UK BTEC HND in Computing Unit 15: Transport Network Design

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ICON College of Technology and Management
BTEC HND in Computing
Programme title 	BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computing
Unit number and title 	15 	Transport Network Design (L5)
Assignment number & title 	1 of 1 	Transport Network Design (L5)
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ASSIGNMENT

Aim & Objective

This Assignmentwork is designed to demonstrate the broad understanding and knowledge of the module, assessing and evaluating the student’s strength and level of analysis; divided into four learning outcomes. The Assignmentwork should be submitted as one document in a report format in final submission.

Assignment Scenario:

You are working as a network engineer in an IT company, you have been assigned to design, implement a network infrastructure for a client company qcheck.co.uk. The company consist of 3 department Finance, Sales and engineers users. Each and every department must not be able to access any other department.

The network consist of 2 Servers, for which web, email combined in one server and dns server, all servers are shared between all users. The distribution of workstation shown in table 1, describe the requirement of each department. 

While discussion the requirement, the IT director hinted that there will be a need to implement a wireless network, to allow staff to use their own device such as smartphone to access the internet, using IoT devices to be utilised to monitor server rooms etc.. 

Department

Devices

Finance

9 Computer & Printer

Sales

40 Computers & Printer

Engineers

65 computers & printer

dns/web/email & File server{" "}

2 Servers

Branch

10 Computer & printer 

Table 1: workstation and server distribution and requirements

A small branch in York is established with 10 users, yet connectivity to the main branch is essential, and required with minimal cost, the company as well planning to expand and open many other branches across the country and Europe.

The IT director emphasised on{" "} scalability, redundancy and availability;{" "} hence you are required to provide a complete network infrastructure design and implementation, the company will be using private IP address 192.168.90.0/24 for the main branch and private IP address 192.168.99.0/24 for the branch, the WAN link IP address is 77.88.99.160/28.

Based on requirements given in above scenario analyse and examine suitable network model, networking devices and protocols to design a network infrastructure featuring scalability, availability, your examination should include an analysis of switch and router redundancy protocols and detailed explanation of LAN redundancy concepts, network features, such as bandwidth and load and their related issues. 

Due to the fact that the company is distributed across more than one branch and hence a requirement to examine different WAN technologies and select the appropriate one based on scenario given.

Use a network simulator to simulate the network design, with the following requirements:

  • In your design, include at least three Layer 2 switches to simulate Rapid PVST+ as spanning tree protocol and analyse different switch redundancy protocols showing the effectiveness in solving redundancy, adding redundant link between all the switches.
  • Show how the network can be enhanced further by adding some solution of bandwidth and load balancing solutions, and hence evaluate different implementations of link aggregation using EtherChannel.
  • Configure and simulate WAN protocols as to fulfil the requirements of the given scenario, showing some analysis, benefits and drawbacks of private and public WAN technologies including and evaluation of different VPN types based in relation to company needs.
  • Network design / implementation is one of first steps in the Lifecyle of network, you are as well to deploy network monitoring tools and troubleshooting methods to establish network baselines and produce network documentation and test and troubleshoot LAN and WAN connectivity issues at different networking layers.
  • Finally, develop effective documentation of troubleshooting methods and steps and evaluate their effectiveness in solving enterprise-wide networking issues for the given scenario.

Appendices 

Note: You should attach all the supporting documents as a separate file in the appendix section of your assignment. Without appropriate evidence(s) your assignment will not be marked.

  • A complete network simulation file must be attached to the written report 

Relevant Information

To gain a Pass in a BTEC HND Unit, you must meet ALL the Pass criteria; to gain a Merit, you must meet ALL the Merit and Pass criteria; and to gain a Distinction, you must meet ALL the Distinction, Merit and Pass criteria.

1. Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria{" "}

 

Pass

Merit

Distinction

LO1 Explore LAN design principles and their application in the network design process{" "}

LO1 & 2

D1 Evaluate different implementations of link aggregation using EtherChannel to solve bandwidth and load issues.

P1 Examine the network design models and features of scalable networks based on a given set of business needs. P2 Discuss LAN redundancy, bandwidth and load related issues and possible solutions with reference to Layer 2 and

Layer 3 of the OSI Mode

M1 Analyse the switch and router redundancy protocols and their effectiveness in supporting scalable networks.

LO2 Implement a network using LAN design principles based on a predefined set of requirements{" "}

P3 Select LAN devices based on features and requirements, and apply basic configuration commands for network connectivity.

P4 Implement a LAN design with Layer 2 and Layer 3 redundancy using switch and router redundancy protocols.

M2 Analyse different switch redundancy protocols and their effectiveness in solving redundancy issues. M3{" "} Analyse Layer 3 redundancy implementations for IPv4 and IPv6.

LO3 Produce an appropriate WAN solution to a set of organisational requirements{" "}

LO3 & 4 D2 Evaluate troubleshooting methods and their effectiveness in solving enterprisewide networking issues.

P5 Examine WAN technologies and select the appropriate one for a set of enterprise requirements.

P6 Configure WAN protocols as part of an enterprise network solution

M4 Analyse the benefits and drawbacks of private and public WAN technologies. M5 Evaluate features and benefits of different VPN types based on organisational needs.

LO4 Solve a range of network related problems using appropriate troubleshooting techniques and methods{" "}

P7 Deploy network monitoring tools and troubleshooting methods to establish network baselines and produce network documentation.

P8 Troubleshoot LAN and WAN

connectivity issues at different networking layers.

M6 Develop effective documentation of troubleshooting methods and steps based on a given scenario.

2. Preparation guidelines of the Assignmentwork Document

  1. All Assignmentwork must be word processed.
  2. Avoid using “Text box” in writing your assignment.
  3. Document margins must not be more than 2.54 cm (1 inch) or less than 1.9cm (3/4 inch).
  4. Font size must be within the range of 10 point to 14 points including the headings and body text (preferred font size is 11) in Arial.
  5. Standard and commonly used type face, such as Arial and Times New Roman, should be used.
  6. All figures, graphs and tables must be numbered.
  7. Material taken from external sources must be properly referred and cited within the text using{" "} Harvard system
  8. Do not use Wikipedia as a reference.

3. Plagiarism and Collusion

Any act of plagiarism or collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the College regulations. In this context the definitions and scope of plagiarism and collusion are presented below:

Plagiarism is presenting somebody else’s work as your own. It includes copying information directly from the Web or books without referencing the material; submitting joint Assignmentwork as an individual effort. Collusion is copying another student’s Assignmentwork; stealing Assignmentwork from another student and submitting it as your own work.{" "}

Suspected plagiarism or collusion will be investigated and if found to have occurred will be dealt with according to the College procedure {" "} (For details on Plagiarism & Collusion please see the Student Handbook).{" "}

4. Submission

  1. Initial submission of Assignmentwork to the tutors is compulsory in each unit of the Assignment.
  2. The student must check their assignments on{" "} ICON VLE {" "} with plagiarism{" "} software Turnitin {" "} to make sure the similarity index for their assignment stays within the College approved level. A student can check the similarity index of their assignment up to{" "} five times in the Draft Assignment submission point {" "} located in the home page of the ICON VLE.
  3. All Final Assignmentwork must be submitted to the{" "} Final submission point {" "} into the Unit (not to the Tutor). The student would be allowed to{" "} submit only once {" "} and that is the final submission.
  4. Any computer files generated such as program code (software), graphic files that form part of the Assignmentwork must be submitted as an attachment to the assignment with all documentation.
  5. Any{" "} portfolio for a Unit must be submitted as an attachment in the assignment{" "}

5. Good practice

  1. Make backup of your work in different media (hard disk, memory stick, etc.) to avoid distress due to loss or damage of your original copy.

6. Extension and Late Submission

  1. If you need an extension for a valid reason, you must request one using an Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances (EEC) form available from the Examination Office and ICON VLE. Please note that the tutors do not have the authority to extend the Assignmentwork deadlines and therefore do not ask them to award a Assignmentwork extension. The completed form must be accompanied by evidence such as a medical certificate in the event of you being sick, and should be submitted to the Examination Office.
  2. Late submission will be accepted and marked according to the College procedure. It should be noted that late submission may not be graded for Merit and Distinction.
  3. All late Assignmentwork must be submitted to the{" "} Late submission point {" "} into the unit (not to the Tutor) in the ICON VLE. A student is allowed to{" "} submit only once {" "} and that is also treated as the final submission.
  4. If you{" "} fail in the Final or Late submission, you can resubmit in the Resubmission window.

Glossary:

Analyse: Break an issue or topic into smaller parts by looking in depth at each part. Support each part with arguments and evidence for and against (Pros and cons)

Evaluate: When you evaluate you look at the arguments for and against an issue.

Critically Evaluate/Analyse: When you critically evaluate you look at the arguments for and against an issue. You look at the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments. This could be from an article you read in a journal or from a text book. 

Discuss: When you discuss you look at both sides of a discussion. You look at both sides of the arguments.

Then you look at the reason why it is important (for) then you look at the reason why it is important (against).

Explain: When you explain you must say why it is important or not important.

Describe: When you give an account or representation of in words.

Identify: When you identify you look at the most important points. 

Define: State or describe the nature, scope or meaning.

Implement: Put into action/use/effect

Compare: Identify similarities and differences

Explore: To find out about

Recommend: Suggest/put forward as being appropriate, with reasons why