Network Design: Case Study Analysis and Configuration

Module Learning Outcomes Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:

1.Identify, analyse and communicate principles and processes of Network Design.

2.Critically analyse and evaluate business and technical Requirements.

3.Plan and design a Network Infrastructure (LAN/WAN/MAN).

4.Design and evaluate a management and implementation Strategy for a Network.

5.Collect and synthesise information to inform a choice of vendor solutions, with the module assignment providing a good opportunity to test this area.

6.Evaluate a range of information comparing alternative methods and techniques used in Network Design.

7.Be able to troubleshoot and maintain integrated, complex networks.

Learning outcomes assessed within this piece of work as agreed at the programme level meeting This assignment will assess the following learning outcomes:

1.Demonstrate a broad understanding of the knowledge base of this module, and its terminology and discourse

2.Evaluate network devices to be used for a particular area in the network in relation to requirement

3.Design and implement a fully functional network infrastructure based on requirement given in the assignment brief

4.Demonstrate autonomous learning context and draw on prior experiences reflecting and evaluating on new leaning outcome.

Weighting 60% of the total module marks

Type of assessment: 1.Individual Written Report: case study analysis and design using network simulation

2.Recommended maximum words

Assessment deadline: Individual Report to be submitted on --/--/2020 (before 2:00pm). This should be submitted via Turnitin on Moodle as a word-processed document file.  

This is an individual assignment based on the case study scenario presented below. This assignment will assess your understanding of the principles of network design and the ability to analyse, design and create a network infrastructure fully configured and tested which reflects understanding of network design and troubleshooting.

Network Security is paramount especially when considering the digital network climate nowadays. You are a new computer network engineer hired to study and evaluate the existing network of sysco.co.uk, a small company consists of 3 departments (HR, Finance, General users) each of the department uses a file server that is dedicated for the allocated department. The company uses three other servers DNS, web (sysco.co.uk) and email (sysco-mail.co.uk) servers by which all department have access to. The web and email server should be accessible via the internet (external access). The floor diagram shown in Figure 1, illustrates the existing network provided by a third-party company.

The original design should fulfil the requirement listed as follows:

Department Hosts Security Requirements

HR 5 Need a complete isolation from all users of other groups

Finance 4 Need a complete isolation from all users of other groups

Users 16 Need a complete isolation from all users of other groups

File Servers 3 Each department will use a dedicated server.

The existing network has been configured with the following consideration:

1-The number of users are limited (25 users)and hence no VLANs created

2-To reduce the server management each and every server will be located as close to the users as possible hence servers will be managed by the department staff

3-The backup services will be performed automatically on an external Hard Disk Drive, the backup device will be placed as close to each server as possible and will be secured in a local cabinet.

The company director expressed concerns and asked you to evaluate the security and design better security solutions. Table 1 shows the users distribution and requirement according to sysco.co.uk policy.