Networking Report: Analyzing ABC Organization's IT Infrastructure

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the IT infrastructure for ABC organization. It begins with an executive summary and an overview of the organization, then delves into the identification and functions of various network devices, including optical splitters, optical line terminals (OLT), and 1Ge ONT routers, detailing their roles within the OSI model. The report outlines both physical and logical network layouts, employing the CISCO SAFE architecture for service and network availability. It justifies the selection of server software (Windows Server 2016) and client software (Windows 10), explaining the benefits of each. The report also uses the OSI model to explain how users access the organization's email. The report recommends a GPON network design, highlighting its advantages such as reduced equipment and maintenance. The report includes diagrams illustrating the physical network devices layout and the information flow within the organization. The report concludes with a summary of the key findings and recommendations, emphasizing the benefits of the proposed network design. The report aims to provide a detailed overview of ABC organization's network requirements and infrastructure.

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Table of Contents
Executive summary.....................................................................................................................................2
Overview of ABC organization...................................................................................................................3
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Network devices identification and functions and OSI layer.......................................................................4
An optical splitter network device...........................................................................................................4
Optical line terminal (OLT) device..........................................................................................................4
1 Ge Optical Network Terminal router....................................................................................................4
Application server...................................................................................................................................5
Database server........................................................................................................................................5
Web-server..............................................................................................................................................5
Devices physical layout...........................................................................................................................5
Figure 1: Physical Network devices layout..........................................................................................6
Logical layout..........................................................................................................................................6
Type of software with justification..............................................................................................................7
Server software........................................................................................................................................7
Client software........................................................................................................................................8
Use of OSI model to explain accessing organization email.........................................................................9
Figure 2: Information flow at ABC organization...................................................................................10
Summary...................................................................................................................................................10
References.................................................................................................................................................12

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Executive summary
Any technology is designed to achieve several certain operational or business objectives.
One of the major objectives of a data communication network is to ensure secure of organization
services, integration with the existing services and infrastructure, versatile information
processing, scalability, and collaboration. This can only be achieved by having the right network
devices in place, the best choice of both client and server software.
Overview of ABC organization
ABC organization is located in a three-floor building where the main office is located in
the ground floor with one shared printer and two computers. The other two floors have six
printers each which can be accessed by all staff.
Introduction
To start with ABC organization has a website that provides customers with general
company information. Also, the website provides clients with the ability to buy services and
products. Second, all ABC staff have an ABC email account for communication purposes. Third,
the organization has an application software which allows the ABC staff to conduct online
training workshops and online meetings. Lastly, ABC staff members share files between
themselves within both the organization premise and remotely. Other services provided by the
organization are IS services i.e. database and email services to their customers.
This report analyzes ABC IT infrastructure that is software and hardware requirements.
The report also presents the networking requirements required by ABC organization. The first

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part details all the network devices required to achieve ANC requirements; here the report will
explain every device, where the devices operate in the OSI model, and how the network devices
are physically laid. The report will also present both service and client software requirements and
the application software requirements. Third, the report uses the seven-layer OSI model together
with a supporting diagram of how data is moved between the layers. The diagram will highlight
all the network devices which are involved in data communication and all the protocols required.
Lastly, this report has utilized Microsoft Visio 2013 to come up with the diagrams i.e.
information flow, and network device layout.
Network devices identification and functions and OSI layer
To meet ABC company requirements, this report recommends a GPON type of network
design. This design utilizes several network devices which are GPON Optical Line Terminal
(OLT) device, 1Ge ONT router, and splitter.
An optical splitter network device
The optical splitter devices play a very essential role in any GPON network. The device
operates on the data link layer of the OSI layer model. The device is used to allow one fiber
optical cable to be shared with several user computers, or to split network services among several
end users. The device is installed in every GPON ONTs which the OLT serves. For ABC
organization, one optical splitter can provide voice, data, and video to up to sixty-four end-users
in various topographies which also includes the centralized environment (Gilfedder, 2010, p. 23).
Optical line terminal (OLT) device
The OLT device operates the same as a network manager. The device operates at the physical
layer of the OSI model. It is specifically used to control the GPON network traffic in the form of

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voice, data, and video. The device is specifically used to send downstream to the ONTs. The
device will also be used to receive signals from the end-users (Liu, 2011, p. 2).
1 Ge Optical Network Terminal router
This device operates at the physical layer of the OSI model. The device acts as an
interface with end-users or with the ABC staff members. When data is received from the end-
user to the ONT, it is first optimized, aggregated, and then sent by the ONT router to the
upstream OLT. The device will also be used to broadcast WiFi to the staff members within the
organization premises (Multicom, 2020).
Application server
An application device is used in this case to provide an integrated environment for
running and deploying server-based business applications. Specifically, the application server
will be used to host all shared applications for ABC organization.
Database server
This device operates at the physical layer. The device is specifically used to perform
tasks such as data manipulation, archiving, and any other non-user specific tasks. Also shared
folders will be stored in a database server. It will also host all the printing services needed by the
organization.
Web-server
This device operates on the physical layer of the OSI model. The device is where web
content is stored. In this case, the device will be used to host the organization's website. The web
server will be used to host internet information services for the organization.

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Devices physical layout
As highlighted above, the best technology for ABC organization is a PON technology
widely known as Passive Optical Networking. The network design will involve use of passive
splitters, which are used to divide one optical connection to serve various endpoints. Taking the
organization's requirements, the network designer needs to pass only one fibre from an Optical
Line Splitter to the main room in every floor. Here the designer needs to split it off using the one
to thirty-two splitter (1:32) splitter into the various connections in the building. Each and every
connection has to have an endpoint on it, a PoE connectivity to all the end-points, and an ONU
(Optical Network Unit) (Trojer, 2010, p. 67). The physical presentation is as shown by figure
one shown below.

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Figure 1: Physical Network devices layout
Logical layout
CISCO SAFE architecture logical structure employed in this case will be used to ensure
service and network availability. Also, CISCO SCF logical structure are used to address current
key threats and also track evolving and new threats via the use of comprehensive solutions.
Specifically CISCO SAFE will provide total visibility and complete control through

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identification, correlating, monitoring, hardening, enforcing, and isolation (Meepetchdee, 2010,
p. 27).
Type of software with justification
Server software
ABC organization needs to go for Windows server 2016, the current Microsoft server
version. The 2016 windows server version has increased emphasis than the other windows server
versions. First, the software has newer server core installation option with an increased emphasis
on automation and remote management. Second, windows server 2016 offers storage spaces
direct; the software takes storage space a step further, with the ability to build a highly available
storage system. It does this by taking advantage of the available storage system, and new
hardware such as NVMe SSDs while at the same time still supporting older SAT-based
hardware. Third windows server 2016 offers hyper-V rolling grades and hyper-V hot add NICs
and memory. Forth windows server 2016 software offers two different types of containerized
windows server instances; the windows server container and the hyper-v container. The windows
server container is used for low-trust workloads while the hyper-v container is a super isolated
container for windows server instance which is used for high-trust workloads (Krause, 2017, p.
47).
Fifth, windows server 2016 offers active directory federation services which support
claims-based identity. The technology offers an organization with the ability to respond when an
end-user or when a network device attributes fall out of compliance with security policies. Sixth
windows server 2016 software offers nested virtualization. This will enable ABC organization to
host virtual machines. It also enables the minimization of hardware costs. Seventh, windows

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server 2016 comes with V4 printer drivers, which enables shared printing services. Lastly, in
terms of network enhancement windows server, 2016 has an enhanced capability to recover lots
of network communication issues. It also offers more network diagnostic capabilities than other
server software. Other windows 2016 server software capabilities are an improved back-up,
improved control of the available hardware RAM, and more reliable than other server software
(Palmer, 2017, p. 12).
Client software
For clients’ software, ABC organization needs to go for Windows 10. It is the most
recent operating system from Microsoft that was released in 2015. Initially, the client software
was offered for free for all the legitimate users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 but currently, it
is not. The software combines the best features for the previous windows version but with newer
features. Windows 10 version is easier to use for both laptops, mobile, and desktop devices. One
of the reasons as to why end-users need to implement windows 10 version is because it offers the
first version of Microsoft new browser known as edge; which accessed by just clicking on an
icon placed in the taskbar thus making it easier for ABC staff to access the organization website
with ease. Also one can pin their favorite settings on the taskbar for easier access (Halsey, 2015,
p. 89).
The software also offers a digital assistant Cortana to all desktop computers thus making
it easier for one to interact with their device without having to lift their fingers. One will also be
able to search for their hard drives for certain files with ease. Lastly, it offers a multi-tasking
capability, that lets one run their set of windows as if it was on another screen just like an Apple
desktop (Low, 2014). Windows 10 is also secure as it comes with windows defender anti-virus.
Also, its endpoints are managed from a single interface allowing ABC to get a full picture of the

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computing environment from one control panel which includes installed applications and threat
status.
Use of OSI model to explain accessing organization email
Network design for ABC is designed such that, the designer has to allow communication
or flow of data or information to occur between two individual devices that are interconnected.
Usually, the flow of information or data in a network can take various forms; simplex and duplex
form but in this case, it is duplex. This is of communication which is bi-directional for each and
every device.
Figure two below illustrates the flow of information. The diagram has presented email
flow which originates from the sender to the email server to the receiver via an ONL router.
Also, ABC staff accesses applications from an application via ONL router. All other services are
accessed from the organization data center via an ONL router. This as shown by figure two
below.
When sending data or an email, the application layers attaches application header and
then passes the frame the presentation layer. Here application protocol is used which happens at
the web browser level or the application level either at the application server or at user computer.
The presentation layer then encrypts data or the email which is sent across the organization
network. The network layer offers routing and switching. Here is where the ONL uses routing
protocols to route data into the required location. Lastly, is the physical layer which conveys the
bitstream to the receiver; some of the protocols used in this layer is the EPON protocol, and the
phoneNet for communication (Schultheis & Sumner, 2013, p. 59).

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Figure 2: Information flow at ABC organization

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Summary
To ensure better accessibility of ABC services, this report advocates for a GPON design
as bandwidth consumption and demand has increased over time in recent years. As highlighted
in this paper GPON utilizes fibre connectivity using what is known as point to multipoint
technology. Some of the advantages offered by GPON design are; less physical equipment is
required as only splitters, ONL, and ONT. As shown by figure a single fibre is used to split
signals into various signals. Also, lower maintenance is required and offers an easier network
management. Windows server 2016 is the best server software required by ABC organization.
Some of the highlighted benefits of server 2016 are offering a new layer of security, Cortana
feature, and easier to use. Windows ten is best suited for clients as it is more secure as compared
to other software. On information flow, this report has gone for duplex type of information flow.
A two communication where one can be send and receive information or data. All the devices
are set to transmit and receive data but not at the same time.