Introduction
The proposed network for the Corporation’s new office park will be a multi-building, wired, and wireless setup that provides the necessary security, speed, and fault tolerance. The network will consist of three buildings, each with two floors and 40 employees (Lee et al. 641). Four networked laser printers will be located on each floor to ensure that all computers are within 75 meters of the cabling closets (Lee et al. 642). The third building, which is the technical building, will contain a computer control center on the first floor, and all the servers will be housed in this control center. The network will be divided into VLANs by switches and routers to ensure security and fault tolerance. The VLANs will be further secured with firewalls to protect the network from external threats. Additionally, the wireless component of the network will be secured with WPA2 encryption to prevent unauthorized access.
Network Technologies
Topology
The proposed network will utilize a star topology using switches. The network’s topology, in which each device is connected to a single central switch, is optimal because it provides full redundancy for the entire network and the most efficient connection for all devices. This topology also allows for the flexibility to add additional devices with minimal disruption and provides the security required (Lee et al. 646). Switch switches also allow the network to be segmented into VLANs to provide additional security and fault tolerance.
Media
Twisted pair cabling would be appropriate for the Corporation’s new office park. Twisted pair cabling is the most widely used form and cost-effective solution for connecting computers and other network devices. In areas where high speeds and greater distances are needed, fiber optic cabling should be used. Fiber optic cabling can carry data at much higher speeds and distances than twisted pair cabling. Additionally, fiber optic cabling is more secure and resistant to interference than twisted pair cabling.
Protocol
The protocol used for this network will be the TCP/IP protocol suite, using both IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 will be used to allow for compatibility with existing equipment, and IPv6 will be used to provide more efficient routing of data and increase the scalability of the network. Additionally, DHCP and DNS will be used to assign IP addresses to the devices on the network and for the resolution of domain names (Lee et al. 645). Using DHCP and DNS will ensure that the network is properly configured and that users can access the resources they need without any issues.
Network Access
Ethernet is ideal for the Corporation’s new office park because it provides high-speed, low-cost, and reliable network access. Ethernet is a cost-effective and reliable technology widely used for wired and wireless network access. It can provide speeds up to 10Gbps and is well-suited for many users and the high bandwidth requirements of the Corporation’s new office park (Lee et al. 645). Additionally, Ethernet is a mature technology that has been proven to be reliable and secure.
Network Operating System
The server’s network operating system (NOS) will be Windows Server 2019 for its robust security and scalability. For the client computers, Windows 10 will be used for its user-friendly interface and ease of use. It is also compatible with the Windows Server operating system, making it ideal for the Corporation’s network. Additionally, Linux will be used for the control center in the third building due to its reliability and stability. It is also open-source and can be customized to fit the Corporation’s needs.
Fault Tolerance and Backup
Fault tolerance and backups will be handled by using RAID technology. RAID will be configured to provide data redundancy in case of a hard drive failure. Backups will be handled using incremental backups, which will back up only the files and data that have been changed since the last backup. This will be combined with differential backups, which back up the entire system. This combination of backup types will ensure that the data is backed up efficiently and is secure in the event of a failure.
Interface to Internet
The network will be connected to the Internet via an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The ISP will provide a high-speed connection to the network, allowing employees to access the Internet and other resources located on the Internet. Additionally, the ISP will provide the security features such as firewalls and encryption necessary for a secure connection. The ISP will also provide a static IP address to the network, allowing for a reliable connection to the Internet.
Remote Access
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution will be implemented to allow employees to access the network from home. A VPN will provide a secure tunnel between the employee’s device and the corporate network, allowing them to access resources remotely. The VPN will also encrypt all traffic, ensuring the data remains secure and private (Ahmed et al. 30). Additionally, the VPN will be configured with authentication protocols to ensure that only authorized users can access the network.
Conclusion
The computers for the servers and the clients will be Dell OptiPlex desktops for the clients and Dell PowerEdge rack servers for servers. The model numbers for the clients will be Dell OptiPlex 3080, and the server’s model numbers will be Dell PowerEdge R640 (Ahmed et al. 30). As per Ahmed et al., the Dell OptiPlex desktops offer high performance and reliability for the client computers, while the Dell PowerEdge rack servers offer the necessary scalability and performance for the server computers (22). Both models offer the necessary power and features for the Corporation’s network needs.
Works Cited
Ahmed, Imran, et al. “Internet of Health Things Driven Deep Learning-Based System for Non-Invasive Patient Discomfort Detection Using Time Frame Rules and Pairwise Key Points Distance Feature.” Sustainable Cities and Society, vol. 79, no. 3, 2022, pp. 10-32.
Lee et al. “Design of a FlexRay/Ethernet Gateway and Security Mechanism for In-Vehicle Networks.” Sensors, vol. 20, no. 3, 2020, pp. 641-650.