When it comes to network design, there are four critical considerations that you need to take into account if you want a network that is reliable, secure, and runs smoothly.These include embedded security measures, standardization of software and hardware, network resiliency, and redundancy. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, it does point out some oft-neglected aspects of computer network design. Show
What is Network Design? Network design is the planning, design, and implementation of a network infrastructure that will meet the data transfer requirements of a company. Those data transfer requirements include the transfer of data within the network itself as well as outside the network (e.g., via the internet). Hardware involved includes the servers, desktops, laptops and printers, as well as the switches and routers that allow them to connect together. Embedded (Built-in) Security Measures One of the major considerations that is often overlooked during network design is not so much security but embedding security in the design of the network itself. Security should never be an afterthought, or just a tool or software package you add to the network once you are finished designing it. A good example of built-in security measures would include segmenting your network so that customer areas are separate from employee areas so that an exploited weakness in one area could quickly be quarantined from the rest of the network with minimal disruption until it has been dealt with. Standardization of Software and Hardware One of the smartest things to consider if you want a smooth running network is standardization of both the hardware and software. If most of your employees use the same type of laptop or tablet, same type of printer, and same software packages, you will be amazed at how much you can reduce potential problems and the workload involved in maintaining the network (e.g., applying patches, installing updates, addressing issues, etc.). This is also true for the components that make up the network itself: servers, routers, switches, and other hardware should, as much as possible, be standardized. Network Resiliency A resilient network is one that can maintain an acceptable level of surface even when major problems arise that threaten normal operations. Problems faced could include targeted attacks, natural disasters, or simple misconfigurations. If you want to have a resilient network, then that must be considered during the design phase. There should be more than one way for data be transferred both inside and outside the network. Your IT department should always have the option of routing around problem areas when it comes to data traffic. Network resiliency must be one of the major considerations during network design. Redundancy Redundancy is similar to network resiliency but a bit more specific. For example, redundant services and components should be in place for any part of your network that should not be down for more than an hour. No matter how small you company is, your network should include two identical servers: one online, and the other with a fail-safe switch so that if the first goes down it automatically comes online. Another aspect of redundancy is making sure that you data and systems are backed up. Too many people think of backup systems as a simple add-on once your network is in place, but a smart business owner will include make backup a major consideration during the design phase of the network. Conclusion You want a robust network that is secure and performs well, even in adverse circumstances. By taking into account redundancy, network resiliency, standardization, and embedded security measures, you are well on your way to that goal. Let Maryland IT Solutions Design Your Network At Maryland IT Solutions, we can design your network, whether you are a small mom and pop shop with a few workstations or a large enterprise with more complex security requirements and compliance standards. You can count on us to design a network that addresses all of the considerations discussed here, as well as other industry best practices that will keep it running effectively and keep your data secure. Designing a computer network for your business is a challenging project with many complex steps. However, like any other project, you can tackle it by breaking it down into smaller steps. The best method for network design is to follow a structured approach, clearly defining the requirements, and meticulously documenting each step of the process. This blog post takes you through a step-by-step process for designing a computer network that is optimal, cost-effective, and fulfills your business requirements. How To Design A Computer Network?Here are the steps for designing a computer network for your business: 1. Gather RequirementsThe first step in designing a network is to find out what the network is expected to do. This is a three-step process that defines where you are, where you want to be, and the resources available to help in the transition. In the context of computer networks, the three stages can be described as follows:
In this step, you evaluate the existing network to identify the existing network infrastructure, components, and services running on it. This is done during a site visit and walkthrough and the following data is collected:
In this step, you describe the target state of the network. These can be a combination of business and technical goals. Here are some examples:
Clearly defining your goals helps you stay focused on what the business needs and you are not likely to get distracted by all the possibilities available.
For most small and medium-sized organizations the foremost constraint is budget. The budget impacts the equipment you can get and from our experience, that has a huge impact on network performance. Even when the budget may not be a factor, there may be limitations with respect to cabling, WiFi use, a business requirement to run legacy applications, or strict security and compliance requirements. All of these factors will impact your network design. 2. Size Your NetworkTo deliver optimal network performance you need to know the size of your network, which means you need to know the number of devices and their intensity of use. Be careful not to fall into the trap of designing the network based on the number of users as each user may have multiple devices in addition to network devices such as servers, printers, VoIP phones, and IoT devices, all of which add to the bandwidth demand. Pay special attention to technologies such as streaming and virtual reality that tend to eat a lot of bandwidth. 3. Study Your Office Floor PlanStudy your office floor plan and plot the exact location of all endpoints such as desktops, servers, printers, etc. This is necessary for determining the location of switches. You will also want to know the location of desks, meeting rooms, work areas, and any Wi-Fi-connected devices so that the location of access points can be determined. You will also need to inventory electric outlets, network jacks, and wall-mounted patch panels. Thorough knowledge of your office layout will help you in designing an optimal network layout where devices are never too far from switches or access points. The location of endpoints will also help you quickly assign switches and/or ports to the right subnets. 4. Choose An ISPYour choice of Internet Service Provider (ISP) can have as big an impact on your network performance as any other factor. Your network performance goals will determine the type of ISP subscription you need. Unfortunately, not all ISPs work seamlessly everywhere. The location of your office building will often limit the ISPs you will have access to. If you are working with a managed IT service provider, their experience and expertise will help you choose the most suitable ISP based on your location and requirements. 5. Create A Network DesignThis step is the heart of your network design process. The design specifications will be the basis for the implementation phase and need to support the availability, security, and performance goals as specified in the requirements. Therefore, at this stage, you will create logical and physical topologies, network diagrams, define specific design information such as routing protocols, IP addressing, subnets, and security configurations. 1. Network TopologyUsing all the information you have gathered so far, you can draw your network topology, which is a structural arrangement of a network, where the network endpoints are depicted as nodes and the connection between them as links. This is an important phase in your network design process because the choice of topology has a major impact on the scalability, configuration management, monitoring, and general performance of the network. Network topology is commonly designed using the top-down method, where you start from the top layer of the OSI model and work your way down. In this method, you start by analyzing the requirements of the application layer and adapt your network design based on those requirements. You can use CISCO’s PPDIOO methodology as a framework to keep your design process organized. 2. Network TypeAn important factor in the design of your network is the physical extent of your network. Whether your organization occupies a section in a shared office, an entire floor of a building, multiple floors, or has offices in multiple locations, each case will require a different type of network. Your design can range from a simple local area network (LAN) to a complex wide area network (WAN) connecting multiple geographic locations. 3. Physical NetworkThe physical network consists of cabling, faceplates, patch panels, and similar basic infrastructure work. The type of cabling will depend on the type of network you select as well as on the performance requirements. Solid underlying network cabling is a prerequisite for efficient networks. You can plan your cabling to include devices such as printers, IP cameras, etc. in the wired network so as to free the Wi-Fi spectrum from wireless dependent mobile devices. You should also consider using Power over Ethernet (PoE), which allows you to deliver DC power to devices over copper Ethernet cabling. PoE eliminates the need for separate power cables and outlets for connected devices, thus offering expanded options for how and where network endpoints can be placed, simplifying your cabling work. 4. Network EquipmentNetwork equipment such as routers, switches, and hubs form the core of your network infrastructure. It is not possible to build a business network without switches because they connect together devices, such as computers, printers, and servers in the network. Routers, on the other hand, direct traffic, choosing the most efficient route for the data packets to travel across the network. It also connects your local network to other networks such as the Internet. Having a clear understanding of the various network components, their purpose, and how they work is necessary for designing an efficient and reliable network. Your knowledge of these network components will also help you choose the right type of equipment for your networking needs. We have discussed this in detail in our previous blogs:
5. Addressing and SubnettingUntil now we have dealt with the physical parts of the network and now we will be dealing with the logical part of the network. In this phase, you will assign IP addresses to your networks. Each device connected to the network has its own IP address. The IP address assignment can be either static or dynamic, depending on your network practices and features. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is the most commonly used protocol for automatically assigning IP addresses to network-connected devices. For effective network management, resource allocation, and security reasons, your network is likely to be divided into sub-networks or subnets. The network endpoints may be assigned to a subnet based on their location, department, function, or any other criteria. 6. Document The Network DesignWhen designing a network, the most important thing to remember is that you cannot design the entire network in your head. You may think that you just need to link up your network equipment and things will work fine. But that’s never the case in a business environment, which is highly complex. Every device that you add to or remove from your network impacts its performance. Therefore, it is highly recommended to document each and every step of your network design process. A clear plan and physical diagram will ensure that you do not miss any important aspect of the network and more importantly, will help in the implementation of the network. Your design document should include the following:
Network Design Best PracticesBy now you should have a general understanding of the various steps involved in network design. But once you embark on the design process, you will come across multiple questions, hurdles, and challenges. Many of these can be avoided by
using best practices that have already been tried, tested, and used for many years. Here are some important network design best practices: 1. Plan For The FutureThe demands on your networks are always growing. In times of growth, there will be a sudden increase in the number of users and devices. At other times, organizations may be adopting new technologies such as video conferencing, virtual reality, and IoT devices that use up a lot of bandwidth and cause network congestion. Therefore, it is prudent to err on the side of caution and consider additional network load to accommodate the growth and adoption of new technologies in the future. The usual practice is to calculate based on the capacity you might need in the next year or two. 2. Backup And FailoverNo matter how well we design a network to be, like any other device or technology, it is liable to break down due to the failure of or error in one or more of its components. Even when the network itself is stable, the ISPs tend to suffer from outages from time to time. You can safeguard against such breakdowns and outages by building redundancies into your network. Redundancies built into your network core will ensure that the network will be up and running even if there are any issues with one or more of its components. The redundancy can include alternate power supply, additional cabling forming multiple network paths, and a secondary backup ISP subscription. 3. Embed Security In Your DesignAnyone with access to your network has access to virtually your entire infrastructure. Therefore, you need to take network security very seriously and include it in your network design right from the start. We have talked about network security at length in the following blog posts:
4. Network Design Is Never FinishedYour job with the network is never really done. Even after you have implemented the network, you still need to verify that it meets the goals initially established, monitor the performance, ensure security, and apply tweaks as and when needed. Also, there is always the need to add new services and features that will impact the performance of the network. So you will need to keep modifying, updating, and maintaining the network. ConclusionNetwork design is a complex project and the complexity varies depending on the size, topology, performance requirements, geographical extent, and many other factors. Nevertheless, the design process described above gives you a framework you can start with no matter the size or complexity of your project. Are you looking for help to set up or upgrade your network infrastructure? Click the button below to reach out to find out how we can help you complete your network projects on time and within budget. If you liked the blog, please share it with your friends
About The AuthorHari Subedi Marketing Manager at Jones IT Hari is an online marketing professional with a focus on content marketing. He writes on topics related to IT, Security, Small Business, and Mindfulness. He is also the founder and managing director of Girivar Kft., a business services company located in Budapest, Hungary. Comment What are needed for a network infrastructure?Network infrastructure can be a mix of hardware devices, software applications, and network services, including: Hardware infrastructure typically includes routers, switches, hubs, repeaters, gateways, bridges, and modems. Software infrastructure includes monitoring and management tools and operating systems.
What is the first thing you need to do in planning a network?Computer Network Planning Steps:. Identify the objective or objectives, you are trying to achieve with the network.. Take inventory of your existing computers and networking equipment.. Identify the topology of the network that will help you achieve your objectives.. Identify any additional equipment you will need.. What is the need for network planning?Users like to login and expect the business's systems to work, so to that effect having a well-planned network design will minimise security issues as well as an increase in speed and performance.
What are the five things needed to determine a network?Cost. Equipment and maintenance costs are often the first consideration in network design. ... . Security. Securing a network from outside intrusion or data theft is a primary concern for many companies. ... . Outside Access. Internet access has become all but mandatory for most modern businesses. ... . Expansion. ... . Support.. |
What are the things that you need to determine in planning of your network infrastructure?
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