Network Design Assignment: Evaluation Of Careapp

Question

Task: The report should have a detail explanation of the planning and designing of a network. It is recommended that bullet points are included whenever necessary. Use your Problem Based Learning (PBL) tutorial findings.
1. Project Scope and requirements
1.1 Attach evidence of an industry visit as an appendix A: Industry visit evidence
1.2 Include points that you have gathered from an industry professional on their existing
network.
2. Network design and justification
2.1 Draw a network design that you think will be useful in future for the industry that you have visited. Netwrok should include the following requirements as a miminum:
2.1.1 4 routers
2.1.2 6 switches
2.1.3 20 PCs
2.1.4 3 VLAN.
2.3 Suitable IP addressing scheme in tabular form (assume as many hosts as necessary for each department).
2.4 Indicate where do you use static routing, dynamic routing protocols (name the protocols, RIP, EIGRP, OSPF etc.), Access Control List (ACL) as per the network preferences. Justify your choices.
3. Network configuration
Configure your network using Packet Tracer. Write report on
3.1 Packet Tracer Network diagram - Copy diagram from your simulator
3.2 Switch configuration
3.3 Router configuration
3.4 Host configuration
3.5 Access point and server configuration guidelines.
4. Timeline and Budget estimation
This section should include the followings:
4.1 Hardware requirements with the specification with costs
4.2 Human resources and logistics
4.3 Tentative timeline specifications.
5. Demonstration
5.1 Individual demonstration of packet tracer in Week 7.
5.2 Mandotory to demonstrate work-in-progress demonstration in week 5 and 6.

Answer

Executive Summary
This network design assignment has evaluated a network system for CareApp, there has been an evaluation of the present network of CareApp, based on that a new network has been designed. The new network contains 20 nodes, 6 switches and 4 routers. The dynamic protocol for routing has been used and proper justification ash been provided. Dynamic routing has been used since it would enable quick sharing of data and detection of subnets.

1. Introduction
It is stated in the present study of network design assignment that implementation of planning and designing various components of a network and how they would connect with each other is the basic component of designing a network. A robust network design solves a lot of cyber issues ranging from transfer issues to preventing unauthorized access of a mainframe or a network system. Organisations especially SMEs require a strong network so that they can build on their current business and even plan about expanding. This report would evaluate the issues with CareApps network and would also provide a new design for their network that they should use to make their network more robust. The protocols would be discussed and their relevant justification would be provided. The scope of this project would be discussed while laying emphasis on how to make a network stronger in its existence

2. Scope and Requirements for project
Any organization needs a properly designed network that is tailored to specifically meet the needs of their employees and to serve their clients. As influenced by [1], if a network is outdated or the components used within a network is too complex for the purpose, it could disturb the whole workflow of that organisation. CareApp, an Australian care providing organisation has developed an application to cater to their clients online. However, their businesses being an SME does not possess a proper network. SMEs generally possess a small network that consists mainly of networks and switches while the files are stored physically on a hard drive. CareApp has small network too, however they do not possess adequate switches or routers that should be there in order to build a small yet strong and penetration proof network. Their network consists of 14 PCs, 2 switches and 2 routers. Ideally there should be a maximum of four nodes i.e. PCs connected to a switch and not more than two switches connected to a single router.

Therefore, it can be deemed that the network of CareApp is not robust nor is it simple in structure because although it has less components, the lesser number of mediators lead to additional complications. CareApp should invest in switches that are of business grade along with routers and repeaters that would enhance their network connectivity. They should also include VoIP along with switches that possess the capability to allow inline power. This would make their wireless points of access east to place and would also save their money since they would not have to buy additional electrical wires [5]. The business grade switches should be conveniently placed and should also be easy to operate since all employees might not be able to handle technology. Reliability along with redundancy of various components should be kept in mind by CareApp to deal with any unforeseen issues.

Justification of designed network

Figure 1: Modified network design
(Source: Self developed)

The above diagram mentioned in this network design assignment depicts the network that is designed for CareApp, it contains 20 Personal computers that are connected to six switches which are in turn connected to 4 routers. The additional components of the network are the cloud services [7]. Since CareApp just like a lot of other SME store their files on a hard drive that is physically present within their premises, they are exposed to security issues. Information critical to the organisation for example client details along with business expansion proposals could be accessed and stolen [4]. However, cloud services and the robust network suggested would solve this issue. Cloud services have a firewall of their own and therefore without the administration access it is very difficult to break into the cloud security and steal data. Thus, cloud services provide a double layer protection to the data stored within them.

IP Addressing Scheme

Table 1: IP addresses for various departments
(Source: Self Developed)

This network has 20 routes emerging from each of the nodes, that is the PCs while there are four routers connected to six switches. Therefore, it can be stated that this is an advanced form of a complex network and therefore static routing protocols would not work here. Owing to its complexity and the total number of nodes, static routing would be very complicated to maintain [6]. Each node has to be provided with the other nodes subnet in order to establish a direct line of communication. However, Dynamic routing would be the best fit [3]. Dynamic routing would allow each of the routers to obtain the subnets of their neighbouring routers and would therefore be able to share information with ease. The RIP protocol would be used here since wit would provide a standard file sharing while preventing loops within the routing terminology [2].

4. Configuration of network within the network design assignment

Figure 2: Network to be modified for packet tracer
(Source: Self developed)

Configuring switches
Switch 0 connects PCs 0 to 3, followed by Switch 1 that connects Pcs 4 to 6. Switch 2 connects PCs 7 to 9 while switch 3 connects PCs 10 to 12. Lastly switch 4 connections PCs 13 to 15 and Switch 5 connects PCs 16 to 19

Configuring routers
The routers must be configured to possess the IPs of the switches and the cloud Each router should possess the Ip of the switch node that it is connected to and would also be connected to the adjacent switch. Further each router should be connected to the cloud via a modem.

Configuring Host
Each of the PC’s host needs to be configured manually. First the administrator should access the host file from the system32 folder on the user directory which is located in the C drive. Then the host file needs to be opened via a notepad and then the domain name of the organisation needs to be resolved with the IP of choice.

5. Estimation of budget and timeline in network design assignment
Timeline

Table 2: Estimated time plan
(Source: Self developed)

Table 3: Cost of network components
(Source: Self developed)

6. Conclusion
Thus, from this network design assignment an advanced network layout for CareApp has been build. The report has highlighted various components of a network, namely routers, switches and end nodes. CareApp should implement this network to increase their network security and protect their data along with it. The cost of upgrading their network would be significantly higher since a lot of components must be installed and thereby upgrading the previous weak network. Following a dynamic protocol for routing, there would be a pre-existing link between the databases of CareApp, and it could be shared between various departments of the organisation. Apart from the routing protocol, the network architecture provided is robust and has in built firewall policies. Therefore, it can be concluded that the network that ahs been prepared is based on the scope of this report and therefore the scope has been thoroughly justified.

Reference List
[1] Al-Hanjori, M. M., Shaath, M. Z., & Naser, S. S. A. (2017). Learning computer networks using intelligent tutoring system. Retrieved from: https://philarchive.org/archive/ALHLCN [Retrieved on: 21/07/2019]

on: 21/07/2019] [2] Beckett, R., Mahajan, R., Millstein, T., Padhye, J. & Walker, D., (2017), June. Network configuration synthesis with abstract topologies. In ACM SIGPLAN Notices (Vol. 52, No. 6, pp. 437-451). ACM. Retrieved from: https://dl.acm.org/ft_gateway.cfm?ftid=1881512&id=3062367 [Retrieved on: 23/07/2019]

[3] Han, G., Zhou, L., Wang, H., Zhang, W., & Chan, S. (2018). A source location protection protocol based on dynamic routing in WSNs for the Social Internet of Things. Future Generation Computer Systems, 82, 689-697. Retrieved from: http://iranarze.ir/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/E6863-IranArze.pdf [Retrieved on: 25/07/2019]

[4] Lamaazi, H., Benamar, N., & Jara, A. J. (2018). RPL-based networks in static and mobile environment: A performance assessment analysis. Journal of King Saud University-Computer and Information Sciences, 30(3), 320-333. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319157816301574 [Retrieved on: 28/07/2019]

[5] Onus, M., & Richa, A. W. (2016). network design assignment Parameterized maximum and average degree approximation in topic-based publish-subscribe overlay network design. Computer Networks, 94, 307-317. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Parameterized-Maximum-and-Average-Degree-in-Overlay- Retrieved from: Onus-Richa/5ebf43058b41a2c13906e03ebcfd2795efe96a01[Retrieved on: 23/07/2019]

[6] Rosati, S., Kru?elecki, K., Heitz, G., Floreano, D., & Rimoldi, B. (2015). Dynamic routing for flying ad hoc networks. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 65(3), 1690-1700. Retrieved from: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1406.4399 [Retrieved on: 24/07/2019]

[7] Tareque, M. H., Hossain, M. S., & Atiquzzaman, M. (2015, September). On the routing in flying ad hoc networks. In 2015 Federated Conference on Computer Science and Information Systems (FedCSIS) (pp. 1-9). IEEE. Retrieved from: https://annals-csis.org/proceedings/2015/pliks/002.pdf [Retrieved on: 27/07/2019]

Get Top Quality Assignment Help and Score high grades. Download the Total Assignment help App from Google play store or Subscribe to totalassignmenthelp and receive the latest updates from the Academic fraternity in real time.