Network Engineering Competency Development: A Comprehensive Report

This report delves into the critical competencies required for network engineers, focusing on the practical aspects of network configuration and management. The report begins by outlining the core responsibilities of a network engineer, emphasizing the need for a deep understanding of network infrastructure and the applications it supports. It then identifies key areas for competency development, including configuring virtual networks to minimize costs and enhance flexibility, setting up VOIP devices to improve communication and mobility within an organization, and configuring new switches to optimize LAN performance and reliability. The report also explores innovative practices for enhancing these competencies, such as selecting appropriate security protocols for VPNs, utilizing VLANs and IP subnets for traffic management, and ensuring the network can handle the additional load of VOIP. The conclusion stresses the importance of adaptability, proven techniques, and cost-effective solutions in creating a future-proof network infrastructure.

Developing Competencies 1
Developing Competencies
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Developing Competencies 2
Existing Networking Skills
As we know that network engineers are positioned at the core of the network foundation, they
must be able to deeply understand the network infrastructure as well as the applications running
on them. Network is considered as the nucleus of the entire technologies that has the ability to
combine all applications, the network engineer must integrate these applications together.
Having advances such as automation of entire system and SDN, systems of today are custom-
made around the entire applications that are running crosswise over them. Accordingly,
engineers must have the capacity to comprehend application need, understanding network traffic,
and other arrangement to streamline information transport. (Froehlich, A., 2017).
System designers can work internally or externally depending on the requirement and size of the
organization. They will likely guarantee the uprightness of high accessibility networking
environment to give most extreme execution to their clients. Users might be staff, customers,
clients and providers. Networking engineer is the main person who is responsible for installation,
analysis, engineering as well as execution of new frameworks and advances like Software
Defined Networking; setting and keeping up global system specialized benchmarks; give
improved framework abilities and development; give consultation to tasks and system
organization. (Performance recruitment inc., 2017).
Being a network engineer in IT department in Education sector, my job duties include
responsibilities such as planning, installation, maintenance, investigating troubleshooting or test
systems. I am responsible to configure as well as installation of hardware networking devices
like switches, routers, firewalls and VPN QoS. I am also responsible to perform network support
as well as any network updates that includes service packs, patches, hot fixes or any other
security configuration. By utilizing Command Line Interface (CLIs), I use to configure layer 3

Developing Competencies 3
routers, switches etc. I evacuate or install information outlet which incorporates testing and
fixing Ethernet links and repairing any data ports. By using GUI application to provision, I use to
install, configure or analyze any remote access points. (https://resources.workable.com, 2017).
Developing Networking Competencies
The modern organization's enterprise information and communication technology (ICT) must
needs some adaptable, varying bandwidth alternatives. The demand of enhanced bandwidth is
expanding exponentially over different networking techniques going from private multiprotocol
switching (MPLS) systems to public or private wireless network. It requires another innovation
design that can give agile as well as ensured execution relying upon the particular applications
which is being used. The implementation of secure, hybrid networking device for secure, hybrid
IT organizing is a communication service provider (CSP) which is virtual private system (VPN)
which is capable for delivering good quality voice, video, as well as business information
applications to the scope of business areas. My main aim is to develop the following
competencies so that I can be a better asset for the organization: (Munroe, 2017).
Configuring Virtual Profile for Virtual Network – In order to minimize the installation cost of
networking, we can use virtual networking in the organization. As virtual networking is the main
area of interest for today’s networking. The high speed routing as well as packet forwarding and
in addition encryption whether it is IPsec or SSL and balance traffic load, it all depends on the
dedicated silicon. For all these activities, a dedicated hardware must be required that leads to
increase in the networking expenses. Therefore, these days virtual networking is in trend.
Virtualized networking is used when firewall as well as other routing functions that are
actualized as a component of the virtual switch in every hypervisor. This could bring about ideal
traffic flow between virtual machines whether they have a place with a similar IP subnet or not

Developing Competencies 4
and take care of the issue of network traffic. (Pepelnjak, I., 2017). It is very flexible in terms of
increasing number of users for future. No extra cabling expenses needs to bear by the
organization. It is the secure way for communicating with its remote staff.
This type of networking will help to increase the productivity of the organization. The other staff
of the organization in this working environment have a tendency to dedicate less time and
vitality to ordinary office schedules and more to clients. The option working environment
additionally can give organizations an edge in competing for—and keeping—skilled, profoundly
energetic representatives. (Apgar, M., 1998).
Configuring VOIP Devices - Viable communication helps the organization for performing work
very effectively on time and within specified budget. Administrators as well as group pioneers
who can impart, and relay targets, ideas and particular tasks in a succinct and lucid way, utilizing
the correct options. It helps to contribute to the business in a positive way. Organizations utilize
intranets, applications, messages and video calls to speak with workers crosswise over offices
and areas. Business intranets have additionally turned into the standard in overseeing information
including rules, methods, conventions, corporate reports, marking, logos as well as different
assets. Innovations like VoIP (Voice over IP) are decreasing the requirement for customary
telephones while WebRTC (Web Real Time Communications) empowers video conferencing
from better places far and wide utilizing standard programs and applications. (Elcom, 2016).
By implementing VOIP in the organization, the staff would be able to work in a quiet library or
can connect with other members of the team. VOIP devices will help the staff to easily move
between desk and other room and can easily make the call if they are not on the desk. It will help
to increase the mobility of staff and hence the organization can work in more efficient way. The
essential purpose behind this change is the lessening of operational cost where VOIP innovation

Developing Competencies 5
has progressed and can support voice over the network. I'll get into the system as well as
hardware segments required to set this framework up, with the networking design. (Aruba
Networks, n.d).
Configuring New Switches - The most ideal approach to get more execution from the client's
system is by enhancing LAN execution. That will be taken care of by great design including
things like 100-Megabit or Gigagbit Ethernet switches with Layer 3 and VLAN abilities. Those
center system tools are creating advances that will be vital for developing better network
infrastructure like VoIP that place more requests on systems. The other quality of network is its
reliability. As our customer utilizes multimedia devices like mobiles, IM and Video etc. It's
essential that they have a dependable Internet association and an advanced switch. The quality of
service with voice and video will turn out to be imperative. (Vlasach, M., 2008).
Innovative Practices that can be used to Develop Competencies
In order to enhance new competencies in configuring a network, I will choose which security
convention to run with. SSL/TLS, IPSec, PPTP, and L2TP are the absolute VPN protocols, with
SSL and IPSec demonstrating most prominent with corporate clients. Adaptability is another
central point to consider when setting up the VPN. The devices in Layer 2 must be in a flat
system with minimum control broadcasts or to filter the undesirable network traffic. Data about
the present network and administrations is assembled and must be analyzed. It is important to
look at the usefulness of the current system with the characterized objectives of the new task.
Utilizing VLANs and IP subnets is the most widely recognized technique for isolating user
groups as well as the network traffic in the access layer network. Ordering information at or
close to the source empowers the information to be assigning the priority when movement is all
along the network traffic. Isolating traffic with comparative qualities into classes, and after that

Developing Competencies 6
denoting that movement, is a capacity of the devices at the distribution layers. A case of this
system is to put the voice activity on an access switch into a solitary VLAN. The devices at that
point denotes the movement beginning from the voice VLAN with the most astounding need.
(http://www.scte.org/, n.d).
Adding VOIP to the network can be a critical extra load for the entire network. I have to ensure it
can deal with the extra traffic easily, with no discernable delay during making calls. Also, IP
calls signals must be clear and strong enough for the calls put on the PSTN. By deploying IP
PBX framework or adding a voice protocol to the system is challenging; it influences the whole
system, from ability to execution. So, I would like to work with my seniors so that I can get the
right solution. (Sampson, P., 2011).
Conclusions
Configuring VPN as well as its operations are presently business-based. Profound abilities,
demonstrated techniques and powerful procedures are vital to satisfying organization particular
objectives at moderate cost – and for making a future-confirmation, the agile solution that can
adjust to evolving needs. A prime illustration is Managed VPN Services. This solution grants
outstanding economies of networking expenses for the entire network while delivering an
enduring change in quality ensured by the supplier's operational magnificence.

Developing Competencies 7
References
Apgar, M. (1998). The Alternative Workplace: Changing Where and How People Work. [Online]
Available at: https://hbr.org/1998/05/the-alternative-workplace-changing-where-and-
how-people-work [Accessed 6th Sep. 2017]
Chapter 1 - Introducing Network Design Concepts. [Online] Available at:
http://www.scte.org/documents/pdf/CCNA4%20Sample.pdf [Accessed 6th Sep. 2017]
Communication Tools Used in Modern Day Business. Elcom (2016). [Online] Available at:
https://www.elcomcms.com/resources/blog/communication-tools-used-in-modern-day-
business [Accessed 6th Sep. 2017]
Froehlich, A. (2017). 8 Skills Network Engineers Need In 2017. [Online] Available at:
http://www.networkcomputing.com/careers/8-skills-network-engineers-need-
2017/424210919 [Accessed 6th Sep. 2017]
Lead Network Engineer. Performance recruitment inc. (2017). [Online] Available at:
http://www.prdfw.com/jobs/lead-network-engineer/ [Accessed 6th Sep. 2017]
Munroe (2017). The Future of the Distributed Enterprise: IP VPN and Ethernet Wide Area
Networks Enhanced by SD-WAN and Virtualized Network Solutions. AT&T. [Online]
Available at: https://www.business.att.com/content/whitepaper/att-ipvpn-ethernet-
distributed-enterprise-white-paper.pdf [Accessed 6th Sep. 2017]
Network Engineer job description. [Online] Available at:
https://resources.workable.com/network-engineer-job-description [Accessed 6th Sep.
2017]

Developing Competencies 8
Pepelnjak, I. (2017). Virtual network appliances: Benefits and drawbacks. [Online] Available at:
http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/tip/Virtual-network-appliances-Benefits-and-
drawbacks [Accessed 6th Sep. 2017]
Sampson, P. (2011). 3 steps for Implementing VoIP in Your Small Business. [Online] Available
at: https://blogs.cisco.com/smallbusiness/3-steps-for-implementing-voip-in-your-small-
business [Accessed 6th Sep. 2017]
Vlasach, M. (2008). What are the top reasons for network upgrades? [Online] Available at:
http://searchitchannel.techtarget.com/answer/What-are-the-top-reasons-for-network-
upgrades [Accessed 6th Sep. 2017]
Voice over IP (VoIP) Deployment with Aruba Mobility Access Switch. Aruba Networks (n.d).
[Online] Available at:
https://community.arubanetworks.com/aruba/attachments/aruba/Aruba-VRDs/23/1/Voice
%20over%20IP%20(VoIP)%20Deployment%20with%20Aruba%20Mobility%20Access
%20Switch.pdf [Accessed 6th Sep. 2017]

Developing Competencies 9
Appendix
(Configuring VPN Network)
(Configuring VOIP Device in the network)

Developing Competencies 10
(Configuring new switch in the network)