Advanced Network Design Report: Requirement Gathering and Design

This report details the design and implementation of a network for Excelfior Ltd., addressing networking issues impacting operations across various departments. The report begins with requirement gathering, including user, application, and device specifications, and utilizes questionnaires to collect data from staff and management. The network design incorporates hubs, switches, and a firewall for improved communication and security. Performance metrics such as bandwidth, latency, and jitter are discussed to evaluate network efficiency. The redesigned network aims to enhance communication, improve service delivery, and reduce operational costs. The report concludes with a discussion on the benefits of the new network design, emphasizing improved efficiency and enhanced working quality for Excelfior Ltd.

Advanced Network
Design

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................1
TASK 1..........................................................................................................................................................1
Requirement gathering...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 2..........................................................................................................................................................4
Network design.......................................................................................................................................4
Performance metrics...............................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Every network contains various components that are installed according to their features. But
for this, it is important to identify those components in order to build an effective network. This is
because; it helps in designing and implementation of applications, software, etc. that are included in it.
If network is not designed in a proper way then it can lead to various networking issues. This report will
discuss about how network is designed by taking information from users and staff with the help of
interviews, questionnaire, etc. The organization selected for this is Excelfior ltd.
TASK 1
Requirement gathering
The network requirements refer to tools and components that are required in it. It consists of
application, systems, etc. through which a network is developed [5]. These components are integrated
together in a network. For every business, it is necessary to update network so that operations can run
in a smooth way. Not only it increases efficiency of business but also, it reduces the issues that occur in
network. There are many things that are considered in designing the network. These are systems,
components, protocols, etc. Besides this, it helps in effective communication in between various
departments in company to run operations. In Excelfior ltd., the management is facing some issues
related to networking. This is impacting their operations in several departments such as accounts,
finance, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to build redesign network. In Excelfior ltd., the gathering
requirements are as follows:
User – The users are those who can access network with their unique ID and password. In this network,
users will be various departments like finance, marketing, etc. and employees who are working in it.
Application – It refers to software that is required to utilise network so that various functions can be
performed. In order to run a network, some applications are required [7]. They can vary from data
processing, web or system applications (CPU or memory). In this, application required will be web
servers and database for every department that is finance, marketing, etc. There will be a common
server for entire company.
Device – The device in network are components through which systems are connected to each other.
They help in creating a link between them to communicate and share information with each other. In
Excelfior ltd. devices required will be hubs and switch. Through these, servers and systems will be
connected to each other.
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Hubs - It is a common point in network through which multiple systems are connected. It can connect
LAN, server, etc. A hub is required to send data packets to all devices in a network. It will connect the
server of various departments.
Switch – It is also a connecting device through which LAN and systems are connected. Switch receives
data packets and forward it to its destination [1].
Network – In a network, it means the components that are connected to each other. Here, many
advanced personal computers will be required. They will be connected through a hub or switch.
Techniques used for collecting requirements
In order to collect the requirements, questionnaire was designed. This was done so that
information can be collected quickly and network is designed. Moreover, staff understood it easily about
what changes were required. Furthermore, the analysis of data in this method benefited in getting
desired results. It was distributed to staff members and management so that relevant information can
be collected. In questionnaire, both open and close ended questions were asked to them and then their
feedback was taken. With the help of this, it was easy to determine that what is required in new
network design. Also, specific answers were given by them that were useful in designing the network.
Moreover, it gave a brief description of what components was required in a large quantity [4]. Along
with this, staff and management coordinated with each other to redesign the network.
For this, a network assessment plan is developed. It gives an insight on the entire infrastructure
of network in organization. Also, it evaluates the existing network design so that areas of improvements
can be identified and accordingly, implementation is done.
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Figure 1: Network Assessment Plan
Assessment plan- The above figure describes plan of how network requirements will be
identified and configure. This will be done in step by step manner.
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TASK 2
Network design
The design of network is described as below:
Figure 2: Network Design
By determining the requirements in task 1, the network structure is redesigned. Here, some
additional infrastructure is needed such as hubs and switches. Apart from this, management and
website developers are connected to the main server. It has led to ease in sharing information quickly.
The main problem that company is facing is delay in sharing of information. This has led to increase in
time as well as cost of developing website. Due to this, business has suffered a huge loss. Therefore,
network has to be redesigned so that efficiency is improved.
From the above network diagram, it can be said that it will be very effective in removing issues
so that business efficiency can be enhanced [3]. The network consists of a main server that is connected
to all departments through a hub as well as front and back end developer. This has resulted in smooth
flow of communication in between them. Moreover, the server is protected with firewall that helps in
maintaining traffic and restricting the entry of ransomware or viruses. Firewall will also ensure that no
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user will get unauthorized access in the management of company. In network, front and back end
developers are connected with main server through a switch. At last, a printer is connected with all of
them that will benefit in developing an attractive website. In addition to this, switch will allow in sharing
and delivering data packets at a faster speed. In addition to this, user and management will be able to
access and work in an effective way. However, problems and issues will be reduced as hubs and routers
will maintain the flow of information in right direction. Furthermore, Excelfior ltd. requires extra
infrastructure and some additional funds to redesign their network. This will benefit them in improving
the network performance. Thus, in this way, overall networking will be processed.
It can be justified that this network will give an advantage to company in many ways. It means
that management and staff will be able to communicate and share information with each other through
single platform. The server will respond to request quickly and deliver data through switch. By this, user
can access information as well. As a result, there will be improvement in providing services to customers
and solving their problems in less time [2]. Moreover, quality of working will be enhanced. Front and
back end developers will have access to server and communicate with various departments. This will
provide ease in determining resources and needs to develop a website.
Performance metrics
After designing the network, it is necessary to evaluate its performance so that it can be
identified whether the redesigning of network is beneficial or not. Moreover, it describes the areas
where efficiency has increased and issues are resolved. Network performance metrics refers to a
process through which efficiency of network is measured by users. In this, the amount of time through
which data travels from one location to another across network is measured. There are different tools
that are used in metrics. They are as follows:
Metric Standard frequency Variance
Bandwidth- Here, it means the
maximum rate at which data
transfers at a particular path in
network. Data bandwidth is
frequency range in between the
highest and lowest signal. A
bandwidth can be of different
types such as data, network, etc.
5Ghz 10mbps
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[6]. It is useful to determine the
bandwidth of network. This
metrics can be used in present
network so that it will become
easy to evaluate its
performance. The bandwidth of
previous and present network
can be evaluated.
Latency (Responsiveness)-
It is a metrics in which the
response time of packet is
measured. This means how
much time data packet takes to
travel from one location to
another. So, by calculating the
time before and after
redesigning, efficiency is
measured. It also describes the
time taken by server in
responding a request. Latency
can be evaluated either in one or
two way depending upon the
network. There are many tools
or applications that can be used
such as HAproxy and NGINX. For
present network, latency will be
measured to determine the
speed of traveling of data
packets. With this problem can
be identified and the area where
it has occurred.
160ms 50ms
Jitter- It is the deviation of Below 30ms 0.5ms
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periodic signal and is used in
relation to clock signal. It helps in
finding out the deviations in EMI
interface.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that the new network was designed by collecting information from staff and
management of Excelfior ltd. It helped in designing an effective and improved network. Moreover,
through this, issue was resolved and efficiency of business was enhanced. There are some important
components that are required in the network design. They are systems, software, devices, etc. Similarly,
in organisation, devices are added so that it can reduce the issues.
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REFERENCES
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experiment using intelligent agents: focusing on the PLC network base technology for Smart Grid
system. The Journal of Supercomputing. 2016 May 1;72(5):1862-77.
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survey. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials. 2015 Dec;17(4):1923-40.
[5] McCormack KP, Johnson WC. Supply chain networks and business process orientation:
advanced strategies and best practices. CRC Press; 2016 Apr 19.
[6] Overview of Network Performance Monitoring Metrics. 2018. [Online]. Available:
<https://www.kentik.com/kentipedia/network-performance-monitoring-metrics/>. Accessed on
[22 September 2018].
[7] Sun H, Wu J, Wang W, Gao Z. Reliability-based traffic network design with advanced traveler
information systems. Information Sciences. 2014 Dec 10;287:121-30.
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