Running head: KUDLER FINE FOODS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

Kudler Fine Foods Network Architecture

Naveen Lanka
NTC 362
July 28, 2015
Matt Henwood

KUDLER FINE FOODS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

Kudler Fine Foods Network Architecture

Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) currently operates in three locations in California, but it needs a
proper network architecture to establish a wide area network (WAN) to integrate all three
locations. KFF currently uses a fast Ethernet that transfer information at a maximum speed of
100Mbps, which connects all the devices, and point of sale (POS) terminals (Apollo Group, Inc.
2013). The Ethernet local area network (LAN) need to upgrade to 1 Gbps from 100Mbps to
accommodate future needs of KFF in case if they want to expand or to provide sufficient
bandwidth. KFF needs to utilize wireless local area network (WLAN) to minimize the cost of
wiring to connect all the devices using the wireless access point to integrate all the devices
within the location. The process of redesigning a network involves a lot of planning to analyze
the communications standards need to implement, the appropriate topology and protocols
involved in the network. Building a network needs specific hardware, software to connect the
networks, control traffic flow and minimizing network latency, and other types of networkrelated issues.
Communication Protocols
The communication protocols play an important role in designing the network because
KFF uses various devices to accomplish the daily activities needed to run the store efficiently.
KFF use devices like blade servers, Windows computers, POS terminals, and other devices,
where each device use different coding schemes or communication protocols (Apollo Group, Inc.
2013). Communication protocols differ based on the region or the type of device designed to
support various languages encoded into bits (Goleniwski, 2007). There are several
communication standards evolved over time like American Standard Code for Information

KUDLER FINE FOODS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

Interchange (ASCII), Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC), developed
by IBM and Unicode, which uses different network protocols (Goleniwski, 2007).
Due to the incompatibilities created by different coding schemes, a common standard
called Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model was developed in the early 1980s
(Goleniwski, 2007). The OSI model consists of seven layers, which are applications, sessions,
presentation, network, transport, data link and physical layer (Goleniwski, 2007). Each of the
seven layers has its dedicated functions like error control, terminating sessions, transporting
information; resubmission is the case of error in the transportation (Lantronix, Inc. 2015). OSI
layers also perform routing operations along with converting messages according to the
standards of the devices used for communication (Lantronix, Inc. 2015).
Network Protocols
The network protocols needed for designing the WAN and WLAN needed for KFF are
SONET backbone optical carrier (OC-192), the OC-192 will be linked to the WAN that
integrates all three stores for faster communication. The network utilizes terminal muxes to
convert the information received from T-carrier dedicated lines (T3) (Goleniwski, 2007). Apart
from OC-192, the network will be designed using frame relay which transfers information in the
form of frames to the frame relay switch (Goleniwski, 2007). The frame relay switch then
transfers the information in the correct sequence to the device (Goleniwski, 2007). The frame
relay switch corrects the error using backward explicit congestion notification (BECN)
indicating the device that the information contains errors; if there are no errors the frame switch
sends forward explicit congestion notification (FECN) signals that information can move to the
next node (Goleniwski, 2007). Apart from these two standards the KFF needs to follow WLAN
protocols like 802.11 (Goleniwski, 2007).

KUDLER FINE FOODS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

Network Components
Designing a WAN for KFF involves digital terminal equipment (DTE) at each end of the
locations servers at one side and computers at the other end. The transmission channels (T3)
connects to the digital circuit equipment like a modem or frame relay switch, which connects
through the OC-192 backbone optical cable. The frame relay switch connects to KFF 1 gig
Ethernet LAN through the use of the modem. The modem then connects to the wireless access
switch that delivers VoWLAN to provide internet access to all the devices including VoIP phones
that are integrated using. All the locations are connected using the star topology, with the use of
WAN switches. The WAN switches are connected to modems using bridges that are connected to
backbone network routers, modems, hubs and access points to deliver connectivity to all the
devices.
Traffic Analysis
Traffic analysis can benefit KFF in numerous ways, it can help them save money through
adding more links to provide sufficient bandwidth based on the demand of the users
(Padmanabhan, 2011). It also allows KFF to monitor port traffic to detect any security threats
and allows KFF to analyze the activities throughout the day. Traffic analysis allows KFF to
provide more bandwidth and route traffic using quality of service functionalities that came with
the firewalls, and the routers (Padmanabhan, 2011). There is various traffic analysis software
available in the market to analyze the traffic efficiently.
Data Flow
The data flow in KFF network can be affected by jitter, latency, and response time. Jitter
is the delay caused while pockets travel between communication channels like VoIP and video
conferencing (TechTarget 2015). Latency was described as the time it takes to reach from the

KUDLER FINE FOODS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

origin to the destination point (TechTarget 2015). Response time is the time it takes for data to
travel from one location to another (Correlsense Inc. 2015). All these factors can delay the
information from traveling to one location to another location of KFF. Data rates and the routing
algorithms play an important role in addressing these issues. The data rates can vary among
different network for instance T-carrier lines that are predominately made of coaxial cables or
analog wires (Goleniwski, 2007). Coaxial cables support digital signals, whereas dialups are
mostly analog, but they dont support fiber optic standards like OC standards (Goleniwski,
2007). The lines need to connect using terminal muxes to convert the signals to match the
compatible OC standard (Goleniwski, 2007). All these services run at various data rates which,
therefore, causes network related issues like latency, jitter, and response time.
Therefore the network designed by keeping all these thinks in mind by using maximum
speeds that are relevant to KFF. KFF used to have 100Mbps which was now upgraded to 1 gig,
and optical standards are upgraded the OC-192 that can support up to 10 gig. Which allows to
add more speeds and data links can be added. OC standards can provide QoS services to allow
the usage of bandwidth as needed, and dynamic routing algorithms can direct traffic more
efficient based on the available routes.
Conclusion
KFF uses different devices that operates on different communication standards which can
communicate by using OSI model. WAN uses different devices like T3 lines, SONET optical
fiber as back bone that are connected to modem through the use of routers, bridges, DCE, DTE,
devices, and terminal muxes. All three locations of KFF are integrated using WAN switches,
VoWLAN, and 1 gig Ethernet OC-192 standard to support future expansion. The traffic of the
KFF network can be monitored using traffic analyzer, which is used to analyze peak times,

KUDLER FINE FOODS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

security threats, data usage, and other networking data. The latency, response time, and jitter can
be affected by data rates. Data rates can be maximized by using routing algorithms and QoS
services.

KUDLER FINE FOODS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

References
Correlsense Inc.. (2015). NETWORK RESPONSE CORRELSENSE ONLINE GLOSSARY.
Retrieved from http://www.correlsense.com/product/additional-resources/glossary-ofapplication-performance-monitoring-terms/network-response-correlsense-onlineglossary/
Lantronix, Inc. 2015. (2015). Ethernet Tutorial - Part I: Networking Basics. Retrieved from
http://www.lantronix.com/resources/net-tutor-etntba.html#1a
Padmanabhan, S. (2011). 5 major benefits you could get out of traffic analysis. Retrieved from
https://blogs.manageengine.com/network/netflowanalyzer/2011/10/11/5-major-benefitsyou-could-get-out-of-traffic-analysis.html
TechTarget. (2015). jitter. Retrieved from
http://searchunifiedcommunications.techtarget.com/definition/jitter
TechTarget. (2015). latency. Retrieved from http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/latency
Goleniwski, L. (2007). Telecommunication essentials (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.