Examining Network Upgrade Solutions

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to examine and explore four selected chapters introduced during the Designing and Supporting Enterprise Networks classes that I consider may be beneficial in assisting a customer to upgrade their particular network with the aim of replicating a business working environment.

The report will also mention some of the challenges the customer may experience if the selected chapters labs are not taken into consideration, and point out solutions to remedy these issues and indicate which labs may be useful in assisting the client updating their Network.

Hierarchical Network Design

The Hierarchical Network Design was developed by Cisco to facilitate the creation, deployment, and management of responsive scalable, efficient and affordable networks (Hoong, 2008, P. 7).

The Hierarchical Network model can also be regarded as a step-by-step development of a network, where the modules are employed one by one beginning with the foundation. Normally the implementation of each of the modules is monitored by a network architect.

As learned in class three distinct layers, the access, the distribution and the core layer form the Hierarchical design model. Each of these layers provides a particular function. The Core Layer deals with the connection to the external network, the Distribution layer offers policy-based connection and offers a boundary among the core and access layers.

It is important to mention than in small firms these layers are often collapsed, the core and distribution layers or all the three layers.

Challenges the customer may experience

Inability to expand the network is common issue due to not planning the network for future expansion - The hierarchical Network Design enables the network to be extended efficiently, permitting replicating design components as the network grows.

Network Downtime, If a mission essential equipment fails business operations will be drastically affected - In the Hierarchical Network is employed additional devices in the core and distribution layers offering redundancy in the event one of the devices fails, it will not effect the rest of the network.

Expenditure on new equipment - the Hierarchical network model utilize high-performance switches only in the distribution and core layers, inexpensive switches can be utilized in the access layer.

Lack of efficient Network design standard model - It still a common issue leading to disorganized networks, sometimes even the network administrators do not recognize the issues that often arise. The Hierarchical Network Model can be used in this situation for better network organisation leading to smooth operation and better network administration.

Useful Labs

The Lab (1.2.1.2) - Designing Hierarchy would be useful since it allows to gain deep knowledge about the Hierarchical Internetworking Model and recognise exactly the types of equipment that are used in each of the layers.

Network Address Translation (NAT) for IPv4

The Network Address translation protocol (NAT) converts private IP addresses into public IP addresses by utilising a NAT table which keeps a record of the translations (Wikipedia, 2018).

I strongly believe that NAT is a key protocol when enterprises are planning or upgrading their networks aiming to access the internet for day-by-day job activities.

It is important to mention that private IP addresses were created to extend the life of the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), later on the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) was also released. undoubtedly, Private IP addresses play a crucial role in local area networks , but the challenge is that Private IP addresses are only utilized inside internal networks.

Additionally, when firms subscribe with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) company, only a single or a few public IP addresses (depending on the network needs) are received, and those Public IP addresses are actually costly. For instance, if there are 1000 thousand workstations that need to access the internet on the hypothetical network, without using the NAT the customer would have purchase 1000 thousand Public IP addresses which in turn is not cost-effective. Simply by implementing the NAT technology like the Overload (PAT), only one Public IP Address would be necessary in order to connected all nodes the internet, this is exactly the primary reason NAT is implemented.

According to Lammle (2013) there are a few negative aspects of employing NAT such as the following:

∙ Switching path delays are caused by the translations.

∙ Loos of end-to-end IP traceability

∙ Some programs will not work with the NAT activated.

Challenges the customer may experience

Investing in obtaining expensive Public IP addresses - Simply by implementing NAT the customer will be able to buy only one Public IP address which will be used for all nodes on the network for accessing the internet (Lammle, 2013, P.541).

Dedicate considerable amount of time renumbering the Network when swapping Internet Service Provider (ISP) companies - In this scenario by using NAT, it will not be necessary alter the internal address scheme (Lammle, 2013, P.541).

The NAT is usually beneficial for nodes on the Network that tend not to possess globally unique IP addresses. In addition, as earlier mentioned the NAT continues assisting in preserving the reduced quantity of public IPv4 addresses (Lammle, 2013, P.541).

Useful Labs

The Lab (5.2.2.6) - Configuring Dynamic and Static NAT, the Lab (5.2.3.7) - Configuring Port Address Translation (PAT) and the Lab (5.3.1.5) - Troubleshooting NAT Configurations would be useful since focus on main important aspects of NAT configuration and troubleshooting.

Conclusion

In this report, I have analyzed and looked into four preferred chapters presented within the classes which I believe may be useful in facilitating the customer upgrading their particular network with the goal to replicate a business working environment.

I have pointed out some of the issues that client may encounter if the selected chapters labs are not followed, I have also suggested solutions to solve these problems and finally indicated the labs that may be beneficial in assisting the client updating their Network.