing. The existing network design and the proposed redesign are illustrated with network diagrams, showcasing the transformation from a single-switch design to a modular three-layered structure with core, distribution, and access layers. The report concludes by discussing the network hardware components used, such as firewalls, routers, switches, and wireless access points, and summarizing the successful analysis and redesign of the HBP network.

Running head: REDESIGN OF HBP NETWORK
Redesign of HBP Network
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
REDESIGN OF HBP NETWORK
Summary
The objective of this report is about analysing the requirements of the network of Hotel Barranquilla
Plaza or HBP and according to information gained from a questionnaire redesign the present
network of the hotel based on three layered hierarchical networks. At first the requirements of the
network get described and a questionnaire is performed that tries to gather user centric data for this
network. Thereafter, this study talks about three layered hierarchical networks and the advantages
that can be obtained from them. Then the hotel’s current design as well as its redesign is illustrated
with two network diagrams and each of them is discussed in short. The report then touches upon
the respective equipment utilized to set up the network of the hotel after which this report ends
with observations in the conclusion section.

2
REDESIGN OF HBP NETWORK
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Discussion..................................................................................................................................3
Requirement Summary...........................................................................................................3
Questionnaire.........................................................................................................................3
Three-layered hierarchical network architecture...................................................................4
Present Network Design.........................................................................................................6
Redesign of HBP Network.....................................................................................................7
Network Hardware.................................................................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
References..................................................................................................................................9

3
REDESIGN OF HBP NETWORK
Introduction
The following report is all about analysing the requirements of the network of Hotel
Barranquilla Plaza or HBP and according to information gained from a questionnaire redesign the
present network of the hotel based on three layered hierarchical networks. At first the requirements
of the network get described and a questionnaire is performed that tries to gather user centric data
for this network. Thereafter, this study talks about three layered hierarchical networks and the
advantages that can be obtained from them. Then the current design as well as its redesign of HBP’s
hierarchical network is illustrated with two network diagrams and each of them is discussed in short
[3]. The report then touches upon the respective equipment utilized to set up the network of the
hotel after which this report ends with observations in the conclusion section.
Discussion
Requirement Summary
The network infrastructure of hotel Barranquilla Plaza comprises of a two layered modular
and hierarchical network design. The network is built with firewall, routers, switch and wireless
access points. The individual devices connected to the network are the workstation computers
present in the various departments of HBP and every smartphone in use throughout the hotel
building and premises. The five departments and the wireless access points are assigned different
VLANs [2]. While one router routes the network connection of the hotel other serves as a backup.
The IP addresses get assigned to all the devices connected to the network via the DHCP protocol.
The performance of HBP’s network started to show issues from the very beginning [1]. The
outcome of which resulted in poor Wireless access for smartphones and were affected from
frequent network failures in the likes of drops in connection, dead zones and capacity issues [4]. The
revised networking solution provided through acquiring of TP-Link access points and switches ended
up improving wireless network connectivity dramatically.
To carry on improving network performance, the existing network needs to be redesigned.
The redesign aims to transform the present network into a fully modular three-layered hierarchical
network consisting of the core, distribution and access layers. Redundancy is a must at the network’s
core layer which is ensured by having a backup router. This will help in assuring that day to day
business of Hotel Barranquilla Plaza is not affected from network failures in the router.

4
REDESIGN OF HBP NETWORK
Questionnaire
Which of the roles mentioned matches you?
 Administrator
 Employee
 Manager
 Visitor
What type of device do you use?
 Smartphone
 Workstation
 Laptop
How do you find the performance of HBP’s network?
 Fast
 Good enough
 Average
 Poor
Are there signal issues in the wireless network?
 In some floors
 In some rooms
 In parts of the campus
 No signal issues

5
REDESIGN OF HBP NETWORK
Three-layered hierarchical network architecture
Hierarchical three-layered networks comprise of core, distribution and access layers and
associated network hardware. The core layer components are with routing the network to the
distribution layer switches. These switches acquire the network connection from either of the
routers and then distributes the connection to different switches in the access layer. Switches in the
access layer provides access to the network for all devices that are connected to HBP’s network.
Advantages of using a three-layered hierarchical network are:
Easy to set up: Three layered hierarchical networks are easy to set up and manage. This results from
the connectivity and cabling of network hardware following logical patterns representing the
organizational structure. Different parts of an organization’s network can clearly be segmented and
hence implementable very easily with future modifications requiring only minor adjustments.
Saving the Cost: Network equipment like switches, routers, cables and wireless access points can get
pretty expensive and yet they are extremely essential for implementing networks of any business
organization. Implementation of hierarchical and modular network helps businesses save on
equipment cost in setting up their network as least number of equipment are required in such
designs. Since these networks are modular, additional equipment can simply be bought and added
to the network ensuring linear increments in expenses for expanding a given network.
Security: Hierarchical networks ensure security through customized access controls for traffic
management and administrative purposes. The access controls can be applied for a given
department as also the whole organization to have tailored traffic plans for every use case [6]. These
networks even aid in hiding network specific details and configuration information from the public
and therefore reduces and limits the scope network failures be it by mistake or wilful act of
sabotage.
Traffic Multiplexing: This is all about propagating network traffic of various types of users while
using the same routing hardware, interfaces and cables. Networks here not only allow intra domain
routing but also inter domain routing throughout the network of organizations. Thus, this helps big
complex networks in large enterprise tremendously by ensuring intercommunications between all
devices of various sections without a hitch.

6
REDESIGN OF HBP NETWORK
Present Network Design
Figure 1: Present network of HBP
The above diagram shows how HBP’s network is presently configured. The design is drawn
and configured by using a network simulation application called Cisco Packet Tracer [7]. At the core,
the network includes two routers among which one is routing the hotel’s network to the switch
while the other is serving as backup in case of failures in the active router. Network connection is
providing to all departmental devices along with the smartphones present in and around the hotel
through the same switch. About 80 wireless access points are configured to provide wireless
connectivity to smartphones. Such excessive branching from a single switch is affecting network
performance and hence requires a better design.

7
REDESIGN OF HBP NETWORK
Redesign of HBP Network
Figure 2: Redesigned HBP network
In redesigning Hotel Barranquilla Plaza’s network, the single switch found in the present
design gets converted to a switch to the third (distribution) layer to the network. More switches get
added to the network and placed between the distribution switch and the individual devices. Five
such access layer switches are dedicated to provide access to their respective departments. Other
ones are the three Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches that provide connections to 70 wireless
access points using the same VLAN.
Network Hardware
The different components of the network required to implement in design and redesign of
HBP’s network are – firewall device, two routers, multiple PoE switches and a range of wireless
access points.

8
REDESIGN OF HBP NETWORK
Cisco ASA 5505 (Firewall): This firewall equipment offered by Cisco is built on the ASA (Adaptive
Security Appliance) platform [5]. The internet obtained from the ISP (Internet Service Provider) gets
screened by this firewall even before reaching either router.
Cisco RV320 (Router): These routers are time tested products from Cisco for the business users.
Such routers get extensively used in medium sized businesses.
TP-Link TL-SG3424P (Switch): They are the Power Over Ethernet (PoE) switches offered by TP-Link
[8]. They provide network connections to all wireless access points.
TP-Link EAP120 (Wireless Access Point): They are wireless access points offered by TP-Link and uses
the Atheros 560mhz chipset from Qualcomm. 70-80 of these products were involved in this study.
Conclusion
To conclude, the following report clearly succeeds in carefully analysing the requirements of
the network of Hotel Barranquilla Plaza or HBP and according to information gained from a
questionnaire redesign the present network of the hotel based on three layered hierarchical
networks. At first the requirements of the network get described and a questionnaire is performed
that tries to gather user centric data for this network. Thereafter, this study talks about three
layered hierarchical networks and the advantages that can be obtained from them. Then the hotel’s
current design as well as its redesign is illustrated with two network diagrams and each of them is
discussed in short. The report then touches upon the respective equipment utilized to set up the
network of the hotel after which this report ends.

9
REDESIGN OF HBP NETWORK
References
[1] G.E. Valencia Ochoa, C., Escorcia, Y. del Carmen, and L. Meriño, Application of equivalent
occupation method as a tool for energy management in hotel sector. , 2018.
[2] J. Akram, N. Akram, S. Mamoon, S. Ali, and N. Naseer, Future and Techniques of Implementing
Security in VLAN. Journal of Network Communications and Emerging Technologies (JNCET), 7(5). ,
2017.
[3] J. Wu, K. Ota, M. Dong, and C. Li, A hierarchical security framework for defending against
sophisticated attacks on wireless sensor networks in smart cities. IEEE Access, 4, pp.416-424. ., 2016.
[4] N.I. Sulieman, E., Balevi, K. Davaslioglu, and R.D. Gitlin, Diversity and Network coded 5G fronthaul
wireless networks for ultra reliable and low latency communications. In 2017 IEEE 28th Annual
International Symposium on Personal, Indoor, and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC) (pp. 1-6).
IEEE. 2017 October.
[5] N.M. Iacob, Data security for e-learning platforms. Knowledge Horizons. Economics, 7(1), p.85. ,
2015.
[6] P. Gora, and I. Rüb, Traffic models for self-driving connected cars. Transportation Research
Procedia, 14, pp.2207-2216. , 2016.
[7] T.S. Chou, S. Baker, and M. Vega-Herrera, A comparison of network simulation and emulation
virtualization tools. In Proc. ASEE Annu. Conf. Expo. (pp. 1-9). , 2016, June.
[8] Z. Xiao, An Efficient Power Over Ethernet (PoE) Interface With Current-Balancing and Hot-
Swapping Control. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 65(3), pp.2496-2506. 2017.