Simulating a Network - Case Study Example

Simulating a Network Instructor’s Name Institution Table of Contents Introduction 3 Aim and objectives 3 Assumptions 3 System description 3 Simulations results 4 Discussions and Conclusions 6 Introduction Optimized network engineering tools are used to provide network models which can be used in distribution of data or information from one centralised or decentralised source. Optimized network engineering tools decomposes a network in technological key components that must understand, arranged, and maintained. Although underlying technology that constitutes these elements vary, anyone involved in managing networks will need to make decision about the design, management, and improvement of the Local area network, HEBS, Switches, Wireless Access Points, and Network Adapters, Wide Area Network and Routers. OPNET will help in showing model on how array for computers are arranged together to communicate. This will indicate the infrastructure paths of a network allow including components such as key servers. Although it is mostly considered that any network can attain a by simply adding various redundant devices on it, the process of designing a network goes beyond such perception; it incorporates setting appropriate measures that would allow an organization and network administrators to recognize regions of points of failures within a system. Aim and objectives The main aim of this report is to highlight simulation results of an assignment were optimised network engineering tool was used. Assumptions The network will have one server that will serve all the two floors. System description When are modelling a supermarket network system as well as simulate it by varying delay and bytes send. The network first feature is link and node failure detection which allows for the detection of default and eventual reroute on possible cause of the problem. The second feature is an Authentication Packets whose function is to prevent possible downtime in the network resulting from wicked attacks on the routing protocol level (Iniewski, McCrosky and Minoli, 2008). In other words a network can only be achieved through the Authentication Packets. Thirdly, Graceful Restart is a feature that allows a router to restart without imposing negative impact on the network topology thereby allowing room for a network. The other feature that is critical for a network is the Non-Stop Active Routing. According to Iniewski, McCrosky and Minoli (2008) Non-Stop Active Routing is a feature that utilizes redundant Graceful Restart existing within a particular router to ensure that any restart of the RE does not interfere with the topology. In other words, Non-Stop Active Routing as the name suggests is features that ensure that there is back-up for Graceful Restart that can take over without more ado in case of failure of the main networks Graceful Restart. The last procedure to be taken into account during the implementation of a network is the ability to utilize the hardware appropriately and ensure continued service availability for all critical applications. Implementing a network would also require Server Virtualization to allow the network administrators to deploy and test new applications in a remote environment during the production process. Other benefits of server virtualization include managing server workload among several servers, providing continued server access even in an event of breakdown, consolidating multiple servers to a single server thus increasing efficiency and service availability. Simulations results Simulation as been done using OPENET simulator .the figure below shows the network for the system. The simulation carried out showed good results in terms of voice packets with a delayed variation of between 10 -25nanoseconds. The network was simulated had switches, server and clients from the diagram it should be noted that only few switches were used due to the fact that may switched will lead to increase in simulation time. Simulation time is an important element that has to be taken into account when one is either building or upgrading a network with an aim of attaining a state. It is also perceived that the downtime cost of designing a network is worth than the risk of not designing and implementing such service. This is based on the fact that designing a network requires a redundant design which requires time to plan, verify, and money to purchase and maintain certain gargets. However, the general impact that redundancy designs have on the organization is above its anticipated trade off cost. Moreover, the presence of e-commerce that would be offered by a network would double the benefits that the organization and the customers would obtain as far as the user-application and application-back-end database is concerned. The downtime cost further becomes relatively large in the presence of network. This is owed to the inherent fact that network allows more customers to be in the storefronts. The output graphs are shown below, Discussions and Conclusions OPNET simulator has been used in this case to design as by market network which is time sensitive. The behaviour of the network has been analysed and the result as been presented in this report. OPNET as been used because of its features that can simulate networks it has provided accurate results in the three trials. Successful simulation for a network design requires all components to be connected properly as well as various components that are critical in designing a network are incorporated into the system. Some of the components that are critical in designing network include redundancy, technology, people, process, and tools. One of the aspects that the design component has to consider for successful design of a network is the Physical Network Design. This is the physical area that is to be covered the network. It determines the best possible locations where the network access points would be mounted at and therefore requires the network designers to conduct a site survey. The redundancy component in designing a network is a technique whose aim is to get rid of single points of failures within the network. Single point failures refer to a condition that breaks the entire network following the failure of only one device or design element. In other words, designing a network with redundancy would employ various mechanisms to prevent any failure of the network service resulting from single points thereby resulting to network (Froom and Frahim, 2010). Some of the mechanisms that can be employed by redundant design to prevent failures resulting from single points include the use of geographic diversity and path diversity, dual devices and links, dual WAN providers, dual data centers, and dual collocation (Froom and Frahim, 2010). In the case of dual data centers, the organization can get the opportunity to expand and conduct e-commerce business thereby making it possible for the organization to be in harmony and up to date with the current technological advancement. References Froom, R. and Frahim, E. 2010. Implementing Cisco IP switched networks (switch) foundation learning guide. Indianapolis, IN: Cisco Press. Iniewski, K., McCrosky, C. & Minoli, D. 2008. Data networks: VLSI and optical fiber. Hoboken, NJ: J. Wiley & Sons. Stewart, K. and Adams, A. E. 2008. Designing and supporting computer networks. Indianapolis, Ind. USA: Cisco Press. Zubairi, J. A. & Zuber, M., 2008. 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