Unit 15 Transport Network Design, BTEC Higher National Diploma in Computing

ASSIGNMENT

Aim & Objective

This coursework is designed to demonstrate the broad understanding and knowledge of the module, assessing and evaluating the student's strength and level of analysis; divided into four learning outcomes. The coursework should be submitted as one document in a report format in final submission.

Assignment Scenario:

You are working as a network engineer in an IT company, you have been assigned to design, implement a network infrastructure for a client company we-fix_it.co.uk. The company consist of 3 department Finance, Sales and engineers users. Each and every department must not be able to access any other department.

The network consists of 2 Servers, for which web, email combined in one server and dns server, all servers are shared between all users. The distribution of workstation shown in table 1, describe the requirement of each department.

While discussion the requirement, the IT director hinted that there will be a need to implement a wireless network, to allow staff to use their own device such as smartphone to access the internet, using IoT devices to be utilised to monitor server rooms etc.

Table 1: workstation and server distribution and requirements

A small branch in Manchester is established with 11 users, yet connectivity to the main branch is essential, and required with minimal cost, the company as well planning to expand and open many other branches across the country and Europe.

The IT director emphasised on scalability, redundancy and availability; hence you are required to provide a complete network infrastructure design and implementation, the company will be using private IP address 192.168.23.0/24 for the main branch and private IP address 192.168.33.0/24 for the branch, the WAN link IP address is 200.210.220.160/28.

Based on requirements given in above scenario analyse and examine suitable network model, networking devices and protocols to design a network infrastructure featuring scalability, availability, your examination should include an analysis of switch and router redundancy protocols and detailed explanation of LAN redundancy concepts, network features, such as bandwidth and load and their related issues.

Due to the fact that the company is distributed across more than one branch and hence a requirement to examine different WAN technologies and select the appropriate one based on scenario given.

Use a network simulator to simulate the network design, with the following requirements:

• In your design, include at least three Layer 2 switches to simulate Rapid PVST+ as spanning tree protocol and analyse different switch redundancy protocols showing the effectiveness in solving redundancy, adding redundant link between all the switches.
• Show how the network can be enhanced further by adding some solution of bandwidth and load balancing solutions, and hence evaluate different implementations of link aggregation using EtherChannel.
• Configure and simulate WAN protocols as to fulfil the requirements of the given scenario, showing some analysis, benefits and drawbacks of private and public WAN technologies including and evaluation of different VPN types based in relation to company needs.
• Finally, network design / implementation is one of first steps in the Lifecyle of network, you are as well to deploy network monitoring tools and troubleshooting methods to establish network baselines and produce network documentation and test and troubleshoot LAN and WAN connectivity issues at different networking layers.

Appendices

Note: You should attach all the supporting documents as a separate file in the appendix section of your assignment. Without appropriate evidence(s) your assignment will not be marked.
• A complete network simulation file must be attached to the written report

Learning Outcome 1: Explore LAN design principles and their application in the network design process

Learning Outcome 2: Implement a network using LAN design principles based on a predefined set of requirements

Learning Outcome 3: Produce an appropriate WAN solution to a set of organisational requirements

Learning Outcome 4: Solve a range of network related problems using appropriate troubleshooting techniques and methods