IP Internetworking in Denver and Houston - Case Study Example

IP Internetworking Assignment Index Page Executive Summary 3 Introduction 4 WAN To Accommo the Network Traffic 5 Addressing Network for High Administrative Overhead to Low Administrative Overhead 8 VLAN Structure Summarization 10 Conclusion 14 References 15 Executive Summary The assignment considers the issue that the firm XUMUC is facing, regarding the designing of networking in its new locations. The two locations are Denver region and the Houston region. The assignment reveals some of the ways through which the organization can resolve the issues regarding the fact of the WLAN to be ineffective in accommodating with the network traffic. Moreover, it also reveals some of the steps to reduce the high administrative overhead. It also showed that the VLAN structure and the IP address table clearly depicted the desired structure of networking of the firm. At last, a conclusion is also drawn from the analysis. Introduction Wide Area Network (WAN) is gradually used by large scale organizations for maintaining communication with all the associated branches. Multiple organizations also implement the concepts of tunneling and remote access so as to exchange crucial files from their central servers. Implementation of Domain Naming Server (DNS) and ‘IP address’ concepts, within the servers and the client platforms also prove effective under such setups. From a technical perspective, IP generally refers to that code which differentiates the central hub platforms from the client platforms within a network setup. Another important concept that finds appropriateness in organizational network setup is the Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN). (Deal, 2008). Contextually, XUMUC is an organization that has their original location at the San Francisco region. However, at present they are seeking to have a new location at Houston region. In the mean time, the organization has also setup a new location at Denver. However, it is noted that the Information Technology (IT) consultant in the last operation has made an unsatisfactory job at San Francisco. Taking all these factors into consideration, the discussion will focus towards analyzing ad structuring a network setup that will find appropriateness with the requirements of XUMUC organization. Discussion Technical Requirements and Concerned Issues As provided, the existing IT consultant did not setup any VLAN structure leading to various issues. Moreover, there have been some issues regarding the WAN that did not accommodate with the network traffic. Further, it has been found out that there has been a concern for the higher administrative overhead. Nonetheless, the primary objective of the assignment is to propose some of the ways to resolve all the issues that the organization is facing in terms of IT. The assignment is about proposing XUMUC regarding the implementation of proper framework with regards to new network setup. WAN To Accommodate the Network Traffic XUMUC with regards to networking faces several issues. In this regard, one of the key issues that have been encountered in the existing network setup of XUMUC is related with WAN that they possessed failed to accommodate with the network traffic. From the perspective of an expert, it can be suggested the XUMUC will have to attain a higher bandwidth for balancing the present level of network traffic flow. The new network setup should also include the integration of new DNS servers and proxy servers so as to ensure higher level of security and systematic connectivity within the client platforms and the main server domain. This includes the structuring of new IP addresses for maintaining appropriate exchange of data and connectivity within all the branches of this organization. Moreover, it is also advisable for XUMUC to keep a check on the rate of network traffic flow, the peak period of the flow, average period of each session, the amount of users and host connected to the network and many more for the increase in the effectiveness of the same. However, it can also be observed that there are various technologies that should be undertaken by XUMUC in order to get the WAN to accommodate with the network traffic for greater effectiveness. In this context, it can be proposed that to increase the effectiveness of XUMUC, it can take measures similar to the Cisco system for enhancing the networking (Sportack, n.d.). These aspects are as follows: 1. Transmission Facilities For the new network setup XUMUC should integrate circuit Switched facility, so as to upgrade their transmission flow. The system should also include the utility network switch, which will enable connectivity between the client platforms. The other transmission facility refers to the use of private lines. The private lines are where the information is carried from point to point electrically or optically. Therefore, it is advisable that XUMUC should integrate a transmission facility of CISCO. This proposed aspect would benefit XUMUC to increase its effectiveness in network traffic and avoid the issues previously faced regarding the transferring of data (Sportack, n.d.). 2. Channel Service Units and Digital Service Units For supporting the networks setup the ‘Channel service units and digital service units’ can be considered as a mandate factor. This will also suffice the accommodative need of high network traffic. In this context, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) implementation might also sound appropriate. The utility of ISDN can be found in terms of transferring the voice and data packets concurrently throughout the network. Moreover, to resolve the issues faced by XUMUC, the new system will also require the implementation of Packet Switch facilities to support WAN for the same. Furthermore, the use of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) will also be of significant benefit for the increased effectiveness is also advisable. Justification to this statement can be provided depending on the fact that ATM is having high bit rate and low latency and hence, would make it more useful. Moreover, it can be also being proposed that the organization should infuse the ‘Channel service units and digital service units’ of the CISCO for greater effectiveness in proper networking (Sportack, n.d.). 3. Utility Routers From a technical perspective, it can be stated that XUMUC will have to install multiple routers and signal boosters within appropriate locations of the network to ensure required network traffic flow (Sportack, n.d.). 4. Routing Protocols Appropriate structuring of Routing Protocols will also help XUMUC in effective data communication. The organization should use the routing protocol of the CISCO as it has three basic and most decisive functions. The overall routing protocol will have to be designed by the system administrator as per the safety requirements. Fig: Routing Protocols Further, the routing protocol of CISCO would definitely enhance productivity and security for the organization (Sportack, n.d.).The proposed routing protocol is shown below: Fig: Routing Protocols for XUMUC Organization Thus, by strictly following the above stated technological proposals XUMUC would possess a WAN that would surely accommodate with the network traffic in the most effective manner and be able to resolve the issues as mentioned above. Addressing Network for High Administrative Overhead to Low Administrative Overhead It has been observed that there are several IT solutions hubs that provide services to reduce the higher administrative overhead. These services take comparatively less time in the setup at the initial phase. In this regard, the services are sufficient and need not have to undergo a reconfiguration of the network. Moreover, the services do not provide the requirement of routing table updates. Therefore, it is very clear and can be proposed that the operational expenses can be greatly reduced through adopting the professional IT services. The reason for such aspect is due to the non requirement of network reconfiguration and the routing table updates, which does not generate the requirement of an extra employed person. Moreover, it should be noted by XUMUC that the service would reduce the complexity of the system and hence, would save a lot of valuable time of the users and the hosts. Furthermore, it is recommended from the perspective of an expert that it helps to maintain the system to be effective uniformly throughout the time span of the service and throughout the area that it covers. Thus, the proposal would effectively support XUMUC to save a good amount of dollars at the end of the year. Importantly, the services do not affect the normal procedure of the flow of information. Further, the introduction of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) would considerably reduce the overall system maintenance pressure on the administrators due to the formation of a centralized and automated configuration system. Moreover, the functionality of DHCP can be elaborated in terms of the lease processing time required in transmitting files from one specified address to another, within the generated time session. The clients should be automatically assigned by the same and hence, resulting to low administrative overhead. Fig: Server Setup VLAN Structure Summarization LAN which is the Local Area Network is confined to one single firm or an organization. The information cannot be transmitted to a distant area via LAN. However, VLAN which is the Virtual Local Area Network allows a single LAN to be connected with the other LANs in distant places (Deal, 2008). The proposal of introducing VLAN would be much effective for the organization XUMUC. This is so because XUMUC has their original office at San Francisco. However, it has already setup a new office at the Denver region. It is also looking to build another center at the Houston region in the US. As the organization XUMUC is having three centers in the US, it is very important to have effective network connectivity throughout all the centers. VLAN in such aspect would be very effective as it would connect each and every computer to the other computers at different locations. Each and every computer at a certain location of the organization would be connected through LAN. Further, through the VLAN the main computer of each of the centers are connected virtually for effective transmission and strong networking. Hence, it can be stated that computers within the same centre are connected via LAN on the other hand the main computer is connected via VLAN to other computers at different locations. The typical VLAN structure that should be required by XUMUC in order to avail a sophisticated networking is mentioned underneath. Fig: VLAN Structure for XUMUC Organization IP Address Table The IP address table or the Routing table is a type of database table, which consists of the locations of an organization with respect to the IP address blocks that have been allocated. IP address is the unique code of a computer network (Cisco, 2010).The number of IP address that is available is 10. Hence, as per the demand of Denver region it is advisable for XUMUC to have 6 IP addresses. The proposed Address Block Assigned for the Denver region is the 172.17.0.0/17, 172.18.0.0/16, 172.19.0.0/16, 172.20.0.0/16, 10.10.0.0/16. The summarized address for the same is 172.16.0.0/16. Moreover, the other new center is the Houston region where the number of IP address should be as per the proposal made from the analysis should be 4 as the location is new. The proposed address block for the Houston region is 10.6.0.0/16, 10.7.0.0/16 and10.8.0.0/16. The summarized address for the same region is 10.5.0.0/16. Moreover, it can be stated that the organization should also incorporate DHCP in the system as it enhances the safety and the reliability of the network protocol. The proposed IP address table with specific ranges of the address on the basis of location and availability of resources for the organization XUMUC is proposed below: Conclusion The organization XUMUC is facing issues regarding networking throughout their new centers at Houston and Denver region. It is advisable that the XUMUC should take into consideration the necessary changes that have been proposed for upgrading their existing the network setup. Further, the assignment also showed some of the measures that are required to be undertaken to reduce the high administrative overhead. This measure would not only reduce the amount of time consumption but also would provide cost benefit. Further, the VLAN structure and the IP addressing table provide an effective model that helps to understand the desired networking structure of the organization. Therefore, it is very obvious that the organization XUMUC to be more effective and efficient in their performance to gain its objective, the aforementioned steps is desirable to be considered. Hence, by considering the aspects of the proposal the issues reflected in XUMUC can be resolved with effectiveness and efficiency to a considerable extent. References Cisco. (2010). IP addressing guide. Retrieved from http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/solutions/collateral/enterprise/design-zone-smart-business-architecture/sba_ipAddr_dg.pdf Deal. (2008). CCNA Cisco certified network associate study guide. India: Tata McGraw-Hill Education. Sportack, M. (n.d.). Selecting the right WAN. Retrieved from http://cmd.inp.nsk.su/old/cmd2/manuals/networking/perfomance/ch11/ch11.htm Read More