You have been hired as part of the networking team at UMUC. After completing orientation and training, your manager calls you into a meeting to discuss your first project.
The university has recently leased a building in Adelphi, Maryland. The building will house offices, classrooms, a library, and computer labs. Security is important for UMUC, as the university must protect students’ and employees’ data, as well as any intellectual property that UMUC has on its servers and computers. As a result, IT management would like to take the time to review proposals on how best to move forward on security issues. As a network engineer, you have been asked to prepare a network proposal on how to set up a secure network infrastructure in this building to support university operations.
After speaking to your manager, you are excited about the project, but you realize you will have a busy schedule. As you are writing your proposal, you will also have to prepare for the CompTIA Network+ Certification exam. One of the conditions of your employment at this university is that you obtain this certification within 60 days of being hired.
The network proposal represents a great opportunity to document your expertise. Additionally, it is also a great opportunity for you to form an integrated view of the different aspects of networking which are tested in the certification exam.
In this learning demonstration, you will use the TestOut Network Pro (LabSim) to learn about the different types of networks and how to configure them. These activities will prepare you for the CompTIA Network+ Certification exam. In order to identify your strengths and weaknesses, you will first complete the CompTIA Network+ Certification Practice exam. Then, during the  next eight weeks, as you step through each set of activities in LabSim, you will also be drafting sections of your network design proposal.
Use the results of the Network+ certification practice exam you took at the beginning of the class to help guide you on which areas within LabSim you should pay closer attention. You must complete all online labs in LabSim; these are the activities with the computer mouse icon. The Network Design Proposal will be submitted in three parts: physical network design, network addressing, and network services design.
Below, you will find 10 steps in this project that lead you through each deliverable. Begin with Step 1, enrolling in LabSim, and then continue with Step 2, taking the practice exam.
________________________________________

You will provide a detailed network design proposal. Your task is to design the network for this new building with the following criteria:
•    Each Classroom Computer Lab will be on a separate network (i.e., subnet). The Library Computer Lab will be on a separate network, and the Office / Admissions computers will also be on a separate network. Finally, the open-WiFi network should be on a separate network, but can use a private IP address range (i.e., 192.168.0.0).
•    There must be a minimum of 40 Mbps Internet connection, with a backup line capable of at least 20 Mbps. Cable, DSL, or FIOS should not be used for primary Internet service.
•    The network has been assigned the 199.1.2.0/24 network address for all computers and devices.
Your proposal will be submitted in three major parts:
•    Physical Network Design
•    Network Addressing
•    Network Services Design
To learn how you will be assessed on this assignment, take a moment to review the rubric. The final deliverable should adhere to the following criteria:
•    Include at least five scholarly references.
•    Use IEEE-style citations.
•    Use correct network terminology.
•    The use of diagrams is encouraged.
Use this template as a guide while creating your Network Design Proposal (Parts 1-3).
In this section, address each of the following.

•    Physical Network Design

1.    Define the topology that will be used.
2.    Select the appropriate network media.
3.    Select the appropriate network connecting devices, including network security devices.
4.    Select the appropriate computer systems to use to support the network design.
5.    Determine a physical layout of the computers on the floor plan, along with the network wires (network wiring diagram).
6.    Provide justifications for each element of your network design (numbers 1–4 above).
7.    The 50-year-old, two-story building has the following layout:
8.

9.    Building dimensions: length: 240 feet, width: 95 feet, height: 30 feet
10.    The building will house six computer labs that will be used for instruction. In the building diagrams above, the labs are labeled Classroom #1, Classroom #2, and Classroom #4 on the first floor and Classroom #1, Classroom #2, and Classroom #5 on the second floor; each computer lab will have a closet. Each lab will have 25 computers: 23 student computers, one instructor computer, and one server in the closet for instructional use.
11.    To allow students access to library resources, the library will also have 20 computers for the general public to use and five computers for library staff.
12.    Finally, there are 7 offices in the building. Each of these offices will have one computer for staff use, with the exception of the admissions office, which will have five computers. There will be two server rooms, one on the first floor and one on the second floor.

Category: Essays