Network Design and

Management
BY TREVOR KAPUSA

Network Plan and Design

Network Plan and Design

Network planning and design

is an iterative process, encompassingtopological design,networksynthesis, andnetwork-realization

aimed at ensuring that a new telecommunications network or

service meets the needs of the subscriber andoperator.

The process can be tailored according to each new network or

service

Network Plan Methodology

A traditional network planning methodology involves five layers of

planning, namely:

business planning

long-term and medium-term network planning

short-term network planning

IT asset sourcing

operations and maintenance

GWAN

The Government Wide Area Network Topology

GWAN Network Diagram

Ministry of Finance Network MAP

Network Management

The process of controlling a network so as to maximise its efficiency

and productivity

The International Organization for Standardization has developed a

framework for the management of networks in their Structure of
Management Information (SMI) standard.

The framework divides network management processes into 5 main

functional areas

Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, andSecuritymanagement.

Fault Management

Fault management is the process of identifying and locating faults in

the network

Fault management is concerned with detecting network faults,

logging this information, contacting the appropriate person, and ultimately

fixing a problem.

A common fault management technique is to implement an SNMP-based

network management system

Cable Management

Good Cabling

Proper Cable Management

Configuration Management

Configuration management is the process of identifying, tracking and

modifying the setup of devices on the network

Configuration management is concerned with monitoring system

configuration information, and any changes that take place.

This area is especially important, since many network issues arise as a direct
result of changes made to configuration files, updated software versions, or
changes to systemhardware.

A proper configuration management strategy involves tracking all changes

made to network hardware and software.

Examples include altering the running configuration of a device, updating

the IOS version of a router or switch, or adding a new modular interface card.

Accounting Management

Accounting management is concerned with tracking network utilization

information, such that individual users, departments, or business units.

EX. Bandwidth Monitoring

Audit trails as who does what.

Performance Management

Performance management is focused on ensuring that network

performance remains at acceptable levels.

This area is concerned with gathering regular network performance

data such as network response times, packet loss rates, link utilization,
and so forth.

This information is usually gathered through the implementation of an

SNMP management system, either actively monitored, or configured to
alert administrators when performance move above or below
predefined thresholds. Actively monitoring current network
performance is an important step in identifying problems before they
occur, as part of a proactive network management strategy

Security Management

Security management is the process of controlling (granting, limiting,

restricting or denying) access to the network and resources thereon.

This could include setting up and managing access lists in routers (creating
"firewalls" to keep intruders out),

creating and maintaining password access to critical network resources,

identifying the points of entry used by intruders and closing them

ensuring that a network environment is secure

gathered security-related information is analyzed regularly.

Questions