Problem Statement
The current network does not meet the needs of the school. The current network also has a significant impact on production. The network will need to be re-engineered to address the key stake holders concerns. Interviewing the stakeholders resulted in the following areas of concern:
1. The network cannot support multiple users doing the same task. Collisions are occurring on a regular basis and the band is insufficient.
2. No central management for the 50 networked printers and there queues.
3. Current bandwidth is 10 Mbps
4. HVAC technician would like wireless access points
5. The 23 new classrooms are not on the network
6. New wing has slow connections to the mail server
7. The IT Director would like to to integrate VoIP into the current data network
8. Backbone miss-cabled
Solution
The correction of the limited bandwidth is the first priority. Re-cabling the current network with Category 6 UTP 1000Base F Ethernet cabling because it increases maximum data rate, from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps. Ethernet will also allow for the use of Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) which can be assigned on the workstation NIC. This bandwidth increase will resolve the HVAC Technicians access issue, congestion issues for the classrooms, allows for VoIP integration and provides for future expansion.
Replacing the twisted-pair on the backbone with Fiber 1000Based-F will give continued Gigabit throughput and eliminate the remote mail server issue. The use of Fiber will eliminate the 120 distance issue also between the new and old wings and allow for further expansions.
A server farm needs to be stood up to include a domain controller, print server and file server will need to be completed. This server farm will allow for overall, central management of users, printers and fill access. This also allows central management of the servers themselves.
Network equipment upgrades will resolve the remaining issues. We will install four 24-port switches to allow for the additions of the 23 classrooms radio wireless media in the way of wireless access points and allows for the future expansion of the school. The WAP’s should be placed in accordance with the manufactures recommendations and within range limitations of 802.11g/n
Conclusion
The above mentioned solution addresses all issues of the key stakeholders.
Furthermore this implementations follows best practices and industry standards and allows for the future growth of the school.