Comprehensive IT Infrastructure Design Proposal for iTech Company

This report provides a detailed IT infrastructure design proposal for iTech Company, a software development firm with three adjacent buildings and a data center. The proposal focuses on enhancing the current network, which is poorly designed and lacks scalability, by implementing a three-layer hierarchical model. The report outlines essential IT infrastructure components such as switches, routers, wireless access points, and various server/storage components. It analyzes the geographical scope of the network, considering a many-to-many approach to facilitate interconnectivity across the buildings and the data center. The design includes both dedicated server and cloud-based solutions, with considerations for scalability, easy troubleshooting, and improved security. The report also details a network simulation and provides recommendations for iTech to improve its network design, emphasizing the benefits of the proposed design for efficient information processing and overall operational effectiveness.

Topic: IT Infrastructure
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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
IT Infrastructure Components.....................................................................................................................4
Three-Layer Hierarchical Model..................................................................................................................6
Geographical scope of the network.............................................................................................................8
Dedicated server design proposal.............................................................................................................11
Logical Design for dedicated server design...............................................................................................11
Cloud Based Design...................................................................................................................................14
Network simulation...................................................................................................................................15
Conclusions and Recommendations..........................................................................................................21
Reference..................................................................................................................................................22

Introduction
Networking in computing is the act of interconnecting various computing devices for the purpose
of sharing resources such as data, printers, servers among others (Mitchell, 2017). Computer
networks come with various designs depending on the organization in which the network is to be
implemented. This report therefore, provides a proposal of a networking design that should be
adapted both using dedicated server and cloud hosting techniques for iTech organization.
Aim and Objective
This project is aimed at achieving various objectives in helping the company conduct its services
more efficiently and effectively (Coleman, 2012). The operational and business objectives to be
achieved using this network design are:
Scalability – The new network design should accommodate addition of more network equipment
if need be, without having to redo the whole network installation. This means that in the event
where iTech wishes to add more workstations to its network, the space will be available and the
process made easy.
Easy troubleshooting and management – The iTech network design should be easy to
troubleshoot in case of any problems and also it should enable the organization to be able to
manage the network more effectively.
Secured iTech services – This network should enhance a more secure environment for the
operations of iTech administrative functionalities in rendering services to its clients and between
its adjacent offices between the three buildings adjacent to each other.
Effective information processing – The network design is aimed at ensuring that users are able
to retrieve. Process and store information related to iTech operational services more effectively
and in a transparent manner.
This report provides a thorough analysis of the IT infrastructure components required, three-
layered hierarchical network model, dedicated server network design, cloud based network
design and DCB network simulation of the proposed network design for iTech Company. The
report also provides various recommendations to ITech Company on the proposed design and
finally the conclusion of the whole report.
Background of iTech Company
iTech is a software development company located between three adjacent five-story buildings in
an office park. It has 900-computer network with each building having about 300 computers. The
three buildings of ITech Company have similar LAN. It also has a Data Center Buildng (DCB)
which is located on one of the iTech buildings and the data center is located on its second floor.
This data center provides emailing and web services as well as dynamic IP addresses, file sharing
and DNS services to iTech employees. This organization’s domain name is www.iTech.org.au.
The current network design is poor and does not meet the needs of the company effectively
hence need for replacement.

IT Infrastructure Components
There are various components of IT infrastructure that facilitates the design of a good network
design for different organizations. In the case of iTech Company, the following are components
of IT infrastructure that will be needed for designing the new network.
Computer Hardware Components
These are more important IT infrastructure of network designs. They consist of various hardware
components such as:
a) Switches
This is a hardware device that connects various computer devices within a single local area
network (Mitchell, 2017). There are various types of networking switches that can be used by
iTech Company but based on the scalability factor modular switches are more preferred in this
project. Modular switches enhance flexibility during configuration. These switches come with
different size chassis which allows for the installations of various numbers of modular line cards.
This means that the number of ports on such switch can be increased in case of any addition of
networking device hence facilitating scalability. The switch is as shown below.
b) Router
The routers are devices that will connect the network to the internet. The router will provide
embedded device encryption acceleration, slots for digital signal processing (DSP) slots, firewall,
prevent intrusion, processing call, application services and voice calls.
c) Wireless Access Point (WAP)
This is a networking device that creates wireless LAN referred to WLAN. This device broadcast
Wi-Fi signal within the buildings thus allowing more end user devices to be connected to the
network.
d) Fiber cable

This serves as a transmission media that connects various networking devices to the network.
Fiber cable will be used to connect network backbones from the core layer to distribution layer
and finally to the access layer of the iTech network design.
e) Server/Storage Components
These are components that manage access to shared resources and services in a network. This
include the mail server, DNS server, DHCP server, Web server, file server, Database server and
print server.
f) Cat 6 Ethernet cable
This shall provide connection of data access to network wireless access points devices due to its
higher speed.
g) Cat 5 Ethernet cable
This cable shall provide connection of access layer devices to the iTech network (LAN).
h) Workstations devices
This includes employee’s computers as well as office IP phones that will be connected to the
network of iTech Company.
Operating System Components
These include workstations operating systems, operating system to be used by servers in the
network and Network Operating System (NOS) which manages computer network resources
shared across the iTech Networking Platform.
All these IT Infrastructure components are very essential in enhancing quality network design for
iTech Company in order to achieve the set objectives and bring a new networking look to the
entire organization. The network to be designed will therefore rely on these components in order
to be successful (Mbaocha, 2012).

Three-Layer Hierarchical Model
Introduction
This is a networking design where the network is broken down into three layers. Each layer in
this model performs specific functions which lead to simplifying of the network design thus
making it easy to scale and manage the network (CISCO, 2014). The three layers of this model
are;
Access layer – This layer provides direct end user connection to the network.
Distribution layer – This layer connects access layer components and also enables connectivity
of access layer to services
Core layers – This layer connects distribution layers to large LAN in the organization.
The three layers can be represented diagrammatically as seen below.
Therefore, the proposed network design for iTech Company should adapt this model considering
that the organization is big having being located on the three adjacent buildings that host about
300 workstations and a Data Center on one of the building. Isolating this network into layers will
make it easy for iTech Company to manage the whole network as well as enhance scalability in
future.
Analysis of the current and future iTech IT Infrastructure requirements

Current iTech IT Infrastructure
The current network design at iTech Company is poorly designed. The IT infrastructure in this
network is not well organized and the current networking model in use is Flat network model
where all the networking components are treated to be on the same level. This makes it hard to
manage the network design as well as conduct the operations effectively considering the large
size of iTech Company. Also the current IT infrastructure at iTech Company is not easily
scalable. This is because with flat network model an addition of a new component to the network
might affect the operation of the other existing networking components. Considering that the
LAN in each building is similar in both design and operations, this explains the difficulties that
the company may be facing especially in carrying out activities such as troubleshooting in case
of any problem since there is no defined structure that clearly shows how each networking
component operates. Also the current IT infrastructure is poorly secured and in the case where
there is a problem the whole network at iTech might be paralyzed. An example of the flat model
is as shown below
Future iTech IT Infrastructure
The proposed future design of iTech Company will be based on three-layer hierarchical design.
These designs will highlight each component in each layer in the design. The three-layer will
simplify the whole iTech Company network design, make it more flexible, scalable, and easy to
manage and troubleshoot and improved processing speed. The three buildings where ITech
Company operates from will have a clear and visible network design since each network block is
well defined and structured (Cisco, 2013). This structure can be represented diagrammatically in
the block below.

Geographical scope of the network
iTech Company has three five-story buildings where its offices are located. The offices being
adjacent to each other with a data center located on one of the building on the second floor, it
therefore means that the geographical scope requirement for the proposed network would be
many-to-many. The many-to-many geographical scope would be as a result of having different
networking devices defined on different layers of the three- layer hierarchical model. The many-
to-many geographical requirement will enable interconnectivity between the three LANs in the
three buildings as well as all the network components represented in each layer. This
geographical requirement for iTech Company network design can be represented with respect to
each layer of the model as discussed below.
Access Layer
This layer provides an interface with end user devices such as the computers, IP phones, printers,
to enable access to the whole of the iTech Network. The main purpose of this layer is to ensure
that it connects networking devices to the network and control the mode of communication
located to each network (CISCO, 2014). Here many access ayer devices may be connected to a
number of switches on each of the iTech buildings considering the number of offices available
on each building. The access layer in each building with about 300 computers interconnects and
converges to the distribution layer of the network design. The access layer for each floor of the a
given iTech Company Building will resemble the diagram below
Distribution Layer
The main function of this layer is to provide an interface between both the access layer
components and the core components in the network.it is in this layer that network access
functionalities, intelligent routing and switching occurs in the whole network of iTech Company.
Here also differentiation of services is done where various services are grouped into classes at
the edge of the whole network design. Thus, ensuring high availability of the core to the access
layer end user devices.

Core Layer
This layer consist of devices such as routers which acts like a central hubs that enables network
functions to be able to access both the external and internal network. This layer of the model
brings together all the distribution layer switches from the three iTech buildings. It is in this layer
that scalable, reliable and high speed connectivity is provided.
The geographical scope of the iTech Company network design can be represented in the diagram
below as per the three-layer hierarchical model discussed.

Scalability of iTech Network
With such a design in place for iTech network, each module of the network design will enable
iTech to replicate various network components or elements as the network expands. Thus,
making the iTech Network possible to conduct expansion planning and implementation more
easily than their current situation. This can be done by adding more distribution layer switches
to accommodate more access layer end users. Also with this design more core layer switches can
as well be added to accommodate additional workstations operations in the network (Guide,
2011) .

Dedicated server design proposal
A dedicated server is a centralized computer device that stores information and allows sharing
and accessibility of that information by various workstations in a network (Hope, 2017). There is
various numbers of servers that iTech Company will need in their network. These servers will
perform various functions within the network and across the entire organization at large. Some of
these servers include;
File Server
This server will manage the storage and transfer of data files across the entire network of iTech
company (Rouse, 2009).
Mail Server
This is an application that manages incoming emails from all the workstations within
www.iTech.org.au domain. This server also forwards the emails upon delivery to their intended
destinations. Thus mail server will manage all the emails communication within the iTech
network.
Web Server
The purpose of this server is to use the http to provide services to the users whose request result
to calling of a web page file. For instance, the web server is where iTech domain name
www.iTech.org.au will be hosted and any request from the employees or iTech clients will be
processed by this server.
DNS Server
This server matches the domain names with their associated IP addresses within the iTech
network and they are provided by Internet Service Providers (ISP). It processes requests from the
workstations and locate the response using the IP address.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server
This is a network server that generates and automatically assigns IP addresses and default
gateways to end users devices connected to the network.
Logical Design for dedicated server design
The logical design for the dedicated server design for iTech network can be represented in the
diagram below.

From the diagram above it is seen that iTech Data Center hosts all the dedicated servers on this
proposed network design for iTech Company. All the requests from the workstations in each
building are being processed at the data center where all the servers are located. The dedicated
server design above depicts the three-layer hierarchical design proposed for iTech Company.