Mr. Khoza runs a small business in Midrand, Gauteng. His business has been steadily growing since
its inception in February 2019 in spite of the ill-effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns as well as the
ripple effects of the economic issues and financial markets such as rising fuel prices and inflation.
He, Mr. Khoza, has asked you to design a secure network for his small business. Additionally, he
would like you to design and build a cost-effective network for his business.
The current setup is such that every PC and laptop user uses a 3G dongle to connect to the Internet.
When users need to print, they either copy the work that needs to be printed to USB flash drives
or email their work to any one of the five users whose PCs are attached to a printer – all printers
connect via USB cables.
The new network, according to Mr. Khoza, should cater to at least thirty devices, fifteen desktops
(PCs), seven laptops including Mr. Khoza’s laptop, two servers and four BYOD devices. Additionally,
Mr. Khoza wants to allow visitors such as customers and suppliers to connect mobile devices to get
Internet connectivity. All users with PCs and laptops should still be able to print.
The premises where Mr. Khoza runs his business has six offices (rooms). All the rooms are located
on the same floor. Mr. Khoza has an office and does not share office space. There are two open-
plan offices, the first open-plan office houses seven desktops and the remainder of the PCs are
housed in the second open-plan office. Two laptop users share an office while the other three
laptop users share a separate office. A small storeroom has been selected for use as a server room.
Given the details in the scenario as well as making your own assumptions, provide a
fully labelled WAN diagram for Mr. Khoza’s network. Your diagram must show the
inclusion of the wireless WAN network infrastructure. Accompany your diagram with
a detailed explanation of how the LAN network will work and how it will support and
solve Mr. Khoza’s problems.
An adequate fully labelled diagram is provided. 5
B. The diagram adequately shows the wireless network
infrastructure.
The LAN network for Mr. Khoza's business will consist of the following components:
1. Router: A router will be installed as the central hub of the network. It will be the connection point between the LAN and the WAN. The router will provide internet connectivity to all devices on the LAN and also allow for secure remote access to the network.
2. Switches: Several switches will be used to connect all the devices on the LAN. Each office or room will have a switch to connect the devices within that area. The switches will allow for efficient data transfer between devices and ensure that each device has a stable and fast connection.
3. Access Points: Wireless access points will be strategically placed throughout the premises to provide wireless connectivity to all devices on the LAN. These access points will broadcast a secure Wi-Fi network that users can connect to with their laptops, smartphones, and other mobile devices.
4. Printers: Printers will be connected to the LAN via Ethernet cables to allow for easy printing from any device on the network. Users will no longer need to copy their work to USB drives or email it to another user for printing.
5. Servers: Two servers will be housed in the server room. These servers will store and manage the business data, as well as provide various services such as file sharing, email, and database management. They will also be responsible for regular backups to ensure data security and availability.
6. Desktops and Laptops: The fifteen desktops and seven laptops will be connected to the LAN via Ethernet cables. They will have access to the internet, shared files and resources on the servers, and will be able to print directly to the network printers.
7. BYOD Devices: The four BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) devices will connect to the LAN via Wi-Fi. They will be able to access the internet and limited resources based on the security measures in place.
8. Visitor Access: Mr. Khoza wants to allow visitors such as customers and suppliers to connect their mobile devices to the network for internet access. To achieve this, a separate guest network will be set up with limited access to the LAN resources. This network will have its own Wi-Fi access points and will be separate from the main LAN for security purposes.
By implementing this LAN network design, Mr. Khoza's business will benefit from the following improvements:
1. Enhanced Connectivity: All devices will have reliable and fast internet connectivity. Users will no longer need to rely on 3G dongles for internet access, resulting in faster data transfer and increased productivity.
2. Seamless Printing: The network printers connected to the LAN will enable easy printing from any device. Users can send print jobs directly to the printers without the need for USB drives or relying on other users.
3. Secure Wireless Access: The wireless network infrastructure, including access points, will provide secure Wi-Fi access to all authorized devices. The network will be protected by encryption and access control measures to prevent unauthorized access.
4. Scalability: The network design allows for future expansion with the capability to add more devices or additional offices. The use of switches ensures that each office has ample ports for connecting devices.
5. Visitor Access: Setting up a separate guest network will provide a safe and secure way for visitors to access the internet without compromising the security of the main LAN.
Overall, the implemented LAN network will provide Mr. Khoza's small business with a cost-effective, efficient, and secure network infrastructure that can support his current needs as well as future growth.