Question

Imagine you have been tasked with creating a network infrastructure for your company or organization. What are the requirements for the following scenarios and what hurdles does each one face? What hardware and software technology would you use in each case? Would you rely on existing infrastructure or build your own?

• A university campus with one main campus
• A large metropolitan area network
• A corporate campus with multiple sites across the globe
  

Answer 1

Network infrastructure for any organization in general is the foundation for any system. It is useful in creating operating makeup for the network.

Existing Network:

we have to understand how well the existing network infrastructure is meeting the deployment goals. Then we can decide whether we need to buy new components for upgrading . A complete list of existing infrastructure is to be made including

a) Physical links like cable length,grade and communication links like analog,ISDN,VPN,T3, bandwidth and latency between the sites.

b)Information of server like Host names, IP addresses,DNS

c)Device locations of switches,proxy servers,hubs,modems,routers and bridges,firewalls,load balancers, Storage area networks

d)static and mobile users

Network Infrastructure layout planning:

In designing the topology of infrastructure the following concepts are to be taken into account:

Intranet,DMZ,Internal network,proxies,Fire wall

The above aspects are to be reviewed and then the changes are to be noted.

UNIVERSITY CAMPUS WITH ONE MAIN CAMPUS:

REQUIREMENTS:

Physical links like cable length,grade and communication links like analog,ISDN,VPN,T3, bandwidth and latency between the sites,Information of server like Host names, IP addresses,DNS ,Device locations of switches,proxy servers,hubs,modems,routers and bridges,firewalls,load balancers, Storage area networks and static and mobile users

HURDLES:

Speed of the network,Connectivity losses, Access control, maintaining the intranet

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY:

Multiprotocol support including TCP/Ip protocol, SNA

LAN to WAN routing

IPSec and VPN for security

IEEE 802.11 wireless remote access

METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK

REQUIREMENTS:

Devices that interconnects users of a particular geographical location.Interconnecting LAN's of a city

Physical links like cable length,grade and communication links like analog,ISDN,VPN,T3, bandwidth and latency between the sites,Information of server like Host names, IP addresses,DNS ,Device locations of switches,proxy servers,hubs,modems,routers and bridges,firewalls,load balancers, Storage area networks and static and mobile users

Ethernet protocols.

HURDLES:

Connectivity.mobile users, Maintaining the database servers and application servers, speed, Type of switching

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY:

DQDB(Distributed queue dual bus), Software components include Internet browser, computers with os, firewalls, emailing system,tcp/Ip protocol

hardware includes Wireless Ethernet NIC, Communication links like T3,VPN, optic fibe cables or ethernets, switches, routers, cabling and phone lines, interface cards,cabling

If the existing infrastructure is meeting the deployment goals then its not necessary to build a new one.

CORPORATE CAMPUS WITH MULTIPLE SITES ACROSS THE GLOBE

REQUIREMENTS:

Internet and intranet facilities, Strong security , physical setup links within the office and virtual setup across the globe, network protocols, server information, device locations , users at each site

HURDLES:

Security issues, Access control , Load balancing across the globe, Maintaining internal network and proxies

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY:

Hardware includes the physical aspects like computers, Ethernet cabling, switches, hubs,routers and bridges, proxy servers, load balancers

Software includes the network protocol and most of the companies are configured DMZ.It separates corporate network from the internet.Internally DMZ manages everything like web, mailing, internal DNS and file serving, proxy maintenance, firewall configuration

If a new office somewhere else is opened then a new intranet is to be built and then is connected to the other offices across the globe.