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Top-Down Network Design

               Chapter One

   Analyzing Business Goals and Constraints



        Copyright 2010 Cisco Press & Priscilla Oppenheimer
Top-Down Network Design
• Network design should be a complete
  process that matches business needs to
  available technology to deliver a system that
  will maximize an organization’s success.
  – In the LAN area it is more than just buying a few
    devices.
  – In the WAN area it is more than just calling the
    phone company.
Start at the Top
• Don’t just start connecting the dots.
• Analyze business and technical goals first.
• Explore divisional and group structures to
  find out who the network serves and where
  they reside.
• Determine what applications will run on the
  network and how those applications behave
  on a network.
• Focus on Layer 7 and above first.
Layers of the OSI Model
 Layer 7   Application

 Layer 6   Presentation

 Layer 5     Session

 Layer 4    Transport

 Layer 3    Network

 Layer 2    Data Link
 Layer 1    Physical
Structured Design
• A focus is placed on understanding data flow, data types, and
  processes that access or change the data.
• A focus is placed on understanding the location and needs of
  user communities that access or change data and processes.
• Several techniques and models can be used to characterize the
  existing system, new user requirements, and a structure for the
  future system.
• A logical model is developed before the physical model.
   – The logical model represents the basic building blocks, divided by
     function, and the structure of the system.
   – The physical model represents devices and specific technologies and
     implementations.
Systems Development Life
             Cycles
• SDLC: Does it mean Synchronous Data
  Link Control or Systems Development Life
  Cycle?
• The latter for the purposes of this class!
• Typical systems are developed and continue
  to exist over a period of time, often called a
  systems development life cycle (SDLC).
Top-Down Network Design Steps
                     Analyze
                   requirements


     Monitor and                      Develop
       optimize                       logical
       network                         design
     performance




      Implement                      Develop
       and test                      physical
       network                        design
                   Test, optimize,
                   and document
                       design
Network Design Steps

• Phase 1 – Analyze Requirements
  –   Analyze business goals and constraints
  –   Analyze technical goals and tradeoffs
  –   Characterize the existing network
  –   Characterize network traffic
Network Design Steps

• Phase 2 – Logical Network Design
  –   Design a network topology
  –   Design models for addressing and naming
  –   Select switching and routing protocols
  –   Develop network security strategies
  –   Develop network management strategies
Network Design Steps

• Phase 3 – Physical Network Design
  – Select technologies and devices for campus
    networks
  – Select technologies and devices for enterprise
    networks
Network Design Steps

• Phase 4 – Testing, Optimizing, and
  Documenting the Network Design
  – Test the network design
  – Optimize the network design
  – Document the network design
The PDIOO Network Life Cycle
                  Plan



                                Design

                   Retire
    Optimize




                            Implement

               Operate
Business Goals
•   Increase revenue
•   Reduce operating costs
•   Improve communications
•   Shorten product development cycle
•   Expand into worldwide markets
•   Build partnerships with other companies
•   Offer better customer support or new
    customer services
Recent Business Priorities
• Mobility
• Security
• Resiliency (fault tolerance)
• Business continuity after a disaster
• Network projects must be prioritized based
  on fiscal goals
• Networks must offer the low delay required
  for real-time applications such as VoIP
Business Constraints

•   Budget
•   Staffing
•   Schedule
•   Politics and policies
Collect Information Before the
           First Meeting
• Before meeting with the client, whether
  internal or external, collect some basic
  business-related information
• Such as
  –   Products produced/Services supplied
  –   Financial viability
  –   Customers, suppliers, competitors
  –   Competitive advantage
Meet With the Customer
• Try to get
  – A concise statement of the goals of the
    project
     • What problem are they trying to solve?
     • How will new technology help them be
       more successful in their business?
     • What must happen for the project to
       succeed?
Meet With the Customer
• What will happen if the project is a failure?
  – Is this a critical business function?
  – Is this project visible to upper management?
  – Who’s on your side?
Meet With the Customer
   • Discover any biases
     – For example
        • Will they only use certain company’s
          products?
        • Do they avoid certain technologies?
        • Do the data people look down on the
          voice people or vice versa?
     – Talk to the technical and
       management staff
Meet With the Customer
– Get a copy of the organization chart
   • This will show the general structure of the organization
   • It will suggest users to account for
   • It will suggest geographical locations to account for
Meet With the Customer
– Get a copy of the security policy
   • How does the policy affect the new design?
   • How does the new design affect the policy?
   • Is the policy so strict that you (the network
     designer) won’t be able to do your job?
– Start cataloging network assets that security
  should protect
   • Hardware, software, applications, and data
   • Less obvious, but still important, intellectual
     property, trade secrets, and a company's reputation
The Scope of the Design Project
• Small in scope?
  – Allow sales people to access network via a VPN
• Large in scope?
  – An entire redesign of an enterprise network
• Use the OSI model to clarify the scope
  – New financial reporting application versus new
    routing protocol versus new data link (wireless, for
    example)
• Does the scope fit the budget, capabilities of staff
  and consultants, schedule?
Gather More Detailed Information
• Applications
    – Now and after the project is completed
    – Include both productivity applications and
      system management applications
•   User communities
•   Data stores
•   Protocols
•   Current logical and physical architecture
•   Current performance
Network Applications
Name of     Type of       New          Criticality   Comments
Application Application   Application?
Summary

• Systematic approach
• Focus first on business requirements and
  constraints, and applications
• Gain an understanding of the customer’s
  corporate structure
• Gain an understanding of the customer’s
  business style
Review Questions
• What are the main phases of network design per the
  top-down network design approach?
• What are the main phases of network design per the
  PDIOO approach?
• Why is it important to understand your customer’s
  business style?
• What are some typical business goals for
  organizations today?

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Chapter01

  • 1. Top-Down Network Design Chapter One Analyzing Business Goals and Constraints Copyright 2010 Cisco Press & Priscilla Oppenheimer
  • 2. Top-Down Network Design • Network design should be a complete process that matches business needs to available technology to deliver a system that will maximize an organization’s success. – In the LAN area it is more than just buying a few devices. – In the WAN area it is more than just calling the phone company.
  • 3. Start at the Top • Don’t just start connecting the dots. • Analyze business and technical goals first. • Explore divisional and group structures to find out who the network serves and where they reside. • Determine what applications will run on the network and how those applications behave on a network. • Focus on Layer 7 and above first.
  • 4. Layers of the OSI Model Layer 7 Application Layer 6 Presentation Layer 5 Session Layer 4 Transport Layer 3 Network Layer 2 Data Link Layer 1 Physical
  • 5. Structured Design • A focus is placed on understanding data flow, data types, and processes that access or change the data. • A focus is placed on understanding the location and needs of user communities that access or change data and processes. • Several techniques and models can be used to characterize the existing system, new user requirements, and a structure for the future system. • A logical model is developed before the physical model. – The logical model represents the basic building blocks, divided by function, and the structure of the system. – The physical model represents devices and specific technologies and implementations.
  • 6. Systems Development Life Cycles • SDLC: Does it mean Synchronous Data Link Control or Systems Development Life Cycle? • The latter for the purposes of this class! • Typical systems are developed and continue to exist over a period of time, often called a systems development life cycle (SDLC).
  • 7. Top-Down Network Design Steps Analyze requirements Monitor and Develop optimize logical network design performance Implement Develop and test physical network design Test, optimize, and document design
  • 8. Network Design Steps • Phase 1 – Analyze Requirements – Analyze business goals and constraints – Analyze technical goals and tradeoffs – Characterize the existing network – Characterize network traffic
  • 9. Network Design Steps • Phase 2 – Logical Network Design – Design a network topology – Design models for addressing and naming – Select switching and routing protocols – Develop network security strategies – Develop network management strategies
  • 10. Network Design Steps • Phase 3 – Physical Network Design – Select technologies and devices for campus networks – Select technologies and devices for enterprise networks
  • 11. Network Design Steps • Phase 4 – Testing, Optimizing, and Documenting the Network Design – Test the network design – Optimize the network design – Document the network design
  • 12. The PDIOO Network Life Cycle Plan Design Retire Optimize Implement Operate
  • 13. Business Goals • Increase revenue • Reduce operating costs • Improve communications • Shorten product development cycle • Expand into worldwide markets • Build partnerships with other companies • Offer better customer support or new customer services
  • 14. Recent Business Priorities • Mobility • Security • Resiliency (fault tolerance) • Business continuity after a disaster • Network projects must be prioritized based on fiscal goals • Networks must offer the low delay required for real-time applications such as VoIP
  • 15. Business Constraints • Budget • Staffing • Schedule • Politics and policies
  • 16. Collect Information Before the First Meeting • Before meeting with the client, whether internal or external, collect some basic business-related information • Such as – Products produced/Services supplied – Financial viability – Customers, suppliers, competitors – Competitive advantage
  • 17. Meet With the Customer • Try to get – A concise statement of the goals of the project • What problem are they trying to solve? • How will new technology help them be more successful in their business? • What must happen for the project to succeed?
  • 18. Meet With the Customer • What will happen if the project is a failure? – Is this a critical business function? – Is this project visible to upper management? – Who’s on your side?
  • 19. Meet With the Customer • Discover any biases – For example • Will they only use certain company’s products? • Do they avoid certain technologies? • Do the data people look down on the voice people or vice versa? – Talk to the technical and management staff
  • 20. Meet With the Customer – Get a copy of the organization chart • This will show the general structure of the organization • It will suggest users to account for • It will suggest geographical locations to account for
  • 21. Meet With the Customer – Get a copy of the security policy • How does the policy affect the new design? • How does the new design affect the policy? • Is the policy so strict that you (the network designer) won’t be able to do your job? – Start cataloging network assets that security should protect • Hardware, software, applications, and data • Less obvious, but still important, intellectual property, trade secrets, and a company's reputation
  • 22. The Scope of the Design Project • Small in scope? – Allow sales people to access network via a VPN • Large in scope? – An entire redesign of an enterprise network • Use the OSI model to clarify the scope – New financial reporting application versus new routing protocol versus new data link (wireless, for example) • Does the scope fit the budget, capabilities of staff and consultants, schedule?
  • 23. Gather More Detailed Information • Applications – Now and after the project is completed – Include both productivity applications and system management applications • User communities • Data stores • Protocols • Current logical and physical architecture • Current performance
  • 24. Network Applications Name of Type of New Criticality Comments Application Application Application?
  • 25. Summary • Systematic approach • Focus first on business requirements and constraints, and applications • Gain an understanding of the customer’s corporate structure • Gain an understanding of the customer’s business style
  • 26. Review Questions • What are the main phases of network design per the top-down network design approach? • What are the main phases of network design per the PDIOO approach? • Why is it important to understand your customer’s business style? • What are some typical business goals for organizations today?

Editor's Notes

  • #4: Layer 8 of the OSI model encompasses office politics, budgets, training, and other human factors.
  • #15: Resiliency means how much stress a network can handle and how quickly the network can rebound from problems, including security breaches, natural and unnatural disasters, human error, and catastrophic software or hardware failures. Some experts, including Howard Berkowitz, have a mild dislike of the word “resiliency” as it sounds too much like a stretched rubber band or a trampoline. As Berkowitz says in his excellent book, WAN Survival Guide (Wiley 2001), “I avoid designing networks that stretch too far, bounce up and down, or oscillate between normal and backup states.” So he likes “fault tolerance,” but he points out that it does not mean “immune to any conceivable threat.” Berkowitz states that, “A sufficient quantity of explosives can overcome the tolerance of any network.” :-)
  • #24: User communities, data stores, protocols, and the current architecture and performance will be discussed in the next few chapters. This chapter focuses on business needs and applications, which should be the first area of research in a top-down network design project. Network design is iterative, however, so many topics are addressed more than once as the designer gathers more detailed information and conducts more precise planning. So, gaining a general understanding of the size and location of user communities, for example, might be appropriate at this stage of the design project, but user communities should be investigated again when characterizing network traffic.