Networking Assurance and Guidance really.

In summary: The company should seriously consider a VPN solution. In summary, the estate agency requires that all employees' computers be networked, and that all branches be networked. The estate agency plans to have a set of LANs in each of the five branches, and also wants to use a leased line for Internet access. The firewalls are located in the central hub. The connection to the Internet and outside e-mail is accomplished through a VPN. The connections between the central hub and the four field offices are accomplished through T1s and other fiber-optic lines.
  • #1
derbys
4
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Homework Statement



An estate agency with five branches in the south west of England: Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Exeter, and Plymouth. Each branch has three dpeartments; the sales department, which may employ up to twelve people; the accounts department which may employ up to three people; the mortgages department which may also employ up to 3 people. Each branch occupies one building. As part of a general upgrade to the computing facilities, the estate agency requires that the computers for all employees in each branch be networked, and that all branches be networked.

Report should consist of :

Diagramatic description of the network
List of configuration commands for the computer and network hardware

*Both of these not important at the minute*

The Attempt at a Solution



Right i don't neccesarily want an answer here, i just want someone to say if I am going along the right lines around here. I am thinking at the moment that the most appropriate solution to this answer would be to have a set of LAN's in each of the branches that the company has. Then using routers and hubs (or small switches) to help create a WAN, allowing connection between the branches themselves, and also using a leased line for added security for the WAN. The question doesn't say anything about the size of the company, nor the amount of money that the company wishes to spend so I am assuming that a leased line would be alright? There was also the (more probable) possibility of using VPN but within the lectures, the lecturer had never even mention VPN so I am assuming that he doesn't want us to look into that as the course is for people who have never done anything within Networks before.

Is that all sounding correct? Like i said i want to know if this is the right sort of network to be doing so that i can get on with writing the report.

If you can give any advice, i'd be delighted.

Cheers
 
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  • #2
I'm no expert in data networking, but it sounds fine so far. The only things I would add would address firewalls and the VPN issue. Where do you plan on putting your firewalls? You will want to give each employee open access to the Internet (so they can access the Physcs and Math Forums, among other useful Internet sites!), but how do you do that without opening up all the files on their computers to outside access? You have the right idea about using the leased lines for your WAN, but how does Internet access play in all of this? And how is your e-mail system going to be architected?

On the VPN issue (and that relates to the firewall architecture, after all), VPNs are generally used on a limited basis, and are generally an expensive and labor-intensive add-on. You could just say that no VPN access will be set up for now, and that would be reasonable for many companies. However, if you are going to have a lot of telecommuters associated with the company, then the VPN access will become a necessity. From the short description of the company that you have given, you could argue that there will be no full-access telecommuting. However, the Sales Department would be one logical candidate for future VPN upgrades if you want to let the sales people telecommute from home a few days a week. At least here in Silicon Valley, telecomuting is a very common practice, and actually is a good way to recruit good people to your company. When you can offer a couple days a week of telecommuting as part of the hiring package for a strong technical prospect, that often helps to seal the deal. Commuting around here can be a real pain, unless you're on a sportbike like me! :biggrin:
 
  • #3
Cheers very much, another quick question, does anyone know where i can find an example of a network that is in standard cisco notation (diagrammatic). I can't remember what some of the hardware should be drawn like. And can't seem to find a decent example!
 
  • #4
Cheers back. I did a quick search at wikipedia.org, and ended up at a good page about network diagrams, including a pointer to Cisco symbols part-way down the page. Hope it helps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_diagram

Welcome to the PF, BTW.
 
  • #5
Would this theoretically work? (it's a drawing of what the network could look like - attatched) it's been done quickly and am not sure if it would work, or if anything is missing.. i have no doubt that something is missing.
 

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  • #6
Where are the firewalls located? How is connection to the Internet and outside e-mail accomplished? How are the connections between the central hub and the four field offices accomplished (like T1, etc.)?
 
  • #7
By far the internet only option is the simplest and cheapest.

There are two reasons I can think of why this option might not be sufficient for a business.

1. The business requires a security above VPN
2. The Internet network reliability of the ISP is not high enough

I suppose that for the given business both answers should be a negative but obviously the options should be presented to them. You could include network reliability and downtime information from the chosen ISP provider and information about VPN usages versus leased lines in this particular industry so that they can make an educated choice.

Furthermore you would need to inquire about the expected level of network traffic to make a recommendation for the required network speed. I suppose that for this particular business the network traffic will be relatively light. For instance I would not expect this kind of business to use network hogging multi-media access.

Internet option
Each branch should at least have a firewalled and VPN enabled router to securely separate LAN and WAN communications.

Leased line option
Each branch needs a leased line to the location that hosts the server(s).
Routers are not essential but switches should be the minimum. There are simply too many computers connected to warrant the usage of hubs. Assuming that the business uses the internet, and which business does not nowadays, you would need a gateway to the internet. There are two options, one is to install a router at the location that hosts the server(s) or you could install a router in each branch connecting directly to the internet.
 
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  • #8
Am I right in thinking that to connect to the internet it's possible to get a connection from the router at the central server to the ISP itself. And that the other branches can connect through to the internet from connecting to the router aswell? And that the firewall would be between the ISP and the server?

That's horrible English and makes no sense :D
 

1. What is Networking Assurance and Guidance?

Networking Assurance and Guidance refers to the process of ensuring that a network is functioning properly and providing guidance on how to improve network performance and security. It involves monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing network infrastructure to ensure reliable and efficient communication between devices.

2. Why is Networking Assurance and Guidance important?

Networking Assurance and Guidance is important because it helps maintain the integrity and performance of a network. It allows businesses and organizations to identify and address any potential issues before they cause major disruptions or security breaches. It also helps optimize network performance, leading to increased productivity and cost savings.

3. What are the key components of Networking Assurance and Guidance?

The key components of Networking Assurance and Guidance include network monitoring, performance analysis, security management, and network optimization. These components work together to ensure that the network is operating at its best, and any potential issues are identified and addressed in a timely manner.

4. How is Networking Assurance and Guidance different from network security?

Although Networking Assurance and Guidance and network security are closely related, they have different focuses. Networking Assurance and Guidance is primarily concerned with maintaining network performance and reliability, while network security focuses on protecting the network from external threats and unauthorized access. However, both are important for maintaining a secure and efficient network.

5. What are some common tools used for Networking Assurance and Guidance?

There are various tools and technologies used for Networking Assurance and Guidance, including network monitoring software, performance analysis tools, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and virtual private networks (VPNs). These tools help network administrators monitor and manage network traffic, identify potential issues, and secure the network from external threats.

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