Reference no: EM133130666

4CC523 Network Fundamentals - University of Derby

Design Report

Learning Outcome 1: Demonstrate the ability to select appropriate hardware and media types for a given specification.

Learning Outcome 2: Apply basic principles of network design for small campus networks for a given specification.

Description of the assessment

You are provided with a hypothetical networking scenario. Whilst the scenario is hypothetical and not based on any existing supplier, customer or network design, the concepts covered are real and encountered by network designers on an almost daily basis.

The aim of this assessment is for you show your understanding of fundamental network concepts to design a basic IPv4 based network that will satisfy the scenario.

To achieve this aim, you will need to complete the following objectives:
1) Understand and explain the function of fundamental network devices including firewalls, routers, switches and wireless access points
2) Understand the use case, advantage and disadvantages of various types of communication media
3) Create a logical network diagram showing the interconnection and interaction between network devices and terminal equipment
4) Modify a physical building layout diagram to indicate the location of equipment and interconnection systems
5) Understand IP addressing, address division and address allocation methods
6) Understand the basic advantages and disadvantages of network scaling

Background:
You are employed on minimum wage work for a Networking Consultancy who design and implement networks for multiple clients. Your department of the consultancy provides general design and layout services.

Your income is supplemented by a bonus that is paid on successful completion of the contract.

Installation of equipment cabinets, equipment, cabling and containment will be completed by an external contracting company who will install exactly to your instructions. They will charge for the work that you specify and will charge again if they must return to change anything that is incorrect, not clear, not achievable or incorrectly specified.

The configuration of the networking equipment will be conducted by a separate external contractor who provides Technical Configuration Services. They will configure the equipment that you specify and that has been installed by the contract installation company under your instructions. The Technical Services Contractor will charge based on their own experience of configuring the types of equipment that you have specified. They will make an additional charge if they must return to complete any work that you have not specified or if the equipment is not able to meet the functional requirements.

The entire bonus shared by everyone in the consultancy is likely to be around £10,000. This amount will be reduced by the same amount as the additional costs levied by the installation and configuration contractors that is incurred as a direct result of failings in your input to the project. Contract companies at this level will typically charge between £500 and £1000 per hour with a minimum charge of 4 hours.

Your conditions of employment:
You will need to complete the missing information in a report that supports the lead network engineers who are designing a local area network for the given scenario (please find more details in the case study section which you should read entirely). The Network Engineering Team have completed the majority of the work but require assistance with some of the detail and explanation.

Note for absolute clarity: The scenario and organisations are totally fictitious and have no relationship to any organisation either past or present with the same or similar name. Do not waste time or effort attempting to identify any real organisation. For the introduction to the assignment, use only the information that has been provided in this specification.

A report detailing your proposed solution

You have been provided with a template report structure. The template contains clarification of the requirements in each section. You would not be provided with this level of explanation in a real tendering situation.

This assignment is not a test of what you remembered from the lectures, it is a test of your ability to utilise the information that you possess in order to expand your knowledge and capability. Researching information and validating understanding is not a failure in your abilities, far from it. Researching proves your interest and intent to succeed academically and, in this case, commercially.

Your finished proposal must satisfy the requirements and be professional in appearance.
Your report explains your work, this is the item that is marked, if you do not explain clearly then any work completed will be in vain. The report should explain what you are doing, why, provide the technical detail of the solution, summarise the solution and justify the content.

Required report sections (see the assignment template for more detail)

Introduction
Brief overview of the organisation and a brief summary of the requirements. This is to make the report specific to your client, showing that you have read and understood their needs.

Proposed Design
Device selection, cabling and connectivity, logical topology, physical topology and device placement.

Logical connection, IP addressing
Planning, Design and implementation of an IP addressing scheme

Summary
A brief summary of your proposal and what benefits the design will provide for the organisation

References
References are summaries of your research. The necessity to research information and validate your understanding is not a failure in your abilities, it proves your interest and intent to succeed academically.