Bispling International Banking has expanded recently to included two new buildings for a total of three, roughly arranged in a triangle with each building about 500 meters apart. Previously, these buildings were wired with Cat3 UTP 10BaseT Etherent. The IT director mandates that your new building be among the first to use 1000Mbps Ethernet to the desktop. Define a comprehensive network architecture that fulfills the director's requirements while at the same time allows for future growth.
To define a comprehensive network architecture that fulfills the IT director's requirements and allows for future growth, you can follow these steps:
1. Determine the current network setup:
- Identify the existing network infrastructure, including switches, routers, and cabling.
- Assess the current network performance, including bandwidth requirements and any bottlenecks.
2. Assess the new requirements:
- Understand the requirements for the new building, including the number of users, their network usage expectations, and the desired network speed (1000Mbps Ethernet).
3. Plan the network topology:
- Since the buildings are roughly arranged in a triangle, consider using a star or mesh topology.
- Determine the central location for networking equipment, such as switches and routers, which can serve all three buildings.
4. Upgrade the cabling infrastructure:
- Since the current Cat3 UTP cabling is not sufficient to support 1000Mbps Ethernet, replace it with Cat5e or higher grade cabling.
- Evaluate the distance between the buildings (500 meters) and ensure that the new cabling can cover this distance without signal loss.
5. Install new networking equipment:
- Purchase and install Gigabit Ethernet switches capable of handling the desired bandwidth (1000Mbps) in each building.
- Consider installing a router in the central location to connect the buildings and provide internet access.
6. Configure VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks):
- Implement VLANs to separate and secure network traffic in each building.
- This will allow you to control access and prioritize network traffic based on different departments/areas in each building.
7. Implement network security measures:
- Utilize firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)/Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), and antivirus software to protect the network from external threats.
- Consider implementing network access controls, such as 802.1X, to authenticate and authorize user devices.
8. Plan for future growth:
- Allow for scalability by considering future expansion needs, such as additional buildings or increased user capacity.
- Design the network architecture to accommodate future upgrades, such as faster network speeds, additional security measures, or advanced technologies like wireless networks.
9. Document the network architecture:
- Create detailed network diagrams, including physical and logical layouts, IP addressing schemes, VLAN configurations, and equipment specifications.
- Keep network documentation up to date as changes are made to the network.
10. Continuously monitor and maintain the network:
- Regularly monitor the network performance, identifying and resolving any issues promptly.
- Perform periodic network audits to ensure that security measures are up to date and aligned with industry best practices.
By following these steps, you can design and implement a comprehensive network architecture that meets the IT director's requirements for 1000Mbps Ethernet while allowing for future growth.