Designing a network

Introduction

Collection of computer, servers, mainframes, network devices or peripherals devices which are connected to each other using any medium such as wire or Wi-Fi and share data with eachother is called as a network. Network can be of many types like Local area netowrk (LAN) or Wide area netowrk (WAN). Internet is the example of WAN network (Beal,2017). If we want to establish our own network there are some topologies which we can follow so that our network can be reliable. we will discuss the some of them here briefly.

Network Topologies

Network topoligies are refered as layout of a network. It shows us how different nodes (devices) will be connected to each other to communicate (Rouse,2016). There are six commenly used network topoligies shown in figure below which shows how the devices or nodes will be connected to each other.

Star topology

Star topology is local area network in every single device is directly connected to central connection point. For example Every computer will be connected directly to the server. Its has a benifir that if cable fails only that device or node will be effected but it has a major draw back also. To connect the every node to central point much more cable will be used and if all the traffic will pas throgh a central point it can cause congestion or delay (telecom Abc). 

Ring topology

In ring topology device connection will make a circular path and every device will be connected to two other like a point in a circle. Data can move in either direction in the network but its drawback is if any of the device failed the whole network will be effected. Ring topology and token ring topology have the same issues (computer hope, 13 november,2018). 

Mesh Topology

In mesh topology every single device will be connected to every single device availble on network directly. It can be a full mesh or half mesh depends on how devices or connected. It has a big advantage that if a device or connection fail in a network still one or even more than one connection will be available to communicate But it is expensive to implement because it will take a lot of cabl e (computer hope,13 november,2018).

Bus topology

In bus topology all the nodes or devices will be connected to single wire. That only one cable connect all the devices. If that fails the whole network will be effected (studytonight.com).

Tree topology

In tree topology all the availble devices will be connected like a tree branch to a device then that device will be connected to cale or directly to the servers. If there is some fault in one leaf that will not effect other leaf device but it needs a lot of maintenance and cable (Shekhar, 24 march,2016).

What should we use?

We have requiremnt of network which have a few routers then swith and then end devices. for a local area network as we are creating for our organization the best suitable option is Mesh tolpology. It is reliable even if one link failed the whole network will not be effected. we just need to make mesh of routers because that are central devices so cable cost will not be too much which also depends on how far we install the routers (lara de schutter,10 july,2018). 

How can we implement?

To complete this task we can use many of the softwre availble online. Some of them are free and some are paid. for example GNS3, Microsoft Visio, lucid chart, LanFlow and Cisco Packet tracer. All these are free to use and we can draw a network diagram very easily. We will use Cisco  Packet Trcer. It is the best solution we have. We can create network diagram, we can apply protocols and can see visuall how our netowk working and how packet or data is traveling on network.

Cisco Pcket Tracer

Cisco pcket trcer is a Cross-pltform visul simultion tool designed by Cisco systems that allows us to create network topologies and run simulation on that (Smith,31 August 2011).

Advantages

• Easy to use beacause of simple interface
• Show Simulation
• Have full tutorial how to use
• Free of cost 
• Have most of the devices and protocols

Refernces

Andrew Smith (31 August 2011). Research in Learning Technology. Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20170816061022/http://journals.co-action.net/index.php/rlt/article/view/7777

Lara de Schutter (10 july,2018). 9 Things you need to know about mesh. Retrieved from https://hackernoon.com/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-mesh-networks-f61a77e5751a

Amar Shekhar (24 march,2016). Tree toplogy. Retrieved from https://fossbytes.com/tree-topology-advantage-disadvantage/

studytonight.com. Types of network. Retrieved from https://www.studytonight.com/computer-networks/network-topology-types

Computer hope.(13 November,2018). Retrieved from https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/r/ringtopo.htm

telecome Abc. Star topology. Retrived from http://www.telecomabc.com/s/star.html

Vangie Beal (2017). Network. Retrieved from https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/N/network.html

Margret Rouse (2016). Network topology. Retrieved from https://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/network-topology