Improving The ICT Network In CDT Engineering: Proposal For Centralized Network Administration

Current Infrastructure

When we are planting the network in a small firm it may come in two ways that is through developing the formulation of the network from the scratch without any network to have ever been laid there before. Secondly is laying the network to a place or small firm where there is already an existing network and all you need is extension or expansion of the already in place network. When we implement a network from scratch may be easy as whatever we do we do from scratch but when we try expanding it may cost a lot of time, also resources because the incompatibilities and poor design of the already existing network.

The idea behind this proposal is improving the ICT network in CDT engineering. The digital growth in the economy and a lot of shifting of jobs across Europe by CDT Engineering has led to client to establish themselves by connecting with their clients globally. For the global communication to be effective there is need for an advanced network to be laid on. The CDT need the network administrator to centralize the network of the firm in the manner that all the issues that arises will be attended with the help of a locally centralized administrator account. The biggest idea here is redesigning the network again such that it is centralized and that the admin can easily manage the accounts. The departments to be re-laid again are the admin (Managing department), the store department and the technical department. The idea here will be based on analyzing the requirements of the ICT, developing the solution, implementing the recommended plan and lastly providing a summary of all what has been done.

The proposal will provide a framework that is extensible in the manner that it produces or gives out all the requirements within the organizations and specifications. Upgrading the network with the mind that some of the devices are outdated might be stiff and harsh cost wise but the idea is satisfying the need of the client. In this concept we will use a Flat network design in designing the new network and focusing on how to make it to be centralized and in the manner that all the network users are easily administered and that is from the MD to the TD. The areas to be revisited and planned again is the network design of CDT and with the knowledge of what it is then we can come up with a new and improved logical structure which will definitely help us in creating a good suitable and satisfying physical topology for the business.

Necessary Equipment

In this section we need to know what we need in making this logical structure more appealing and satisfying to CDT. The current ICT infrastructure has the following devices for the network.

Department Save Time On Research and Writing Hire a Pro to Write You a 100% Plagiarism-Free Paper. Get My Paper	Devices	Shared Devices
MD	One Desktop	They all share the same printer that is located in the managing director (MD) office
Admin	Six desktops
Store	One desktop
TD	One Desktop
Consultant	Three laptops
	Printer

From the shown information above we realize that we really only need the major devices for internet connection. This is because the most and direct used devices are already in place

	Device	Functionality
1	Router	This is a device that is used in connecting the connected devices to the internet (fisher, 2017). It is sometimes referred to as the gateway. This is known for keeping track of all the internet protocol (IP) addresses and the physical/MAC addresses. It is good to note that the Ip addresses the used PC internet address while the Media Access Control (MAC) addresses each and every ID of any physical device communicating over the network.
2	WI-FI Router (WAP)	This a point where computers can access the network (Mitchell, 2018). There is a device that will link all the three consultants’ users using the laptops. The device used for transmitting and receiving is referred to as “Transceiver” this gadget is used for provision of a bridge between all wired and the wireless networks (Beklin, 2017). They are mostly used in covering the broad area in small firm like CDT Engineering.
3	Server	A server is used when implementing the client server network (Bradley, 2018). The server will be used when we want to share information over the network. Servers in this case will be used by the network administrator to monitor and manage all other users in a centralized manner (Hope, 2017). One of the main server to be used will be the file server (Techterms, 2016). The file server to be used will be Windows Server 2012.
4	Switch	A switch is a networking device that is used for connection of devices together where it uses packet switching in receiving, processing and forwarding data to destination devices Invalid source specified. .
5	Internet	This can be modem where we will have the service provider who offers the internet to the firm.
6	Printer	Is a shared device in a network used for printing hardcopy of the softcopy.
7	Firewalls	This is a device that will be used over the network for filtering the packets or the traffic flow (Cisco, 2017). The idea here is knowing which data will be allowed and what to block. This can also help in hiding the small firm network from the world outside. This firewall may be hardware or software (personalfirewall, 2018). The firewall basic function is keeping the CDT information private and hence making network to be less targeted.
8	Cat 5 Ethernet cable	These are cables that will be used for wiring
9	RJ 45 connector	This are connectors that are used for connecting the communicating devices over the network..

From what is above and what is required by CDT engineering we realize that we need to set up a Local Area network where we will need the following equipment’s to help in improving the network and meeting the CDT Engineering requirements. Some of the needed and must be used devices are as explained in the table above.

For any network there must be an analysis done in where we indicate the equipment’s and gadgets used for the plan to be a success. The following gadgets will be evaluated and a complete budget and cost depending on their specifications and what they are supposed to achieve in real sense and according to the CDT Engineering (Walsh, 2015).

The development of the design is entirely based on two things and that is the space available and the budget that is set aside for the development. The budget sometimes may constrain the way the network designer want but all of it all in this case the following will be budget plan case scenario as per the considerations of the expected.

	Device	Requirements	Quantity	Price
1	File Server	Windows Server 2012 which has 64 bit*64 CPU, over 1.4GHZ, 16GB RAM, 2TB hard disk space	1	£800
2	Printer	HP LaserJet 1018 model, uses Window 2000 with a processor of Pentium 166MHz professor, The printer will support Paper types and sizes within the following size ranges. Minimum: 76 x 127 mm (3 x 5 inches) and Maximum: 216 x 356 mm (8.5 x 14 inches), print speed of about 12 pages per minute, print resolution of up to 1200dpi, duty cycle of about 3000 single sided pages monthly at a maximum rate.	1	£250
3	Cat 5e Ethernet cable	Has Signal to Noise Ratio, Small delay error, can handle up to 1000 Mbps (GB Ethernet) at about 100 MHZ, used for 100Base-T	500metres	£1000
4	RJ 45 Connectors	Has standards which are applicable with TIA/EIA-568C.2., the maximum current and voltage is 2A/250V with a Contact resistance of about 20m ohms Insulation resistance: 100M ohms Temperature rating (min/max): -25/55 ?  Max. Insertion/Extractions: 200 mating cycles	50 pieces	£10
5	WAP	GLC-T sfp transceiver which has a 1000Base-T, wavelength of about 850 of fiber type MMF with a core size of up to 62.5 and the cable length being up to 1804 fts	1	£ 1000
6	Router	Cisco XR 12406 has a chassis height of about 18.5inches and Rated input voltage For each DC-input PEM.48 VDC nominal	1	£1000
7	Switch	Cisco Meraki MS120-48 with a Switching capacity of about 104Gbps, PoE available on all ports simultaneously, Forwarding rate of up to 77.38 mbps, Full lifetime hardware warranty with next-day advanced replacement included and a Maximum PoE output of about (48LP) and 370 W.	1	£500
8	Firewalls	PA-5200 series firewall with a rack unit of 3u and dimensions of Dimensions—5.25”H X 21”D X 17.25”W (13.33cm X 52.07cm X 43.81cm), an Operating temperature range of about 32°F to 122°F (0°C to 50°C)	1	£500
9.	Logical Design Architecture	N/A		£300
10	Labor	For 3 days		£1000
Total	£ 6660

The logical design is the logic in form of a drawing on the network will set up physically (Cisco, 2014). The logical design will be based on the current needs, the growth issues and much more on the cost of the physical network of now the actual network where cables, the routers and switches are considered (Gabry, 2016). The design logically will entail the IP structure of the network where we will use the class A, B and C address schemes. The figure below shows the anticipated logical diagram of the DCT Engineering.

The figure above just explain the anticipated logical diagram of the network of CDT Engineering. The logical design here clearly shows that there will be PCs which are connected on a ring topology which are all arranged in bus topology network where all communicate globally via the internet connections. The laptops below represents the consultants laptops who will access the network using an access point (WI-FI router) Transceiver.  The server is used for centralizing and managing all the CDT Engineering data and much more the individual accounts.

Budgetary Plan

The implementation is based on what we intend to do with the period of time we are given. The plan is formulated in the way things are to be implemented from day one to the last day until the firm now can say that their needs are met and in a way that is as is expected. In this case we may use a Gantt chart that will perfectly to visualize quickly using a timeline as per the objectives of the project (Createlyblog, 2017).

The Gantt chart will be as follows which will be a 7 day job for the network configuration.

The Above chart clearly indicates the timeline of all what need to be done. During laying out of the offices in to the new and standard requirements as per the board of CDT Engineering there will be some interruption but it won’t affect for long as it will take shorter time in doing that.

Lastly in implementation is placing the printer in a centralized position where all staffs from the admin to the technical departments can be able to use without interrupting the others when doing that (DuncanRager, 2015). The new printer to be put on the central position will be fast enough and the consultants and Admins won’t take too long when printing. The other idea is the configuration of the Internet protocol addresses of all communicating devices that is all the desktops, laptops and printers and servers. This will be done in a centralized manner where the network admin will configure the Ip address using the range of 192.168.1.1 up to 192.168.1.50. As the network administrator I will make sure all staffs will be given a unique ID and each ones device will have a unique IP address where he or she will regulate on what to access all what is significant to the business. The other idea is a configuration where data will be stored on the server and that each and every individual can access his or her data to any machine that is over the network.

Conclusion

The conclusion section gives a summary of what has been discussed there above. The main idea of this proposal was to improve the network of CDT Engineering by analyzing all the existing communicating devices and the requirements as per the laid budget by the firm. After the analysis the other step is developing the analysed solution by explaining how much the task will cost and much more drawing a logical design that will used in setting up the physical topology.  Lastly is doing the implementation of what has already been planned and this will be done by developing a timeline that will be used by designer and the contractor in laying down the network.

References List

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Bradley, M., 2018. Servers Are The Heart and Lungs of the Internet, s.l.: lifewire.

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[Accessed 26 April 2018].

fisher, T., 2017. What Is a Router and How Does it Work?, s.l.: Lifewire.

Gabry, O. E., 2016. The logical design is about mapping of entities, relationships, and multi-valued attributes into a logical schema.. Design: Logical Design (Part 6), 7(5), pp. 72-68.

Hope, C., 2017. Server, s.l.: computer hope.

Mitchell, B., 2018. What Is a Wireless Access Point?, s.l.: Lifewire.

personalfirewall, 2018. What is a Firewall?. [Online]
Available at: https://personalfirewall.comodo.com/what-is-firewall.html
[Accessed 26 April 2018].

Techterms, 2016. Techterms Server. [Online]
Available at: https://techterms.com/definition/server
[Accessed 26 April 2018].

Walsh, J., 2015. Budget Constraints: Definition & Formula. [Online]
Available at: https://study.com/academy/lesson/budget-constraints-definition-formula.html
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