Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Table of Contents
1.3 Assumptions.......................................................................................................13
1.4 Scope.................................................................................................................14
2.0 Evaluation..............................................................................................................15
3.0 Conclusion.............................................................................................................20
4.0 Diagrams................................................................................................................22
5.0 References.............................................................................................................26
6.0 Bibliography...........................................................................................................27
7.0 Appendix................................................................................................................29
List of Figures
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List of Tables
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The core requirement of the company is to make sure that all its branches in the
strategic locations as well as the local office are well networked in order to maintain a
worry-free communication among its subsidiaries. Therefore, this would enable users of
the organization to access information regardless to the geographic area they belong to.
Additionally, network should be cost-effective, fast, and most importantly should include
high privacy in communication.
o Identify the types of machines and the number of components required for
the 3 storey building.
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Internet Connectivity
o The communication among the network within the organization and the 3
strategic locations should maintain a high level of privacy and security.
Transmission Media
o Define the most suitable transmission media for the appropriate networks.
Backup
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Peer-to-Peer
Client-Server Architecture
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For this specific purpose, there are several options that would cater the
requirement. The following are few of the available mechanisms.
Leased Lines
Leased Line is a method in which communication lines are rented for private use.
It can makes use of copper wire, radio links or optical fiber to provide data
communication and supports a huge number of simultaneous users using a
dedicated line between two points. The costs for the leased lines vary based on
the distance, speed and the bandwidth. The users get an all-time up connection
without any drop in the speeds of communication. Therefore if a company
purchases a 128kbps and the average usage is 64kbps, the cost would be the
same. The cost for implementation and maintenance is considered to be very
high as the distance increases. Additionally, the addition of a new branch or
building to the network could cause a lot of difficulties in upgrading the network.
VPN is one of the most upcoming and cost effective ways of securely
transmitting data which makes use of a public telecommunication
infrastructure such as the internet to enable individuals and remote offices
to access information. By this mechanism, it eradicates the high cost of
owning private systems and leased lines but the availability and
performance highly depends on external factors which may not be under
an organizations control. It does not have any extra implementation cost
while it is considered to be reasonably secured during the communication
process of two private networks.
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o IPLC Connectivity
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There are numerous ways of implementing a Internet Connection for the building
as mentioned in the table below:
(Turpen. A, n,d)
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As per the above table, there are several factors that should be considered in selecting
the appropriate type to suit the desired requirements. Few of the main factors are:
Speed
This is one of the key factors that could affect the efficiency of an organization.
The speed should be sufficient enough to cater the everyone in the network.
Therefore, the speed should be at an acceptable rate even though it would be
distributed among a number of users. Even though a connection that supports
high speeds has been chosen, there are several categories within them with a
variety of speeds.
Availability/ Coverage
There are number of possibilities that a desired type of connection would not be
available to a specific area due to various reason. Therefore it should be checked
and clarified via the ISP before the service has been purchased. Additionally, it
should be identified if it could cover the desired area as well.
Cost
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Transmission Media
There are several types of transmission media that could be used in networking.
These are classified as Guided and Unguided Media. Selection of the
transmission media would depend on various factors such as the geographical
location, distance limitations between the nodes, cost and the speed. The
following table consists of various transmission media and its various qualities.
Twisted Pair
These are one of the oldest cables that have been used in
telecommunication which makes use of insulated wires twisted together in
order improve efficiency by reducing cross talk and the “noise generated
by adjacent pairs”. (Cisco Systems Inc., 2003) When two cables placed
close to each other, the equally opposite magnetic fields within them tend
to cancel each other out. Therefore by the use of twisting the cables, it
overcomes the “cancellation effect”. (Cisco Systems Inc., 2003)
There are two types such as Unshielded (UTP) and Shielded Twisted Pair
(STP) cables. The latter protects and adds security by the metallic foil
wrapper. Each pair is wrapped and all of the pairs are wrapped by a
universal cover such as a metallic braid or foil. Even though STP gives
more protection, it may cost more and installation could be complicated.
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Coaxial Cable
(Austin. A, 2009)
Wireless Communication
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These are the most expensive type of cable used in data communication
which is thinner than the human hair. It is made out of glass and makes
use of light signals to transfer data across the cable. It is also considered
relatively very fast as light signals move at a greater speed with higher
capacities. It is less prone to signal attenuation when compared to copper
cables and as a result, requires only less power since it does not require
high-voltage transmitters. (Freudenrich, C, 2008) And this is considered to
be one of the most clear communication mediums; while it also bears a
huge sum of investment for maintenance and upgrades.
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1.3 Assumptions
Number of users and Priority Levels: All strategic locations have around 35-40
employees. And there are 3 departments namely IT, Sales and HR in the local building.
There is no special priority regardless to the Network Administrator in the IT
department.
Data types: Common types of data would include excel files, account information,
reports and web pages. Majority of the data would be text and images with a small
amount video and voice communication.
Data sources: Data will be sent and received from all strategic locations. Data will be
produced by applications from Windows XP and Vista 32 bit. Applications such as
Microsoft Office packages and other accounting packages will be used. Note that the
network won't be accessible by the outside.
Load Variation: Most traffic would be generated during the morning between 8.00am to
5.00pm on weekdays and from 9.00am to 2.00pm on Saturdays. Traffic is minimal in the
night and during Sundays. Therefore the network should cater the needs of the peak
times and avoid any complaints from the user.
Security: A firewall will be used in order to prevent unauthorized access while each and
every user will be given an username and password that provides some limitations as
well.
Budget: Not specifically mentioned. Considered as high budgeted project that could
cater all requirements of the company as mentioned.
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1.4 Scope
The scope of this thesis would adhere to specific areas of the requirements. The
following are the areas that would be covered in this report.
The Local Area Network(LAN) and the internet connectivity within the local
building located in Malaysia.
The network solution to make sure all 4 buildings could communicate via a
secure network with privacy and security measures included.
A way to provide a backup solution in case a network segment goes offline in the
local building.
A centralized network architecture that enables all the machines to be controlled
by a single server.
Controlling web traffic within the local building and imposing restrictions to
improve quality and the bandwidth.
Limiting access and adding restrictions for user interaction with other
departments.
In contrast to the above scope, the below mentioned won't be discussed in this report.
The LAN and the Internet Connection solution of the 3 strategic locations.
A VOIP system that enables the employees communicate among departments.
Enabling users to login remotely to the network.
Mechanisms to control mail servers.
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2.0 Evaluation
Network Architecture
ICT Resources has a 3 storey building which has total 35-40 employees. The network
should be easily upgradable, ability to fix problems efficiently thus improving the
productivity without interfering with the daily-basis tasks. Additionally, it should be able
to control and monitor the tasks in the network in order to measure the key performance
indicator and the efficiency of the network.
As described, the peer-to-peer architectures is less costly and easy to implement for
small networks. It also provides sharing of data among all connected nodes and is also
able of having backups of all nodes among each other which is a way to prevent
damages as a whole. And security wise, it has almost no security as anyone could
access information if they are connected to the network. Therefore this may suit more to
small businesses with a low budget with less than 10 employees who will need share
data equally among each other.
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type of architecture will suit the most even though the cost may seem to be relatively
higher.
Peer-to-peer Client-Server
Advantages Less Expensive and easy set All tasks can be tracked
up
No need of an administrator Centralized Data
Backing up in other pc’s Configurable Security & Control
Shared peripherals Easily scalable
Hardware and Software are optimized
centrally for multiple users
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Internet Connectivity
As per the latest advancements, there are so many alternatives available for internet
connection. Speed and bandwidth has been an issue in using internet for the past few
years. Users tend to use a lot of resources online such as streaming videos, VoIP,
images and other sorts of high-bandwidth content. Even information sharing has
advanced to the extent which thousands of megabytes are transferred on a daily basis
in the corporate world.
The most widely used internet connection are either based on ADSL, Broadband or
other wireless technologies such as Wi-Max. ADSL and Broadband are widely used in
homes and small business that is capable of supporting general user needs. Wi-Max is
mostly used in organizations that requires a greater coverage to a large number of
users. The cost varies based on the type and package and few other factors. These
technologies require additional hardware for implementation.
When the term leased line is used, many get the interpretation that it is very costly. But,
the most important feature of a leased line is that it is always up and provides the
maximum bandwidth and equal speeds for both uplink and downlink unlike ADSL and
Broadband which has different speed for downlink and a relatively lower speed for
uplink. Additionally, leased line are very reliable and provides the highest security since
the line belongs to the organization as a whole. Another misinterpretation in the concept
of leased lines are that it is only using copper wires. Leased lines could be a dedicated
connection using Radio Links (Wi-Max) or Optical Fiber as well.
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Transmission Media
Similarly to the other aspects, selecting the best type depends on various factors. The
main emphasis should be the distance and the data rate. There are limitations of
distance in guided transmission types such as copper cables and twisted pair cables
while some unguided mediums such as radio links require transmitters in order to
regenerate the signals for greater distances. When comparing guided media such as
fiber optics and twisted pair, we could identify some pros and cons in each of them.
Twisted pair cables are relatively cheap and easier to implement. But it has limitations in
the length of the wires. Additionally, it may be impractical to run cables around
computers of big networks which could also result in bandwidth inefficiencies.
Regarding security concerns, these could face problems due to inexpensive devices
used.
Optical fiber is considered as the most secure and efficient modes of guided media. As
it delivers data in digital signals via light , the process is much quicker and reliable over
distant networks. The major drawback of optical fiber is its cost of the implementation
and maintenance as well as the components. But due to the rise in the use of this
technology, the cost seems to be falling apart in the long run.
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Wireless transmissions are mostly considered when it is quite unrealistic to lay cables.
These make use of microwave, radio or infrared signals in order to communicate among
stations. One of the major drawbacks are the limited spectrum provided by these
mediums. For example, setting up Wi-Max could be a wise decision to cover up a large
network area if the location is somewhat close to a base station of the ISP. Therefore it
would be one of the best ways to implement large networks in urban areas. But
availability becomes a problem when considered in rural areas where most factories
and warehouses are located. One of the best features in these is that you could freely
reallocate your device without an additional cost while the down time is low. Additionally
there won't be any disturbance to the network when a new device is connected which is
an important factor for an office environment.
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3.0 Conclusion
In this report, a local network solution, internet connectivity as well as a solution that
could connect the company with its branches located in different countries was to be
presented. It was found that there were several technologies and mechanisms that were
available in order to achieve the core requirements as well as the indirect requirements.
Each of these technologies and its pros and cons were presented and compared among
them.
For the local area network, it was discussed that a peer-to-peer was a easy-to-install
and less costly solution to implement. However, ICT Resource Malaysia has a 3-storey
building that consists of 40 employees, and they also look forward to future expansions.
Therefore the client-server architecture would be the best solution that could cater all
their needs as it is quite easy to expand and control the network from a centralized
location. As in for the transmission media for the LAN, it was found out that there were
similar categories with various sub options available among them. Coaxial cables could
help connecting over longer distances while it also had a secure covering to reduce
noise. Since the office would require around 40 computers and other devices to be
networked, coaxial cable would be too bulky to maintain the space. Therefore shielded
twisted pair cables of would be a better option in order to provide a secure and reliable
service for a network across 3 storey's of the building.
Another requirement of this study was to identify the most suited internet connection for
the local building. ADSL could be considered as an internet option since its availability is
relatively high while it could also be a cheaper than other options available. Regardless
to the cost, however, with the availability of leased line wireless internet connectivity,
choosing Wi-Max would be the best and cost effective solution that could cater all the
in-house needs. It also suits an office environment with a plan of expansion and a
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dedicated bandwidth for a number of users. It allows mobility and to connect to the
network within the range of the connection using portable devices as well, while the
wireless technology would eradicate the problem of unnecessary cabling and thus help
to easily install and include many users. Therefore, a dedicated 2Mbps Wi-Max
connection would be suitable for this organization with a backup connection of 1Mbps
ADSL.
As per the secure transmission among the 3 strategic locations, it was discussed that
leased lines were the most reliable because it was an fully dedicated line between the
strategic locations. But it would impractical to lay down cables for 3 countries located at
a great distance. Additionally the cost of addition of a new location would create a huge
problem in the infrastructure. However there were few alternatives in Virtual Private
Networks which makes use of the internet to securely transfer data. Under VPN, the
IPLC technology is would be a cost effective for a point -to-point connection across to
branches when compared with MPLS. It also enables to manage and prioritize your
traffic due to the private line. But if a new node is to be added, the cost is clearly
expensive. Since ICT Resources look forward to future expansions, MPLS would be the
best solution to go with since it can make use of a fast reroute feature with QoS. MPLS
also overcomes the leased line drawbacks since leased lines need to connect to all
points in the network individually. And MPLS makes use of lesser hops and improves
the performance as well.
In order to create a secure, reliable and a fast network, the above justifications and
consideration should be taken in to account and implemented which would as result
bring in productivity and efficiency and as well as enable ICT Resources to gain a good
place in the industry.
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4.0 Diagrams
According to Figure 1, the network diagram illustrates how the MPLS VPN enables the
3 strategic locations of the organization to communicate via their ISP's. The main local
building, it makes use of a 2Mbps Wi-Max Connection as the primary mode of internet
while having a backup link of 1Mbps ADSL which would be used during a downtime of
Wi-Max connection. These are supported by a load balancing switch which could
intelligently detect the status of servers and chooses the best to work with.
The two connections are connected to two routers of the ISP for security purposes.
There onwards, the ISP's communicate with each other located in other countries via
the PE Routers (Provider Edge). The respective branches of ICT Resource would have
a 1Mbps ADSL connection and makes use of two 24 port switches for the 35 users. The
same concept follows in the other branches as well in which they connect to the ISP
and there onwards the ISP's of the respective countries communicate with each other.
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It is considered that the 3 separate departments of the building do not necessarily need
to communicate or access files related to other departments. As per Figure 2, The 3
storey building will be partitioned into 3 separate Virtual LANs as HR, Sales and
Engineering in order to maintain security and reduce unnecessary traffic within the
network. Every floor contains a printer with a specific number of users (mentioned in the
Figure 2) which are connected to switches of the respective floor. The switches used
cater a higher number of users than the current amount since it could be utilized during
the expansion.
The ground floor would be used in order to place the servers namely the File Server,
VPN Server and etc... The File Server would contain the commonly accessed data with
authorization while the VPN Server will be used to configure the VPN to connect via the
MPLS. The Proxy server would be placed within the first floor network among the rest of
the servers. The reason for this is because the layer 3 switch could be configured such
that if any request from a port that needs to be filtered would be redirected to the proxy
before leaving the L3 switch. This makes the network more efficient since, only the
necessary traffic would go through the proxy server. Additionally the PDC (Primary
Domain Controller) would be supported by a BDC (Backup Domain Controller) in order
to control the computers of the network as per the client-server.
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5.0 References
Austin, A. (2009). Coaxial Cable Vs. Twisted Pair Cable[online]. Available at:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5517261_coaxial-vs-twisted-pair-cable.html. Accessed on:
6th October 2010.
Turpen, A. (n.d). Different Internet Connection Types & Their Pros and Cons[online].
Available at: http://www.teach-nology.com/tutorials/connections . Accessed on: 5th
October 2010
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6.0 Bibliography
ExcitingIP.com. (2010). Advantages of MPLS VPN Network over Point to Point Leased
Lines for WAN Connectivity [online]. Available at:
http://www.excitingip.com/668/advantages-of-internet-leased-lines-over-broadband-for-
internet-connectivity/. Accessed on: 1st October 2010
Garson, S.(2010). Do you need MPLS or will an IPL suffice?[online]. Available at:
http://mpls-experts.com/blog/?p=59. Accessed on: 1st October 2010.
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Remy. (2008). Understanding The International Private Leased Circuit (Or IPLC) Line of
Oracle Contact Center[online]. Available at:
http://www.articlealley.com/article_465941_11.html Accessed on: 1st October 2010.
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7.0 Appendix
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Marking Sheet
Presentation (10%)
Documentation (15%)
Total (100%)
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