Module 3.0 - Planning a Network Upgrade 3.0.0 - Chapter Introduction 3.0.1 - Introduction Single Diagram Diagram 1, Slideshow Slide 1 text: As a business grows, it may also outgrow its network, requiring a network upgrade. Slide 2 text: A careful look at the current network, as well as the new requirements in equipment and configurations can help ensure a smooth network upgrade with minimum disruption. Slide 3 text: Whether a technician is employed inside the organization as a help desk technician , or as an on-site support technician , they represent the ISP to the customer. Slide 4 text: Today, there are millions of individuals connected to this global network and the number is growing. Slide 5 text: After completion of this chapter, you should be able to: Perform a customer site survey. Describe the importance of planning when beginning a network upgrade. Describe physical topology considerations when upgrading a network. Describe structured cabling. Describe network configuration and interaction of network devices. Describe other considerations when planning an upgrade. 3.1 - Documenting the Existing Network 3.1.1 - Site Survey Three Diagrams Diagram 1, Image Diagram depicts a small network with several wireless clients and several wired clients connected to an ISR, which in turn connects via the modem to the ISP. An expanded network shows the addition of many wired clients connected via hubs. Diagram 2, Table Number of Hosts and Users ? How many network users, printers, and servers will the network support? To determine the number of network users the network must support , be sure toe consider the number of users that will be added over the next 12 months, and how many network printers and network servers the network has to accommodate. Internet Service and Equipment ? How does your business connect to the internet? Does the ISP provide the equipment or do you own it? Often when using a high speed internet connection such as DSL or Cable, the service provider owns the equipment needed to connect to the internet (e/g/ a DSL router or cable modem) If the connectivity is upgraded, the equipment that provides the connectivity may also be needed to be upgraded or replaced. Existing Network Devices = How many networking devices are installed in your network? What functions do they perform: Understanding the existing number and types of networking equipment that are currently installed is critical to being able to plan for the upgrade. It is also necessary to document any configurations that are loaded on the existing devices. Security Requirements ? Do you have a firewall in place to protect your network? When a private network connects to the internet, it opens physical links to more than 50.000 unknown networks and all their unknown users. While this connectivity brings exciting opportunities for information sharing. It also brings threats to information not meant for sharing. Integrated Services Routers incorporate firewall features along with other functionality. Application Requirements ? What applications does the network need to support? Do you require services for applications such as IP telephony or videoconferencing? It is important to identify the needs of particular applications, especially voice and video. These applications may require additional network device configuration, and ne ISP services to support the necessary quality. Wireless Requirements ? Would you like a wired, wireless, or wired + wireless local area network (LAN)? How many square feet must you wireless LAN (WLAN) cover? It is possible to connect computers. Printers, and other devoices to the network using a traditional wired network (10/100) switched Ethernet), a wireless only network (802.11x) or to implement a combination of wired and wireless networking. Each wireless access point which connects the wireless desktop and laptop computers to the network has a given range. To estimate the number of access points that are required, it is necessary to have the number of square feet and the physical characteristics of the location that the wireless network must cover. Diagram 3, Table Illustrates the requirements of a network and the physical layout of the network. A site survey provides the network designer important information and creates a proper starting point for the project. It shows what is already on site, and gives a good indication as to what is needed. Important pieces of information that can be gathered during a site survey include: Number of users and types of equipment Projected growth Current Internet connectivity Application requirements Existing network infrastructure and physical layout New services required Security and privacy considerations Reliability and uptime expectations Budget constraints It is a good idea to obtain a floor plan, if possible. If a floor plan is not available, the technician can draw a diagram indicating the size and location of all rooms. An inventory of existing network hardware and software is also useful to provide a baseline of requirements for the upgrade. A sales representative may also accompany the technician to the site to interview the customer. The sales representative may ask a series of questions to gather information about the network upgrade needs of the business. 3.1.2 - Physical and Logical Topologies Single Diagram Diagram 1, Image Illustrates the physical and logical topologies of a network. To develop a logical topology requires understanding the relationship between the devices and the network, regardless of the physical cabling layout. There are several topological arrangements possible. Examples include star, extended star, partial mesh, and full mesh topologies. Star Topologies With a star topology, each device is connected via a single connection to a central point. The central point is typically a switch or a wireless access point. The advantage of a star topology is that if a single connecting device fails, only that device is affected. However, if the central device, such as the switch, fails, then all connecting devices lose connectivity. An extended star is created when the central device in one star is connected to a central device of another star, such as when multiple switches are interconnected, or daisy-chained together. Mesh Topologies Most Core Layers in a network are wired in either a full mesh or a partial mesh topology. In a full mesh topology, every device has a connection to every other device. While full mesh topologies provide the benefit of a fully redundant network, they can be difficult to wire and manage and are more costly. For larger installations, a modified partial mesh topology is used. In a partial mesh topology, each device is connected to at least two other devices. This arrangement creates sufficient redundancy, without the complexity of a full mesh. Implementing redundant links through partial or full mesh topologies ensures that network devices can find alternate paths to send data in the event of a failure. 3.1.3 - Network Requirements Documentation Two Diagrams Diagram 1, Image Explained within text body (example given in diagram) Diagram 2, Packet Tracer Activity 3.2.0.0 - Planning 3.2.1 - Network Upgrade Planning Phases Four Diagrams Diagram 1, Planning the Network Upgrade No meaningful information. Diagram 2, Image No Meaningful information Diagram 3, Image No meaningful information Diagram 4, Activity Determine which phase an action is part of : A: An Analysis Report is created. B: The network is actively working in a production environment. C: Actual user experiences on the upgraded network are compared with the goals in the documentation. D: Prototypes of the selected devices and cables are created. E: A schedule is created and followed, allowing for additional time for unexpected events. Constant communication with the customer is required. Phase 1 Requirements Gathering Phase 2 Selection and Design Phase 3 Implementation Phase 4 Operation Phase 5 Review and Evaluation 3.2.2 - Physical Environment Single Diagram Diagram 1, Image Illustrates a floorplan for a physical environment of a network. ISO standards refer to MDFs and IDFs using different terminology. MDFs and IDFs can also be referred to as wiring closets. MDF = Building Distributors IDF = Floor Distributors 3.2.3 - Cabling Considerations Two Diagrams Diagram 1, Image Illustrates the plan for the cabling of a network. Diagram 2, Image Illustrates the plans for a crossover, straight through and Console networks. Cabling Considerations 3.2.4.0 - Structured Cable Two Diagrams Diagram 1, Image Illustrates the plan for a Structured cable design Diagram 2, Hands on Lab 3.3.0 - Purchasing and Maintaining Equipment 3.3.1 - Purchasing Equipment Single Diagram Diagram 1, Image Considerations In-House - Requires many decisions Type of equipment Equipment location IT organization staffing Network design Maintenance requirements Establishing plans Managed Services - Initial evaluation and choice of service provider Requirements definition Ongoing evaluation of service provider Costs In-House - Equipment purchasing or leasing IT organization staffing Training costs Multiple vendor costs and building Hardware repairs and upgrades Software release upgrades Telephone line charges Redundancy and reliability requirements Managed Services - Single, predictable monthly recurring bill Minimal up front costs Control and Responsibility In-House - You have most of the control and responsibility for managing and maintaining your network system Managed Services - Delegate the level of network management to a qualified service provider, based on your needs Keep your core business processes in-house Maintain control of work-flow in your organization Set service-level agreements (SLAs) with a service provider Reliability In-House - You are responsible for keeping your network system available to employees, customers, and partners at all times Managed Services ? Service providers can guarantee availability up to 99.999 percent A 24-hour help desk is available for remote-access users Service provider management is transparent to end users End-user Experience In-House - Users are unaware whether network is managed by the company or an external partner Managed Services - Users are unaware whether network is managed by the company or an external partner 3.3.2 - Selecting Network Devices Single Diagram Diagram 1, Image No meaningful information 3.3.3 - Selecting LAN Devices Four Diagrams Diagram 1, Image Illustrates two LANs, one using a Hub and another using a Switch. Diagram 2, Image Contains 4 images titled : Type of port Speed required Expandability Manageability Diagram 3, Image Illustrates one large, central switch and multiple switches, connected with a central switch Diagram 4, Packet Tracer Exploration 3.3.4 - Selecting Internetworking Devices Three Diagrams Diagram 1, Image Illustrates Router Interconnecting Two LANs and Router Interconnecting a LAN and a WAN Diagram 2, Image Integrated Services Router Features: Security, Wireless Access Point, VPN, DHCP, NAT, Intrusion Detection, Voice-over-IP, Quality of Service Diagram 3, Packet Tracer Activity 3.3.5 - Network Equipment Upgrades Two Diagrams Diagram 1, Image Picture of an 1841 ISR and a 2960 switch. Refer to audio recordings for a description of the interfaces. Diagram 2, Image No meaningful information 3.3.6.0 - Design Considerations Two Diagrams Diagram 1, Image Illustrates two central switches with redundancy Diagram 2, Image Determining the Number of Hosts in the Network Include these devices in the count: Router Interfaces Count the number of interfaces, and not the number of routers Printers IP Phones Count other specialty IP devices as well Switch Management Addresses Administration Users General Users Servers 3.4 - Chapter Summary 3.4.1 - Summary Slideshow Slide 1 text * A network technician must perform a site survey to document the existing network structure before a network upgrade can be planned. * Documentation to include a physical and logical topology map and an inventory sheet of all equipment. * Gather customer network requirements through surveys and interviews. Slide 2 text * If a network upgrade is necessary, a plan should be in place, with consideration of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or threats (SWOT) of the network installation. * There are five phases of a network upgrade: requirements gathering, selection and design, implementation, operation, and review and evaluation. * Examining the network facilities includes the physical environment, the telecommunication rooms (MDF and IDF), as well as existing network wiring. Slide 3 text * When cabling, there are four physical areas to consider: work area, distribution area, telecommunications room area, and the backbone area. * When determining cabling needs, it is necessary to keep in mind the work area, the type of cable used, and the purpose of the cable. * Structured cabling projects deal with the placement of cables, the location of wiring closets, cable management, and electrical considerations. Slide 4 text * When new equipment is used for network upgrade, there are two purchase options: managed service and in-house customer purchased. * A device that functions at higher OSI layers is generally considered a more intelligent device. * When upgrading network devices, cost and expandability are important factors to consider.