Chapter Three
Network Design
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Chapter Three Outlines!
Designing Basic Campus and Data Center Networks
Enterprise Campus Network Design Considerations
Enterprise Data Center Design Considerations
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Enterprise Campus Network Design Considerations
Designing an Enterprise Campus Network
An enterprise campus network is a large-scale network infrastructure that connects
multiple buildings, departments, and users within an organization's campus.
Designing an enterprise campus network requires careful consideration of various
factors to ensure efficient connectivity and resource access across the organization.
It provides connectivity, communication, and access to various resources and
services across the enterprise.
The following three characteristics should be considered when designing the
campus network:
Network application characteristics
Environmental characteristics
Infrastructure device characteristics
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Network application characteristics
Different types of application characteristics result in varying network
demands.
These characteristics relate to the types of applications and services that will
be utilized across the enterprise campus network.
The following sections review four types of application characteristics:
Peer-peer
Client–local server
Client–Server Farm
Client–Enterprise Edge server
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Peer-Peer Applications
In a peer-to-peer applications model, each participant (or peer) can act as both
a client and a server.
This means that users can share resources directly with each other without
needing a centralized server.
The characteristics of peer-to-peer applications:
Decentralized: No single point of failure; each peer can communicate
directly.
Resource Sharing: Users can share files, applications, and other resources
directly.
Scalability: The network can easily scale as more peers join, but performance
may degrade with increased load.
Usage: Commonly used in file sharing applications, collaborative software,
and some gaming platforms.
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Peer-Peer Applications…
Typical peer-peer applications include the following:
Instant messaging: After the connection is established, the conversation is
directly between two peers.
IP phone calls: Two peers establish communication with the help of an IP
telephony manager.
File sharing: Some operating systems and applications require direct access
to data on other workstations.
Video conference systems: Video conferencing is similar to IP telephony.
However, the network requirements are usually higher, particularly related to
bandwidth consumption and QoS.
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Client–Local Server Applications
A client-local server architecture involves a single server that is typically hosted
on the same machine as the client.
The client interacts directly with this local server for data processing.
Each of these segments has its own servers, known as local servers, for its
application.
Example: Consider a standalone application like Microsoft Access, where the
database file is stored locally on the user's computer, allowing the application to
perform data operations without relying on an external server.
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Client–Local Server Applications…
The characteristics of Client–Local Server Applications:
Centralized: The server manages resources and provides services to
clients.
Efficiency: Local communication reduces latency and improves
response times.
Resource Management: The server can efficiently manage resources
and maintain security.
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Client–Server Farm Applications
To keep administrative costs down, the servers are located in a common
Server Farm, as shown in Figure.
This model involves multiple servers (a server farm) that handle requests
from clients.
Load balancing is typically used to distribute the workload across servers,
enhancing performance and reliability.
The characteristics of Client–Server Farm Applications:
Scalability: Can handle a large number of requests by distributing them
among multiple servers.
Reliability: If one server fails, others can take over, minimizing downtime.
Resource Optimization: Efficient use of resources through load
balancing.
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Client–Server Farm Applications…
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Client–Enterprise Edge Applications
A client-enterprise edge server architecture serves as a gateway between
clients and enterprise resources.
It often provides services like security, load balancing, and caching while
connecting clients to internal enterprise system.
Client–enterprise Edge applications use servers on the Enterprise Edge to
exchange data between the organization and its public servers.
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Client–Enterprise Edge Applications…
The Characteristics of Client–Enterprise Edge Applications:
Accessibility: Provides access to enterprise resources from outside network.
Security: Edge servers often implement security features like firewalls and
intrusion detection systems.
Performance: May use caching mechanisms to improve response times for
frequently accessed resources.
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Environmental Characteristics
These characteristics refer to to the physical and operational environment
of the enterprise network such as:
Geographical Layout: Understand the layout of buildings, floors, and
outdoor spaces.
This will influence the placement of network devices and cables.
Building Materials: Different materials (like concrete, metal, and glass) can
affect signal propagation, especially for wireless networks.
User Density: Analyze user density in different areas to allocate resources
effectively.
High-density areas may require more access points or switches. 13
Environmental Characteristics…
Power Availability: Ensure that there is adequate power supply for network
devices.
Environmental Conditions: Consider temperature, humidity, and other
environmental factors that could affect network equipment.
Network Geography Considerations
Consider the following structures with respect to the network geography:
Intra-building
Inter-building
Distant remote building
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Intra-building Structure
An intra-building: campus network structure provides connectivity for all
end nodes located in the same building and gives them access to the network
resources.
The Building Access and Building Distribution layers are typically located
in the same building.
This includes connecting workstations, servers, and other devices located in
the same physical space.
Inter-building Structure: Inter-building structure refers to the network
connections between different buildings within an enterprise campus.
This aspect of network design is crucial for ensuring that users in separate
buildings can communicate efficiently and access shared resources.
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Distant Remote Building Structure
Distant remote buildings refer to buildings that are not immediately adjacent
to the main campus or are located at a considerable distance.
When connecting buildings at distances that exceed a few kilometers (but
most of the time within a metropolitan area).
Distant remote building connectivity also sometimes relies on wide area
network (WAN)
The most important factor to consider is the physical media.
The speed and cost of the network infrastructure depend heavily on the media
selection.
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Enterprise Data Center design consideration
Enterprise Data Center Design Considerations refer to the key factors and
principles taken into account when planning and constructing a data center.
An Enterprise Data Center is a centralized facility that houses an
organization's IT infrastructure, including servers, storage systems, networking
equipment, and other technology resources.
It is designed to manage, process, and store data for various applications and
services used by the organization.
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Enterprise Data Center …
Key components that an enterprise data center typically includes:
Building and Environment: The data center should have a secure and
controlled physical environment with appropriate temperature, humidity, and
fire suppression systems to ensure the safe operation of equipment.
Power and Cooling: Adequate power supply, backup generators, and
uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems are essential to ensure constant
availability.
Effective cooling mechanisms, such as air conditioning or liquid cooling
systems, are necessary to maintain optimal operating temperatures.
Server : A server is a powerful computing device designed to manage, store,
and process data, as well as run applications and services for users and
systems.
Servers play a crucial role in the overall IT infrastructure of an organization. 18
Enterprise Data Center …
Compute Capacity: The data center must have sufficient compute capacity,
including processing power (CPUs), memory (RAM), and storage, to support
the organization's applications and workloads.
Storage: Storage in a data center refers to the various systems and
technologies used to store, manage, and retrieve data.
It is a critical component that supports applications, databases, and services,
ensuring that data is available, secure, and efficiently managed.
Data Redundancy: Implementing data redundancy mechanisms, such as
RAID (redundant array of independent disks), helps protect against data loss
and ensures data availability.
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Enterprise Data Center …
Security Measures: Data centers should have robust security measures in
place, including physical access controls, surveillance systems, intrusion
detection, and firewalls, to safeguard the infrastructure and data from
unauthorized access or threats.
Backup and Disaster Recovery: Regular data backups and disaster recovery
plans are crucial to protect against data loss and ensure business continuity in
the event of system failures or disasters.
Server Management Tools: Data centers employ server management
software and tools to administer, monitor, and control the servers, including
tasks such as provisioning, configuration, and performance monitoring.
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