University of Greenwich

School of Engineering

Introduction to Computer Networking

ASSESSMENT PROJECT - ASSIGNMENT 1 Network Design Proposal

1. AIM
To foster the necessary skills to work alone to produce a network design, understand
how the issues may be researched and to build an appreciation of the requirements of
a design proposal.

2. LEARNING OUTCOMES
On completion of the project, the student should:

Have a knowledge of the basic hardware components of a communications

network infrastructure;
Be familiar with the requirements of protocols, standards and the major
standards bodies;
Have the ability to design and cost a simple network;
Have the skills to carry out network addressing and document this work;
Have developed expertise in identifying issues that require research.

3. THE PROJECT
You must produce a portfolio of networking plans and a costing based on the scenario
below.
The Company
The Mitchell Cycling Accessories Company is a new company specialising in sales
for a niche market that requires a computer network plus website for online sales to be
installed into their new buildings. The budget for this network is limited due to the
credit crunch.
They have stated that all the information on their network is to remain confidential.
They have two buildings with a canal in between. Large electrical motors run
throughout the buildings. A site survey has shown that a wireless network is not
practical. Between the two buildings is a pedestrian swingbridge. As the canal is
navigable, the port authority will not allow cable runs over (or under) the canal nor
across the swingbridge. You must connect these buildings with a bandwidth no less
than 50 Mbps. Floor plans of the buildings and the entire site are available later in this
document and also at the following url.
http://engweb.info/courses/itcn/assessments/pics/building_plans.zip

Mark Clements

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University of Greenwich

School of Engineering

Use the following information to help you decide on your cable runs.
The following rooms have been identified as potential locations for distribution
facilities, L521, L522, L523A, L541, L431C, L400A, L422, L411, L412, B104, B105,
B106, B109.
The Internet connection (POP) is in Liebhaber building in room L523A.
There are 5 designers in the company. Their rooms are L539, L533, L538, L534,
L532. They use CAD for their designs and use high power workstations for the design
work. They require two large servers for their departments data storage and
applications.
Manufacturing takes place in L441 and L431. In each of these rooms are two
computer controlled milling machines. These already exist and will not need to be
purchased.
There are 4 secretaries. They occupy rooms L510 and L426. Their main role is to type
and print documents, answer emails and answer telephone queries.
The managers occupy rooms L520, L440 and L416. They would like to have
powerful PCs so that they can view their MIS and play games. They would also like
the ability to take part in videoconferencing.
Finance currently use room L226. They require one large server for applications and
data. There are currently two staff.
R&D occupies room B101. They need powerful workstations and often share their
files with the Design team. They require two large servers for holding R&D designs
and applications. There are four staff at this moment in time.
Engineering occupies rooms B107 and B108. They require at least 4 PCs in each of
these rooms, however they are unable to define the tasks that they wish to carry out
with the hardware. They have requested a server.
Ordering and packaging takes place in B102 and is responsible for shipping the
manufactured items to their purchasers. There are two staff here and their work will
mainly involve addressing parcels and contacting customers by email.
Webserver & website information
The company will require a webserver to accommodate their new website for online
ordering. It is envisaged that there will be 50000 visitors per day at first rising as time
goes on. Expect a conversion ratio of 1-2%. You do not need to design the website but
you will be expected to provide the specification for the webserver hardware and
ensure that your choice of Internet connection can cope with the expected level of
traffic.
Network access requirements
All staff will need access to a mail server, an intranet server, an application server and
network storage. All staff will require a new PC complete with a suitable office

Mark Clements

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School of Engineering

environment operating system (unless stated otherwise) and access to a networked

printer located in Bursche building. You may assume that the company already has
adequate furniture for the computer equipment.
The Bursche building is expected to have a high data-rate connection to the Liebhaber
building. You may use any suitable technology for this connection, however all
communications between buildings must be secure from eavesdropping.
Costing the project
You may use www.dabs.com as your supplier as you may be able to negotiate 25%
discount on large orders. Otherwise you may use any other supplier, provided that you
reference the source correctly.
Designing the Addressing
You will use the private IP address range 192.168.100.0 /24 for the company, (the old
class C) as the company will reside behind a NAT/PAT gateway. The address space
will allow for the functions of different departments to reside on one local area
network.
General Design Considerations
For future-proofing the network, it is envisaged that the company will employ around
10 new staff per year in various positions throughout the company.
Assume that network traffic levels are 70%/30% internal/ external traffic, i.e. 70% of
the generated network traffic stays within the network and 30% travels onto the
Internet.

4. METHOD OF WORK
To complete this assignment, you must submit online the following:
1. A single word processed document having the following requirements. The
document will have, at the very least, a title page showing your name and the
name of the course, a contents page as a guide to the following sections:
a. A physical topology showing the location of MDF, IDF(s) for switches,
routers etc, cable runs and wall socket outlets for PCs. Use the
diagrams provided in this document (or online) to show the location of
equipment. You must show all hardware that appears on your floor
plans in your financial spreadsheet.
b. A logical topology of the entire network showing switches, routers and
any other networking hardware. You may use Packet Tracer, Visio or
any other software application(s) to provide the topology diagram. You
must reference the design software used. You are expected to estimate
the bandwidth requirement for the network and state the type of
Internet connection (and data rate) that the company will require.
c. An IP addressing scheme for all networking hardware, e.g. servers &
printers. This will show which ranges of addresses will be reserved for
servers and which are for DHCP usage.

Mark Clements

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University of Greenwich

School of Engineering

d. Output from a spreadsheet detailing the costing of your network & PC

hardware (do not include details of the labour charges for installation).
You may assume twisted pair cable costs 20p per metre and fibre optic
cable costs 2.00 per meter (all types). Include a costing for the
Internet connection for 12 months.
e. A brief justification for your design decisions. You should explain why
you have made various choices between certain software, hardware
and infrastructures. This WILL NOT be more than ONE A4 page. This
is NOT a conclusion.
f. A final section that references all sources that you have made use of to
produce this project.
You must complete this assignment and submit it via Moodle on Thursday 29th
November 2012. If you experience any difficulties you should notify your tutor as
soon as possible. Extensions will NOT be granted less than one week before the
deadline.

Header sheet number:

200094

Note: Late submission, unless subject to an extension of time (in writing, granted
prior to the extension deadline by your tutor) MAY NOT BE MARKED.

5. FORMAT OF SUBMISSIONS

Work submitted must be in one single word processed file.

Do not plagiarise information sources. This includes book, Internet-sourced
information, other students etc.
DO NOT include product pictures from websites.

6. ASSESSMENT
This assignment contributes 20% of the total marks for this course.

7. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Logical topology
Physical topology
IP addressing scheme
Costing of network components
Justification of design decisions
Neatness of layout & professional
appearance
References and referencing
Total

Mark Clements

15%
15%
10%
10%
20%
20%
10%
100%

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Mark Clements

School of Engineering

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School of Engineering

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Mark Clements

School of Engineering

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