Networking Case Study

Introduction
This case study consists of four components.
You are to design a network, research and source appropriate devices justifying choices (feasibility, efficiency, etc.), subnet the network, assign IP addresses to the appropriate devices, and provide an executive summary of the project.

Assignment breakdown

Scenario
A European software development company has asked you to assess and redesign their network. They are opening new branches in Oslo and Riga, which will require new equipment. They have existing contracts and hardware to maintain fibre optic leased line WAN links between sites.
PART 1 - Executive summary PART 2 - Network diagram
PART 3 - Subnet the network and assign IP addresses to the appropriate devices
PART 4 - Research and source appropriate devices justifying choices (feasibility, efficiency, etc.) with a Weighted Scoring Model (WSM)

PART 1 - Executive summary
Describe the purpose, scope, and objectives of the project for each of parts 2, 3 and 4. Why is it important to produce a well-designed network diagram? What goals are you trying to achieve with the hardware you select for the procurement project?
- Purpose
The first thing you need to do when starting on a project is ask "why"? What problem are you trying to solve? Once you explicitly define the problem, it becomes easier to evaluate possible solutions.
- Scope
A project's scope defines the outputs or deliverables of a project. What is the overall outcome of the project? How will the output of the project solve the problem? What features will the end result have?
- Objectives
The objectives are areas of focus of the project, and can be listed as discrete goals. Projects are usually constrained by an overall budget and time-frame. Objectives can break down the overall constraints of the project and apply them to individual aspects. Typically, good objectives follow the SMART principle, in that goals must be:
o Specific - well-defined and clear output
o Measurable - You know when the goal has been accomplished, or how much progress has been made
o Attainable - Goals are realistic and can be achieved within the project's constraints
o Relevant - The goals are worthwhile and make sense in the context of the project
o Time-bound - Goals should have a time limit
The executive summary should be well-articulated: clear, concise, and use correct spelling and grammar. The intended audience for the executive summary can be assumed to have basic technical knowledge, but are not networking experts. You should aim for 200 to 300 words.

PART 2 - Network specifications and diagram

Network Specifications
You have been given a rough sketch of the network topology below. You are to draw the network using Visio, subnet the network (see case study part 3), and assign router interfaces and IP addresses to router interfaces and servers.

Hardware
- Only include one switch in your diagram for each LAN or WLAN
- The Internet router port address is 31.167.22.43/30
- The Aarhus router is connected to the Internet, and provides access to the public backbone containing a web server and a mail server.

PART 3 - Subnet the network and assign IP addresses to the appropriate devices.
Each location has the following number of hosts
Aarhus, Dublin, and Riga all have WLANs.

Subnetting
Create subnets for the LANs and WLANs using a public class B network. Create subnets for the WANs using a public class C network. You are to use the table format below to provide the subnet details.
Table 1. LAN & WLAN Subnets
Spreadsheet Columns: Subnet name, subnet address, subnet mask (in slash format), first useable address, broadcast address, static address range, and DHCP address range (all addresses to be in dotted decimal notation)
Table 2. WAN Subnets
Spreadsheet Columns: Subnet name, subnet address, subnet mask (in slash format), first useable address, broadcast address (all addresses to be in dotted decimal notation)
Table 3. Router Interfaces
Spreadsheet Columns: Location, interface, IP address, subnet mask (in slash format)
Table 4. Servers
Spreadsheet Columns: Location, server name, IP address, subnet mask (in slash format)

Additional requirements:
- Servers at a given location should be placed within a "server subnet" rather than as part of the same subnet used for workstations.
- Wi-fi at the Riga location is intended for use by clients, not employees.
- The size of your subnets should be large enough to satisfy the required number of hosts, but no larger. As we are using static subnetting in this subject, all LANs and WLANs should have the same size. (If you wish to create VLSM subnets, you are welcome, but the onus will be on you to teach yourself the technique and create a correct solution and there will be no additional marks.)
- DHCP will to be used for IP address allocation for hosts in each subnet and these ranges are to be allocated for each LAN. You may assume that DHCP will be provided by the router.
- Static IP addresses are to be allocated where appropriate.
- The ISP has given us an IP address of 31.167.22.43/30 for the Internet connection at Aarhus.

PART 4 - Research and source appropriate devices justifying choices (feasibility, efficiency, etc.)
You are to research and submit a project procurement plan for the new Oslo and Riga networks. The devices you must include are routers, switches, and wireless access points. Make sure the devices you select can handle the number of workstations required at each site, and provide a good quality of service to wired and wireless users.
The Riga offices include a meeting area for clients. It is only necessary to provide wi-fi access within this area, which is an open space that measures 10 × 20m. Choose your wireless access point/s accordingly.
Your project plan and final recommendations should be based on a Weighted Decision Matrix (similar to the WDM you completed in the Procurement Practical). You are to compare five (5) devices from each category and to base the decision on (at least 4) reasonable and well-justified attributes.
You are to justify the choices of attributes on which you compare your devices, and the scores that you give each device.
Note that Oslo and Riga have differing requirements, and therefore you should produce different WDMs for the devices at each site; although you may choose the same models of devices to compare, the criteria may differ.
The client would like to keep the budget for all procurement under $10,000. You may exceed this amount if you can justify it well. All hardware should be available new and still supported by the manufacturer.
This section should include:
For each Weighted Decision Matrix
- Table 1 indicating the attributes chosen for comparison and the justification for these attributes
- Table 2 outlining the devices to be compared, their prices, links to where they can be purchased, and justifications for the scores you've given each attribute
- Table 3 the WDM itself
- Create your WDMs in Excel and copy and paste them into your Word doc
- Each table should be well presented and easy to read
Budget
- Create a well-presented table of the prices of all devices and the total cost
- Include hardware only, not labour