IT3355 Network Architecture
Unit 1 Discussion
Enterprise Networks
For this discussion, consider the following scenario:
Sally is the project manager for a mid-sized publishing firm. She is currently working on a project that involves a complete Windows upgrade for her organization. All of the organization’s PCs are being upgraded with Windows 7 and all of the servers are being migrated to Windows 2008. Halfway through the upgrade, Sally is ahead of schedule and under budget when she discovers that there is a compatibility issue with several major printers throughout the organization. With research, she finds that 64-bit drivers are not available for the printers the organization currently owns.
Explain the network engineering life cycle and identify the stage in which Sally made her error. Discuss the ways that Sally can now rectify her mistake in planning without jeopardizing both the schedule and the budget. If you were Sally’s superior, discuss what you would do in response to this potentially serious situation with a high-visibility project.
 
IT3355 Network Architecture
Unit 2 Discussion
WAN Network Design
For this discussion, consider the following scenario:
Ken has been hired as the project manager at a local hospital and is in charge of implementing a new electronic health record system, which was designed in India. He discovers that the network staff woefully underestimated the impact of the application on the available bandwidth of the network. The poor response time of the application now threatens the user acceptance of the software. Ken must present a change request to senior management for a network upgrade that will put the project over budget and behind schedule by thousands of dollars and several weeks.
To further complicate the matter, the network manager is a member of senior management and is expected to argue vociferously that his staff was not properly informed, thus not in a position to provide accurate information to the project team.
Answer the following questions:
What are some techniques and strategies used to maintain high availability on a network?
What advice do you have for Ken that will help senior management accept the need for additional funding without fracturing his relationship with the network manager?
Working for an international organization, how would you handle cultural issues overseas with the developers of the application?
 
 
IT3355 Network Architecture
Unit 3 Discussion
Wireless Network Design
For this discussion, consider the following scenario:
While mapping data for the wireless network architecture in a large mature organization, you encounter duplication of effort and redundant data.
Discuss the following:
Should this redundant data be addressed prior to beginning the wireless network architecture project, in coordination with the network architecture project, or after the project has been completed?
What strategy would you use to maintain security of data within a wireless infrastructure?
 
IT3355 Network Architecture
Unit 4 Discussion
Network Management
For this discussion, consider the following scenario:
The CIO of the organization for which you are developing your project network decides after seeing the data flow maps you created that the timing is right to alter their relationship with their primary supplier. Currently, inventory requirements are maintained by the organization and orders are placed over the phone. The CIO would like to give the supplier a direct connection into the organization’s inventory system and make them responsible for maintaining stock.
Answer the following:
Discuss the pros and cons of making this kind of change as part of the development of a secure network infrastructure. Include how you would support or dispute this request for change in the project scope and address the ethical standards and implications of this decision.
Identify two to three enterprise network management tools (for example, HP OpenView, Entuity) that you have used. Would you recommend using them to manage the network for the vendor relationship?
 
 
 
 
 
 
IT3355 Network Architecture
Unit 5 Discussion
Network Optimization and Reflection
Discuss the following:
Discuss the impact of various topology, applications, and devices on network performance.
Discuss your experience in this course by responding to the following questions:
What you have learned in this course?
How might the information benefit you in the future?
How would you rate your experience using the interactive virtual environment scenarios and labs offered in this course?
 
 
 
IT3355 Network Architecture
Unit 1 Assignment
Project Scope
Your course project starts with selecting your own or a related organization’s IT department. Select an organization with which you are either currently affiliated, have worked for in the past, or one you would like to learn more about. This organization should be relevant to your professional goals. You will use this same organization as a foundation for all of your assignments in this course. All five of your assignments will be combined to form your final course project.
For your assignments, use the suggested resources, the Capella library, and the Internet to research project scope and requirements. Before you begin writing your assignments, be sure to complete the required hands-on virtual labs for each unit.
To prepare for this assignment, do the following:
Complete the required hands-on virtual labs for this week.
Research this topic and include at least three references from articles, books, or Web sites to support your paper.
Your completed assignment should include the following:
Describe your organization. Make sure that you provide enough information to support your scope document.
Describe the project and identify the project goals.
Identify the main stakeholders and describe the role that each will play.
Create a high-level requirements network diagram/map showing geographic locations, organization functional areas, and network connections between locations.
Define a project timeline/outline that coincides with the network engineering life cycle stages.
Given the global nature of your organization, identify and describe international or cultural concerns that must be addressed.
Make sure that your paper is professionally written, free of errors, and that APA formatting is applied throughout. Once complete, submit your paper in the assignment area.
 
IT3355 Network Architecture
Unit 2 Assignment
WAN Network Design
For this assignment, you will create a wide area network (WAN) design. A WAN is the core component to your network, as it compasses all your local area networks (LANs) and all needed network infrastructures like routers, switches, and servers. Use the suggested resources, the Capella library, and the Internet to research project scope and requirements. Before you begin writing the assignment, be sure to complete the required hands-on virtual labs for this unit and apply the relevant concepts within the assignment.
To prepare for this assignment, do the following:
Complete the required hands-on virtual labs for this week.
Research this topic and include at least three references from articles, books, or Web sites to support your paper.
Your completed assignment should include the following:
Create a diagram that includes the following:
Displays the basic topology for your selected organization. Include routers, switches, and all of the basic network connection hardware.
Diagrams your IP address. (Calculate and add your IP ranges and subnets onto your diagram.)
Provide an analysis of your diagram (explain switching and routing choices, topology choice, and overall wired infrastructure decisions).
Explain the strategy you will use for assigning IP addresses for this organization. Why did you choose the IP addresses that you did?
Describe IP addressing strategies for maintaining privacy on a network, be sure to explain how your strategy maintains privacy on your network.
Identify and describe at least three network addressing or topology standards that play a role in your network design.
Make sure that your paper is professionally written, free of errors, and that APA formatting is applied throughout. Once complete, submit your paper in the assignment area.
 
IT3355 Network Architecture
Unit 3 Assignment
Wireless Network Design
For this assignment, you will create a wireless network design strategy. The wireless network strategy is the overall umbrella encompassing wireless access controllers (WACs) and wireless access points (APs).The wireless service provider can play a role by connecting these, thereby providing connectivity to the entire network. Use the suggested resources, the Capella library, and the Internet to research project scope and requirements. Before you begin writing the assignment, be sure to complete the required hands-on virtual labs for this unit and apply the relevant concepts within the assignment.
To prepare for this assignment, do the following:
Complete the required hands-on virtual labs for this week.
Research this topic and include at least three references from articles, books, or Web sites to support your paper.
Your completed assignment should include the following:
Update your network diagram so that it includes a wireless infrastructure.
Provide an analysis of the wireless technology presented in your diagram (explain hardware placement, hardware device choices, topology choice, and overall wireless infrastructure decisions).
Identify the IP address strategy and calculate the associated subnets. Be sure to explain your IP addressing strategy as well.
Identify and describe at least 3 wireless standards that play a role within your network.
Make sure that your paper is professionally written, free of errors, and that APA formatting is applied throughout. Once complete, submit your paper in the assignment area.
 
IT3355 Network Architecture
Unit 4 Assignment
Network Management Strategy
For this assignment, you will create a network management strategy. Such a strategy can add value to your network by improving and updating your monitoring tools and ensuring that you are up to date with all of the processes and procedures needed to quantify risks to your network. Use the suggested resources, the Capella library, and the Internet to research project scope and requirements. Before you begin writing the assignment, be sure to complete the required hands-on virtual labs for this unit and apply the relevant concepts within the assignment.
To prepare for this assignment, do the following:
Complete the required hands-on virtual labs for this week.
Research this topic and include at least three references from articles, books, or Web sites to support your paper.
Your completed assignment should include the following:
Describe the role of network management.
Identify and describe at least three tools used for network management.
Identify and describe at least three tools used to monitor network performance.
Describe the role that remote access plays in managing a network.
Describe a strategy for managing your company’s network infrastructure.
Make sure that your paper is professionally written, free of errors, and that APA formatting is applied throughout. Once complete, submit your paper in the assignment area.
 
IT3355 Network Architecture
Unit 5 Assignment
Enterprise Network Optimization Project
For your final project, combine your previous four assignments for this course and create your network optimization strategy plan. For your network optimization strategy, showcase your performance mechanisms that apply for your network, discuss how each mechanism should apply, and describe the relationships within the performance architecture and other components architecture. Use the suggested resources, the Capella library, and the Internet to research project scope and requirements. Before you begin writing the assignment, be sure to complete the required hands-on virtual labs for this unit and apply the relevant concepts within the assignment.
In the beginning of this course, you were asked to identify global concerns that must be addressed while designing a network. Be sure to incorporate this into your final project.
To prepare for this assignment, do the following:
Complete the required hands-on virtual labs for this week.
Research the topic of availability and load balancing and include at least three references from articles, books, or Web sites to support your paper.
Review the feedback that you have received on all of your previous assignments and adjust your work accordingly.
Your completed assignment should include the following:
Update your network diagram so that it includes the following: Apply basic load-balancing techniques as an effort to ensure network availability.
Provide an analysis of the technology presented in your diagram (explain hardware placement, hardware device choices, topology choice, and overall infrastructure design decisions).
Explain techniques and strategies for maintaining high availability on a network.
Combine all assignment components completed thus far in the course and submit them as part of your final project submission in one document.
Include the load balancing strategy as a section of the final paper.
Include a section in your paper that identifies the steps that you took throughout the quarter to ensure that your network will succeed internationally. How do you address globalization in your network design?
Make sure that your paper is professionally written, free of errors, and that APA formatting is applied throughout. Once complete, submit your paper in the assignment area.