Networking

This case study details the plan for the networking of the three site campus while considering the requirements of its users and future expansions for the network. Explained in detail are the network media, hardware, topology and internet access choices proposed for this network. The network components are also assigned IP addresses if one is necessary, while taking into account an expansion of the computer laboratories within the next five years. Diagrams for various aspects of the network are also provided.

The network media used for the vertical and horizontal cabling in this network are Unshielded Twisted Pair and single mode Fibre Optic cables. The hardware includes the various switches and routers. The network topology is a star topology while the internet plan is one of Bigpond’s ADSL2+ plans.

2. Executive Summary

In this case study, the proposed networking plan for a campus containing three schools is laid out. It includes all aspects of the network design which is required, including cabling, network addresses, hardware, network topology and internet access. The advantages and disadvantages of their use will also be described.

The media used for this network are Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) and Fiber Optic cables. The proposed UTP Catergory 6(cat6) cables are a copper based cable, which is used to connect network components to each other within buildings. UTP cables are used mainly because they are less expensive than other network media but still efficient. On the other hand, single mode fiber optic cables will be used for connecting equipment between buildings because they do not conduct electricity, making them suitable for vertical cabling outside buildings.

For network addressing, each server, printer and computer is assigned a unique IP address. Using the network IP address 172.31.80.0/22, it is divided into smaller networks (subnets) using Variable Length Subnet Masking(VLSM). The campus is subnetted into three subnets, one each...