C1006 Computer Networks Term 3 2007 Assignment – part 1
Hi! This is my C1006 Computer Networks assignment that I do in Term 3, 2007, in Informatics Computer School Singapore. How is the new assignment looks like? Do you have any questions? just ask me and I will try to help you.
The Question:
You have to design a small office network with less than 10 desktop computers. You have to link all the computers to a network printer and fax. For each part of the network, as shown in your diagram, write a few paragraphs describing the part. If you choose a workgroup or client-server environment, then you have to explain in your report. Your company Internet uses a high speed DSL Internet connection. You also have to explain the vulnerabilities and security measures in your network and Internet. Lastly tabulate the cost of the network.
Notes :
The diagram must show the computers, Internet connection, and physical layer items (e.g. wires, hub, router, firewall etc, if appropriate). The diagram should be an original drawing done by you using computer drawing such as PowerPoint (although you can use clip art and real pictures of components as part of the diagram if you wish).
My Answer:
DESIGNING A SMALL OFFICE NETWORK
I. Introduction to Small Office Network Implementation
Small office network is a form of computer networking system that covers a small area like a house, an office, or a building. Otherwise, it designed to support just few users in the network.
While, the word “Network” means “A group of computers and typically other devices like printer, modem, router, hub, etc. that linked together so they can communicate with each other, share data, share information, and share resources” (The Linux Information Project 2006).
The basic concept of a small office network is the same with the other, larger kind of network, which is to provide connectivity among the computers inside it. According to the Informatics C1006 Study Guide (2006), the word ‘connectivity’ in the networking area means the ability for every computer in the network to share information and resources. So with the implementation of computer network, all computers in the network will be able to share information and resources to make an efficient use of the office’s computing resources and administration.
Although the basic concept is the same with large network such as enterprise network, according to Breeding (2007), a small office networks have a different characteristic with enterprise network. In an enterprise network, the network may support hundreds or thousands of users. Also it may cover a great range like some buildings, some different geographic areas, some cities, or some countries. The most important factor is that an enterprise network is equipped with powerful and sophisticated computer equipments that need highly trained and professional network administrators to do the maintenance.
On the other hand, small office network has a simpler computing and networking equipments. It may include some desktop computers, a server, one or two high-end printer, a scanner, a fax machine, and some networking devices that can be shared to the users in the network. Unlike the enterprise network, a small office network can be maintained by a network administrator with medium technical knowledge and skills or a person that simply know the basic of networking. These things mean that establishing a small office network will cost much cheaper than his big brother, the enterprise network.
There are some important actors that we need to notice before establishing our small office network:
1. What Workload Will be Done by Our Network
First thing that we need to see is what function or workload will be mainly carried out by our small office network, because a network with heavy workload will need a more powerful network and computing equipment than the one with medium or light workload. For example, if the office’s main job is working something like 3D graphic design, movie making, or movie editing that need a great processing power and massive data transfer from one computer to another computer in the network, then this kind of office will need a network that is equipped with powerful networking devices to support its work, which mean expensive networking devices. On the other hand, if the office will just use the network to do some office’s administration activity and storing the office’s important data and information, this kind of office will just need a network with moderate performance which consist of cheaper networking devices.
2. Network Technology Choice and Cost
When it comes to establishing a new small office network, there is a diverse choice for the networking devices available in the market. We need to choose carefully which networking device has the most appropriate technology to be implemented in our small office network. One important issue is the ability of the newly established network to be expanded further in the future. Because we talk about small office network that is used for business environment, so we shouldn’t close our eyes to the reality that there is a possible chance where our small business today will expand to a bigger business that need a bigger and more powerful network performance in the future. But this doesn’t mean that we need to buy all the high-end products that are very expensive, because the budget of a small office is generally limited. So, what we need to do is choosing network technology such as router, hub/switch, NIC, Server, cables, etc. that is not too expensive but not too old that may limit our network’s future expansion ability, means that we must choose technology that doesn’t limit us as the network expand in the future. (Breeding, 2007)
3. Availability of Internet Access
Nowadays, Internet is a basic need for every business, so we will also need to have an internet access in our small office network. Dial-up internet connection may be familiar for personal user, but in our network with some user, we will need a more powerful internet connection that provides us with higher bandwidth to support our office’s network activity better. To achieve this, we need a dedicated internet connection like DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) internet connection that is not too expensive and suitable for our small office network’s internet access.
4. The Simplicity of Network Configuration
It’s not a usual thing that a small office will hire a dedicated IT professional to manage and maintain their office’s network since it is small enough and they will found the budget to pay such a dedicated network administrator will be too expensive. So, we must set a network configuration that is simple enough to be understood by available human resources in the office (TechRepublic.com, 2007). But this doesn’t mean that the office’s staff, who is possibly have no experience in networking, will have to do all the office’s network installation process. The office may hire an IT professional to set up the network for the first time only. After that, the network should be configured simple enough so one or some of the office’s staff with adequate or moderate knowledge in network operation will be able to handle the management and maintenance of the small office network.
5. Network’s Media Choice
We need to consider our office’s environment before deciding which media will be used for our small office network. Wireless or unguided media may be a good choice if the environment or the building is very difficult for network cable installation. But we must remember that wireless communication is more vulnerable to noise or bad atmospheric condition, thus generally it’s more expensive for a small network. The other choice, we may consider of using cable such as Un-Shielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable as our network’s media. These days, the category 5 UTP cable is the most common cable used in 10BaseT Ethernet network (10 stands for the network’s bandwidth of 10 Mbps).
6. Network and Internet Security
As our small office network will play an important role for our office’s business activity, so we cannot ignore about security issue of our network. Providing our network with adequate security system that defend it from natural disaster, human error, viruses, hackers, or any possible attack from the Internet will not just make our network become a convenient tool for the office, but also give better protection to the office’s vital information and data. There are some ways to enhance our network and Internet security that will be explained, later in this assignment.
So, that’s all important factors for us to notice before starting to build our small office network, which I can list.
This is the end of the first part of this assignment. In this part, I have explained about the basic knowledge that we need to know about small office network before we start to build our own small office network. Later in this assignment that asks me to design a small office network, I will show my small office network’s design diagram, followed by explanation for every part of my small office network design, explanation on the network and Internet vulnerabilities, explanation on how to provide the network’s security measures and countermeasures, and lastly I will come to the estimated tabulation of costing for my small office network design.
II. My Small Office Network Diagram
To be continued in the next post….
Do you have any comment on this? maybe you have something to ask me or want to discuss with me about this?Or maybe you are IDIC student and taking this module also?
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