Planning a Network
Upgrade
Working at a Small-to-Medium Business or ISP –
Chapter 3
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Objectives

Perform a customer site survey

The importance of planning when beginning a
network upgrade

Physical topology considerations when upgrading a
network

Structured cabling

Network configuration and interaction of network
devices

Other considerations when planning an upgrade
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Scalability
 def - planning for and supporting future growth and
change.
 When new companies start out, however, many times
they are not thinking about the future; rather, they are
worried about just starting and staying in business.
It is clear that if the office network is to grow and/or
function efficiently changes must be made.
However, what types of changes should be made?
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When to perform a site survey?
 Under what conditions might a company want to
perform a site survey?
 Think about what you might include within a site survey.
 What other documentation and information would be
helpful in preparing or revising a site survey?
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Perform a Customer Site Survey
 Document the network configuration and interaction of
network devices
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Gather the Customer’s Requirements
 Analyze and document the network configuration and
interaction of network devices
It is easy to focus on the design of the
topology, but it is more important to focus
on the relationship of the devices to the
network.
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Perform a Customer Site Survey
 Physical and logical topologies of a typical network with
both wired and wireless users, as well as shared
peripherals, file servers and Internet connectivity
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Perform a Customer Site Survey
 Create network requirements documentation
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Types of Network Topologies
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Discussion- Which Topology?
 You have been asked to create a logical network
design for a network of cameras and sensors that are
used to monitor the security of an important
government facility.
 What type of network design would you select and
why?”
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Planning the Network Upgrade
 Requirements
Gathering
 Selection and Design
 Implementation
 Operation
 Review and
Evaluation
Network Design
Reflection
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References
 Dell Computer Corporation. (June 15, 2005). Statement
of Work: Rack & Server Installation Site Survey.
Retrieved on May 18, 2007 from
http://www.dell.com/downloads/ca/deployment_service/
81_RackSiteSurvey.pdf?c=ca&l=en&s=gen.
 Brown, Stephen and Thompson, Charles. (October 4,
2006). VoIP - Pt. 1 - Site Surveys And Benchmarks.
Retrieved on May 18, 2007 from
http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/it/2006/10/04/voippt-1-site-surveys-and-benchmarks/.
 Strom, David. (October 31, 2006). Six Steps to a
Wireless Site Survey. Retrieved on May 18, 2007 from
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?comm
and=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9004641.
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Strategic Planning and the Network Upgrade
 Strategic planning is the analysis of an organization
and its environment as it is at the moment and how it
may develop in the future.
 One approach used for strategic planning is called
SWOT: the analysis of strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats for project planning.
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SWOT for Career Analysis:
 Strengths: Internal Positive Aspects: strong
technical analysis skills, high school or college
education
 Weaknesses: Internal Negative Aspects: lack of
work experience
 Opportunities: Positive External Conditions You
Don’t Control (job demand)
 Threats: Negative External Conditions You Don’t
Control (competition from other graduates)
What would a SWOT analysis on the school network
look like?
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Planning the Network Upgrade
 Issues that relate to the physical environment of the
planned network upgrade
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Planning the Network Upgrade
 Describe the types of cabling required for the customer
network upgrade
After the completion of the site visit and network plan,
prototyping is essential. Are you familiar with the use of
prototypes in other industries or businesses?”
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Planning the Network Upgrade
 Explain the concept of structured cabling
 Describe types of end-to-end cabling required to
facilitate data flow
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Planning the Network Upgrade
 Using provided topology diagrams and site diagrams,
or blueprints, create a wiring plan for the customer
network including cable specifications, and cabling best
practices to be observed.
Cisco Cabling Guide
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Other Upgrade Planning Considerations
 Describe issues that relate to purchasing and
maintaining network equipment for an upgrade.
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Other Upgrade Planning Considerations
 Describe the purpose and function of a switch and
router
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Other Upgrade Planning Considerations
 Describe factors related to the selection of LAN and
Internetworking devices, such as expandability and
manageability
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Selecting Internetworking Devices
 For what type of business is an ISR a good choice for
internetworking?
 a Router for all Seasons
 While ISR’s are suitable for SOHO use, that more fully
featured ISR’s are an excellent choice for medium,
large, and enterprise business as well… ISR’s are not
just for home anymore
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Lease or Buy
 The site survey has been completed, the network
design approved, and all of the infrastructure changes
(wiring and electrical) have been made.
 Now it is time to obtain the new network hardware. The
choice often boils down to one of two ways to get new
network hardware – to lease or to buy.
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IP Addressing Plan
 Logical Addressing and Network Information.
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Summary
 A site survey including extensive documentation of both
physical and logical network information must be
performed before a network upgrade can be planned.
 The five phases of a network upgrade include
requirements gathering, selection and design,
implementation, operation, and review and evaluation.
 Structured cabling deals with the placement of cables,
location of wiring closets, cable management, and
electrical considerations.
 Cost and expandability are important considerations
when planning equipment upgrades.
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