Chapter 14

Network Design and

Implementation

Network Analysis and Design

Aspects of network analysis and design

Understanding the requirements for a communications network
Need to decide how detailed the analysis must be
Example: just install more capacity than needed to avoid time
consuming estimates of required capacity
Investigating alternative ways for implementing the network
Selecting the most appropriate alternative to provide the required
capability
Similar considerations used for voice and data networks
Usually involves a multi-step process

Network Implementation
Process

of installing a network and making it

operational

Project Approach
Network

analysis, design and implementation

usually done in multi-phase project
Main objective:

Provide network satisfying user requirements at

an appropriate cost

May

outsource the project

Usually the case for small businesses

Network Project Steps

1. The request
2. Preliminary investigation and feasibility study
3. Detailed understanding and definition of requirements
4. Investigation of alternatives
5. Network design
6. Selection of vendors and equipment
7. Calculation of costs
8. Documentation of network design and implementation
plan
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Network Project Steps

9. Approval by management
10. Equipment order
11. Preparation for implementation
12. Installation
13. Training
14. System testing
15. Cutover
16. Implementation cleanup and audit

Preliminary Investigation
A

small preliminary project team is formed to

examine existing communication system
Determine what improvements are necessary
Estimate costs and schedule
Creeping commitment of resources

Ramp up project personnel and expenditures as

needed
Helps minimize financial risk if project is stopped
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Project Life Cycle

Definition of Requirements

Breakdown requirements by
Geography
Traffic loads (peak and average)
Transaction-based network loads are easier to estimate
Internet-type environments are more difficult to estimate due
to different traffic types (images, sound, video)
Flow pattern
i.e. Star vs. mesh
Traffic in star flows through central node
Traffic in mesh has more complex pattern
Response time and reliability
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Definition of Requirements

Future growth
Completion date
Compatibility with old network
Costs

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Typical Data Network Traffic Load

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Analysis of Expected Traffic

Loads

12

Investigate Alternatives
Check

availability of different services

Public switched vs. private lines

Topology type
Is packet switching available?
Satellite?

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Network Design

Iterative process
Refinements made as project progresses
Translate specs to drawings
Simulate the design
Allows what if scenarios
Simulation model can be difficult to create
Calculate response times
Example: Require transmission of 100 million
characters in an 8-hour day with no longer than 1
second response time
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Network Diagram

15

Response Time Design

Example

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Equipment and Vendor

Selection
Evaluate

types of equipment available

Send out Request

Request for Quotation (RFQ) to vendors of

commodity products and services.
Request for Proposal (RFP) to vendors of
custom products and services.

Detail

required by vendor in response to

RFQ/RFP varies based on application
Evaluate vendor proposals
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Example RFP

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Example Vendor Response to

RFP

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Calculate Costs
Examine

costs of alternate designs

Group costs by

Circuit costs
Modem costs
Other hardware costs
Software costs
Personnel costs

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Documentation of Design
Include:

Specifications
Software and versions
Wiring diagrams
Equipment list

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Management Approval of
Design
Present

design and cost/benefit information

to management
Design review

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Network Implementation
Equipment

Make sure equipment specs meet your needs

Make purchase contingent on acceptance test
(expensive items)
Watch out for lead times

Prepare

Order

for Implementation

Set up network policies

Modify software
Track progress
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Network Implementation
Installation

Allocate and prepare space

Mechanical drawings showing locations
Have vendors install and test equipment
Make sure equipment interfaces properly

Training

Train users, operational and maintenance

personnel
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Network Implementation

System Testing
Perform as much testing as possible initially
Locate and solve problems
May need to test hardware and software separately
Schedule tests when network has minimum load
Stress test to find network limits
Workload generator software that produces network traffic
Test component error handling capability
Failure to test error recovery is a major oversight
Can the network recover?

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Network Implementation

Cutover
High visibility event
Typically scheduled for weekend
Problems can occur
Good idea to have technicians from equipment vendor
companies on hand during cutover
Implementation Cleanup and Audit
Make adjustments
Revise documentation
Audit
Find out if benefits of new network are as expected
Interview users and support personnel
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