Assignment 2: Building on Prior Success Due Week 8 and worth 100 points In continuing the scenario from Assignment 1, the president at Ocper, Inc. has accepted your proposal and has indicated that she would like to make additional changes to the network.

Strayer University

Assignment 1

Week 4

Cis 175

Prof. Mohammad Abedin

Selim Sel

Feb 7, 2014

 

Ocper, Inc. has a structural network implementation in place already and appears that there is full scope for transformation of formed organizational development and the need for scalable networking technology. At the moment the company’s staff is using the coax cabling network structure. The current coax cabling solution is functional but offers various liabilities. The technology is outdated and there are issues with network availability for other connected workstations in the case of an issue happening with any of the 20 Windows peer-to-peer workstations. If one of the systems fails or has an issue with the cabling itself, then all other systems would lose access to the network and with a multiplication in size designed over the next two years. This malfunction could lead to large disruptions to the network.

To improve this condition one would begin to change company network type they are currently using to a twisted pair type of networking which is far much better than the coax network type. A Twisted Pair Ethernet resolution will allow for enhanced network order and dependability while also offering a more ascendable result. This would present a modern and established enterprise level networking standard to Ocper, Inc. The improvements will also be compatible with all new client machines which will have Ethernet connectivity. The resolution would also permit easy introduction of functionalities such as Wireless networking later on and will facilitat a move towards a traditional server/client or Active Directory model going forward.

This model would be based on the planning of a central Ethernet switch where all workstations would be connected through Ethernet cabling. More switches may be added to supply extra connectivity required by the business so in the initial scenario a 24 port switch could be deployed with an additional 24 port switch added to the configuration in line with growth expectations.

There are many reasons why I would propose that the all the company’s current and new client computers be connected using the twisted pair network type instead of continuing with the coax cabling network that is currently being used by the company. It may be possible to proceed with a coax cable solution but as earlier outlined this would not offer the flexibility of alternative configurations. In addition twisted pair cabling would be possible to distribute a different cabling standard such as fiber-optic cables. This cabaling can transmit network data in a high performance environment. However these connections are far from standard and would need each workstation to be configured with specific fiber-optic connections which would add to the price of this method. Ferthermore the fiber-optic cabling can be more costly than standard copper-based Ethernet cabling. The only related disadvantage of twisted pair cabling would be the performance loss over extended distances. Given the specific scenario outlined this would not be a factor.

By analyzing the specific costs for each solution, the most inexpensive solution would be to hold the current coax cabling and increase the network in this way which has served Ocper, Inc. well using their current requirements. Even so, such a networking solution is only viable for small networks where there is no need for a ascendable result which will offer development and enlargement as well as further increasing the practicality of networked computers.

This form of solution would be provided by twisted pair based Ethernet networking with each of the connected workstations using their RJ45 connections to be linked to a central switch. A basic 24 port switch could or advanced Cisco switches such as the SRW2024P which offers POE and web-based configuration options would represent a good center and the basis for an expansive network infrastructure with comparatively small outlay.

Fiber would also offer a advanced performance and scalable network but would correspond additional costs for each workstation in addition to a Fiber switch. While overall performance could be faster than a Gigabit Ethernet switch the cost differential for minimal gains does not offer the same return on investment that would be achieved with a twisted pair solution.

References

McCabe, J. D. (2007). Network Analysis, Architecture, and Design. Morgan Kaufmann.

Oppenheimer, P. (2010). Top Down Network Design. Cisco Press.