Network Design Consultation

Name

Institution

Network Design Consultation

51530251798955CLIENT

LAP TOP

CLIENT

LAP TOP

The proposed network is designed to serve a small billing company. The network will have three users who will share office equipment such as the printer as well as access to folders that are useful to all of them. There is one internet source hence the three users will have one IP address. Both the wired and wireless internet will be used in the network. I chose the Client- Server network because it is simple and easily manageable as well as functional.

-704850-635INTERNET

INTERNET

2095500318135ROUTER

ROUTER

942975165735MODEM

MODEM

WI-FI

3305175266065SERVER

WORK STATION

SERVER

WORK STATION

1219200459105CLIENT

LAP TOP

CLIENT

LAP TOP

WI-FI

5243830377825PRINTER

PRINTER

3019425328930NETWORK SWITCH

NETWORK SWITCH

301942546990CLIENT

WORK STATION

CLIENT

WORK STATION

The network design that I recommend is the basic Client- Server one where the three user computers are connected to the central server which is then connected to the internet source. One work station will be used as the server and connected to the internet modem and the router. The network switch allows client computers to be connected to the server. In my design, only one user is connected to the Ethernet while the two laptops use the wireless network. This will allow addition of more users in the network as the business grows. The use of wireless internet on the laptop allows movement. The printer is also connected to the network using an Ethernet cable to allow all users to have access to it.

The equipment requirements for the successful implementation of this network design are two work stations, 2 laptops, printer, internet modem, router, network switch and the cables. I am planning to use Windows Server 2008 R2 as the Operating System hence the hardware requirements of the server machine are specific to that. According to the Windows Server Tech Center, a computer has to have 2 GHz or faster processor, 2 GB or greater RAM, 40 GB or greater available disk space, a DVD drive, mouse and a keyboard to use Windows Server 2008 R2. This OS allows all computers within the network to access intranet.

I would recommend the use of Windows 7 OS on the client computers and hence will need to meet the requirement for it. These are: 1 GHz or faster 32-bit or 64- bit processer, 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit) and 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit) (Microsoft Corporation, 2012). Other requirements are a keyboard and mouse for the work station. These will lead to a higher cost of buying the computers compared to lower specifications. Other items that will be bought are the Ethernet cables, internet modem and router. The printer will be a standard printer that can be networked.

Software that is recommended is the Windows Server 2008 R2 and the Windows 7 Operating Systems. These will be bought from the Microsoft Online Store. This ensures that we get genuine software as well as the required licenses. Other software that will be needed is such as the printer drivers which come with the printer or can be downloaded from the internet.

ITEM COST

Work Station (Server) $ 600

Work Station $ 450

Laptop $ 400

Laptop $ 400

Printer $ 400

Ethernet Cables $ 50

Internet Modem $ 70

Router $ 109.99

Windows 7 Software $ 133.63

Windows Server 2008 R2 $ 725

Keyboard (2) $ 80

Mouse (2) $ 40

TOTAL $ 3458.62

Other costs that will be incurred are internet costs which include connection costs as well as recurring costs.

A secure computing environment is necessary for a business. According to Toigo, this is to ensure unauthorized people do not access confidential data and to protect them from installation of malicious programs that interrupt and/ or stop normal business operations. The use of antivirus programs reduces intrusion by harmful programs especially from the internet (Cheese, Palmer & White, 2003). Another key feature is the use of an encryption password to protect the network so that unauthorized people are not able to use it. All computers should also have a password for access and a privacy policy made for the company.

Setting up a network for a small business is quite simple once the needs of the business have been determined. I have used less than $ 5000 which is the startup capital available. The total costs will be approximately $ 4000 to ensure the network is ready for use by the business.

References

Microsoft Corporation. (2012). Windows 7 System Requirements. Retrieved June 11, 2012, from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/system-requirements

Cheese, D.M, Palmer, C.C & White, S.R. (2003). Security in an Autonomic Computing Environment. IBM Systems Journal. 42 (1)

Toigo, J.W. (2012). Six Steps Toward a More Secure Computing Environment. Retrieved June 11, 2012, from http://www.uniforum.org/publications/ufm/jul96/security.html

Windows Server Tech Center. (2012). Windows Server 2008 System Requirements. Retrieved June 11, 2012, from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb414778.aspx

Slyke, R.V. (2001). Network Planning and Design. Retrieved June 11, 2012, from http://www.comms.engg.sussex.ac.uk/fft/networking/nd.pdf