Switching and Routing
Switching and Routing
A Local Area Network is the basic unit of any computer network. Its design depends on the users' needs, the requirements of the applications being used and the characteristics of the building where the LAN is to be deployed. Other factors to be taken into account when designing a Local Area Network are the necessary level of security, the complexity of the services being integrated and maintenance costs.
Iskra has extensive experience in designing new or redesigning existing networks. Our top notch network engineers are specialized in state-of-the-art network technology such as enterprise IPv6 deployment. Our mission is to satisfy the wishes of our clients and enable them to focus on their own bossiness process. Besides offering consulting services, we can design and implement a variety of networks – from simple to technologically advanced complex networks using equipment of the world's
top manufacturers.
A simple ROBO/SOHO LAN network design
The problem
The company's offices are stationed on two floors and house 40 users. The LAN switches were made by various vendors. They are more than 5 years old and thus can't guarantee a reliable network operation. The same goes for the firewall that can control network traffic only up to Layer 4.
The two wiring closets are interconnected by a multimode optical fibre. Cat5e category cabling is spanning the building. Every floor has a shared central colour printer and copier that is also used as a scanner. A file server running core services such as DNS and DHCP, the mail server and two web-based business applications servers are located in the first wiring closet. The first wiring closet is also the Internet connection endpoint.
Every user has a basic Internet access that should be secured by threat management applications. The network equipment being used, does not allow for remote access but the need for telecommuting is growing. The LAN should be made ready for the following year IP telephony deployment and a future use of IPv6. There isn't any internal IT staff on site and because the business is operating on a low added value model, the costs of implementing and maintaining a LAN should also be as low as
possible. The new network is to be designed for five years of continuous use.