Network Design:

Network design involves evaluating, understanding and scoping the network to be implemented.
The whole network design is usually represented as a network diagram that serves as the
blueprint for implementing the network physically. Network design refers to the planning of the
implementation of a computer network infrastructure.

Network design is generally performed by network designers, engineers, IT administrators and

other related staff. It is done before the implementation of a network infrastructure.

Network design is a category of systems design that deals with data transport mechanisms. As with other
systems' design disciplines, network design follows an analysis stage, where requirements are generated,
and precede implementation, where the system (or relevant system component) is constructed. The
objective of network design is to satisfy data communication requirements while minimizing expense.
Requirement scope can vary widely from one network design project to another based on geographic
particularities and the nature of the data requiring transport . A computer is a group of computer systems
and other computing hardware devices that are linked together through communication channels to
facilitate communication and resource sharing among a wide range of users .

Typically, network design includes the following:

Logical map of the network to be designed

Cabling structure
Quantity, type and location of network devices (router, switches, servers)
IP addressing structure
Network security architecture and overall network security process.

Network Design Overview:

Computers and information networks are critical to the success of businesses, both
large and small. They connect people, support applications and services, and
provide access to the resources that keep the businesses running. To meet the daily
requirements of businesses, networks themselves are becoming quite complex.

Network Requirements:
Today, the Internet-based economy often demands around-the-clock customer
service. This means that business networks must be available nearly 100 percent of
the time. They must be smart enough to automatically protect against unexpected
security incidents. These business networks must also be able to adjust to changing
traffic loads to maintain consistent application response times. It is no longer
practical to construct networks by connecting many standalone components without
careful planning and design.

Building a good networking design:

Good networks do not happen by accident. They are the result of hard work by
network designers and technicians, who identify network requirements and select
the best solutions to meet the needs of a business. The steps required to design a
good network are as follows:

Step 1. Verify the business goals and technical requirements.

Step 2. Determine the features and functions required to meet the needs identified
in Step 1.

Step 3. Perform a network-readiness assessment.

Step 4. Create a solution and site acceptance test plan.

Step 5. Create a project plan.

Network planning process involves three main steps:

Topological design:

This stage involves determining where to place the components and how to connect them. The topological
optimisation methods that can be used in this stage come from an area of mathematics called graph theory.
These methods involve determining the costs of transmission and the cost of switching, and thereby determining
the optimum connection matrix and location of switches and concentrators.[1]

Network-synthesis:

This stage involves determining the size of the components used, subject to performance criteria such
as the grade of service. The method used is known as Nonlinear Optimization, and involves
determining the topology, required GOS, cost of Transmission, etc and using this information to
calculate a routing plan and the size of the components.

Network realization:

This stage involves determining how to meet capacity requirements, and ensure reliability within the network.
The method used is known as "Multicommodity Flow Optimisation", and involves determining all information
relating to demand, costs and reliability, and then using this information to calculate an actual physical circuit
plan.
Types Of Network:

A Local Area Network:

LAN is a privately owned computer network covering a small network geographical area, like a home,
office, or groups of buildings e.g. a school Network. A LAN is used to connect the computers and other
network devices so that the devices can communicate with each other to share the resources. The
resources to be shared can be a hardware device like printer , software like an application program or
data. The size of LAN is usually small. The various devices in LAN are connected to central devices
called Hub or Switch using a cable.
Metropolitan Area Networks:

MAN stands for Metropolitan Area Networks is one of a number of types of networks. A
MAN is a relatively new class of network. MAN is larger than a local area network and as
its name implies, covers the area of a single city. MANs rarely extend beyond 100 KM
and frequently comprise a combination of different hardware and transmission media.
It can be single network such as a cable TV network, or it is a means of connecting a
number of LANs into a larger network so that resources can be shared LAN to LAN as
well as device to device.

Wide Area Network:

A wide area network (WAN) is a telecommunication network. A wide area network is simply a
LAN of LANs or Network of Networks. WANs connect LANs that may be on opposite sides of a
building, across the country or around the world. WANS are characterized by the slowest data
communication rates and the largest distances. WANs can be of two types: an enterprise WAN
and Global WAN. Computers connected to a Wide Area Networks are often connected through
public networks, such as the telephone system. They can also be connected through leased lines
or satellites. The largest WAN in existence is the Internet.

Campus Area Network (CAN):

A campus area networks (CANs) is a computer network interconnecting a few local area networks
(LANs) within a university campus or corporate campus Network.Campus area network may link a
variety of campus buildings.A campus area network is larger than a local area network but smaller than a
metropolitan area network (MAN) or wide area network (WAN). CAN can also stand for corporate area
network.

Personal Area Network (PAN):

A personal area network is a computer network organized around an individual person. Personal area
networks typically involve a mobile computer, Personal area networks can be constructed with cables or
wirelessly. Personal area networks generally cover a Network range of less than 10 meters (about 30 feet).

Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN):

which is virtually a synonym since almost any personal area network would need to function wirelessly.
Conceptually, the difference between a PAN (personal area network ) and a wireless LAN ( Local Area
Network) is that the former tends to be centered around one person Network while the latter is a local area
network (LAN) that is connected without wires Network and serving multiple users.
Wireless Networks:

The fastest growing segment of the computer industry is the mobile computers such as
notebook computers and personal digital assistant (PDAs).

The wireless networks are becoming increasingly important because the wired
connection is not possible in cars or aero planes.

Wireless networks can have many applications. A very common example is the
portable office

People traveling on road often want to make use of their portable electronic equipment
for telephone calls, e-mails, faxes, read remote files etc.

Wireless networks can exist on trucks, buses, taxies, aero planes etc. They are used
where the telephone systems are destroyed in the event of disasters such as. fires, floods
and earthquakes etc.

The wireless networks are important for military.

Wireless networks and mobile computing are related but they are not identical because
portable computers are sometimes wired and some wireless computers are not portable.

But some applications are truly mobile wireless applications such as a portable office,
inventories being handled by PDAs, etc.

Wireless LAN is another example of wireless network. Direct digital cellular service
CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) is now becoming available:

It is possible to have combinations of wired and wireless networking.

Network Design Isssue:

Data transfer rules the protocol used must determines the number of channels needed and
the priorities to be used. This is based on the mode of communication (simplex, half-
duplex, full-duplex )
The protocols that the layers use must be able to correct the sequence of the packets
received if they are not in correct order.
 Another major issue is the maximum size of data that can be sent and received at one go.
This leads to the need for segmentation at the sending and re assembly at the receiving
end.
The problem is that if the sending packets are too small in size, then the process become
inefficient.
The sender and receiver identification must be made possible for each layers. This can be
achived by some form of addressing.
Common form of error control and error correction on both sending and receiving ends.
Rate of sending and rate of receiving must match. If the rate of sending is too high that
the receiver cant cope up, it leads to congestion and packet loss. Flow control can be used
in this case.
Choosing the best possible route between the sender and the receiver when more than one
path is available for data traversal.