planning a network upgrade - parkway schools · © 2007 cisco systems, inc. all rights reserved....

© 2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public

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Chapter 1 1

Planning a Network Upgrade

Working at a Small-to-Medium Business or ISP –Chapter 3

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Chapter 1 2© 2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public

Purpose of a Site Survey Documents existing network structure

– Shows physical layout to determine if new equipment can be installed

Will also help show . . .

– What is already on site

– What type of equipment may be needed

– Floor plan of structure

Determine obvious issues

– Unlabeled cables

– Poor physical security

– Lack of power

– Lack of UPS

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Perform a Customer Site Survey

What does the technician look for . . .

– Number of hosts or users

• how many will be added over the next 12 months

• how many network servers and/or printers are needed

– Internet Service and Equipment

• if upgrading speed, may need to upgrade equipment

– Existing network devices

• type of network equipment installed

• configurations loaded on devices

– Security

• are additional firewalls needed

– Applications

• VoIP or video conferencing

– Wireless or Wired

• amount of square feet between access points

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Determine the Topologies

Physical topology

– actual physical layout of devices

Logical topology

– documents what paths are taken through the network

– includes:

• IP addresses

• device names

– workstations

– routers

– servers

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Perform a Customer Site Survey

Documentation on current hosts and devices

Includes:

– device name

– location

– brand and/or model

– operating system

– IP addressing

– connectivity method

– security

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Coming up with a Game Plan

A good plan will help identify the following:

– Strengths

– Weaknesses

– Opportunities

– Threats

AKA SWOT

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Phases of the Network Upgrade Requirements Gathering

– analyze data from on-site visit to determine network requirements

– done by the design team

• creates Analysis Report

Selection and Design

– selection of devices & cabling

– weaknesses of design are identified and addressed here

– creation of a prototype

Implementation

– overlooked tasks are corrected

– constant customer communication is CRITICAL

Operation

Review and Evaluation

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Examining the Physical Environment

Examine existing facilities and existing cabling

Find MDF (Main Distribution Facility)

– houses network devices

– all network cable concentrate here

– may also contain POP of ISP

Any IDFs? (Intermediate Distribution Facility)

– additional wiring closets

– connect to MDF

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Cabling Considerations

Check cable types needed

– STP

– UTP

– Coaxial

– Fiber

Check cable specifications

– Straight Through

– Crossover

– Rollover

– Serial

TIA/EIA 568A/568B standard

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Check Out the Cabling Patch Cable

– from PC to wall plate

Horizontal cable

– from wall plate to IDF

Vertical cable

– from IDF to MDF

Backbone cable

– handles major traffic

Wiring closet location

Cable management system

– protects cables/cable runs

Cable labeling

Electrical

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Purchasing Equipment for the Network

Managed services

– equipment obtained from ISP through a lease

– all updates, maintenance, etc. of equipment are the responsibility of the ISP

In-house services

– all responsibility falls on the customer

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Selection of Network Devices

Selection of LAN devices

– hubs could be used with smaller LANs

– switches more efficient

• managed switch – control over individual ports

• which is better? (one 24 port switch or 2-12 port switches)

Selection of a WAN device (router)

– fixed or modular expansion?

• fixed – specific number/type of ports

• modular – includes expansion slots

– breaks up collision and broadcast domains

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Cisco Devices Router

– 1841 ISR (Integrated Services Router)

– used for medium-sized business

– different connectivity options

Switch

– 2960 switch

– used for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit connectivity

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Network Reliability and Availability

Reliability

– can be achieved by adding redundancy to the network

– use of two routers instead of one

Five-9’s of availability

– network operational 99.999% of time

Use of fault tolerance helps to ensure reliability

– a network will continue operating properly in the event of a failure

– Use of the following devices will help ensure fault tolerance

• UPS

• multiple power supplies

• hot-swappable devices

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IP Addressing Plan The following devices will need IP addresses

– user PCs

– servers

– printers, IP phones

– router LAN interfaces

– router WAN (serial interfaces)

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Summary

A site survey including extensive documentation of both physical and logical network information must be performed before a network upgrade can be planned.

The five phases of a network upgrade include requirements gathering, selection and design, implementation, operation, and review and evaluation.

Structured cabling deals with the placement of cables, location of wiring closets, cable management, and electrical considerations.

Cost and expandability are important considerations when planning equipment upgrades.

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