Case Study Submission Guidelines: This Is A Case Study Where ✓ Solved

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This is a case study involving responding to a Request for Proposal (RFP) for designing a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network). It is a group assignment requiring collaboration to analyze and develop a comprehensive network design report based on the case scenario provided. The project includes deriving client requirements, designing a wireless LAN for a typical floor, recommending structured backbone cabling, selecting appropriate equipment and specifications, outlining design procedures, estimating network performance, creating a sample design with assumptions and calculations, and developing IP addressing strategies for new buildings.

The final report must be a maximum of 3000 words (around 1500 words preferred), with diagrams, technical specifications, and detailed explanations of network design processes, assumptions, and justifications. The submission must be through the designated LMS drop-box by Week 5 Friday at 4:00 PM. Late submissions will not be accepted, and multiple submissions are permitted; only the last submission will be considered. The assignment involves individual and group assessments based on contributions, verified via load factor forms. The module's context involves applying data communications and computer networking concepts to create a practical enterprise wireless and wired network solution for a transport company's office buildings, with specific details about office populations, building layouts, and traffic demands.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Designing a WLAN and WAN for Return2Fender Transport Co.

Introduction

The rapid evolution of wireless technologies and the increasing demand for seamless connectivity in enterprise environments necessitate robust and scalable network designs. Return2Fender Transport Company, a logistics enterprise operating multiple offices across Australia, requires an expansive wireless and wired network infrastructure to accommodate growing employee demands and enhanced operational capabilities. This case study details the comprehensive design of a WLAN and WAN tailored to the specific requirements outlined in the RFP, focusing on scalability, performance, security, and future-proofing.

Understanding Client Requirements

The client operates five regional offices with varying employee counts, with the Melbourne office experiencing rapid growth from 200 to 1000 employees. The expansion involves constructing two new ten-story buildings across the road from the existing offices, which will support both wired and wireless connectivity for high-definition video conferencing, VoIP, and other bandwidth-intensive applications. The anticipated peak traffic per user is estimated at 15-20 Mbps, necessitating a high-capacity, resilient network infrastructure.

Design Objectives

• Develop a scalable WLAN that supports 1000 wireless stations in Melbourne.
• Establish reliable high-speed backbone connectivity between buildings and to the main office.
• Ensure secure, manageable, and efficient traffic management across all network segments.
• Implement structured cabling and positioning of APs, switches, and routers to optimize coverage and performance.
• Define an IP addressing and network management strategy aligned with organizational requirements.

Wireless LAN Design

Floor Plan and Topology

A typical floor of each building measures approximately 100 meters by 40 meters, with a ceiling height of about 3 meters. The wireless network topology adopts a star configuration, where multiple APs connect to a central distribution switch. To ensure comprehensive coverage, APs are placed at strategic locations, such as corridor intersections and central areas, to avoid dead zones. The diagrams (see Figures 1 and 2) demonstrate the placement plan and interconnections.

Access Point Placement and Specifications

Based on the floor plan, approximately 8-10 APs are essential per floor, utilizing dual-band 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) protocols to handle high-throughput demands. APs with MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology are recommended for increased capacity and reliable performance. Vertical cable paths connect each floor's switches to the backbone, with fiber-optic cabling preferred for high bandwidth and future scalability.

Vertical and Inter-building Cabling

The vertical pathways utilize outer conduit systems running through riser shafts, with fiber-optic cables (OM4) for inter-floor and inter-building links. Horizontal cabling employs Cat6a twisted pair cables supporting gigabit speeds, terminating at network racks housing switches and IDF segments. The building backbone links, spanning over 200 meters, are optimized with fiber-optic cabling to maintain high data rates and minimal latency.

Backbone and Structural Cabling Recommendations

Structured cabling should adhere to industry standards such as ISO/IEC 11801, supporting high data rates and future expansion. The core network architecture adopts a hierarchical star topology with core, distribution, and access layers. High-performance switches with Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability are recommended to facilitate AP and VoIP deployments. For inter-building connectivity, multi-mode fiber optics are optimal due to their high bandwidth and low attenuation over the required distances.

Equipment Specifications

• Wireless Access Points: Dual-band 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), MIMO-supported, with configurable SSIDs and security protocols (WPA3).
• Switches: Multi-gigabit switches supporting PoE, VLAN segmentation, and manageable via SNMP.
• Routers: Layer 3 routers with VPN support, routing protocols, and redundancy features.
• Media: Fiber-optic cables (OM4) for backbone links; Cat6a for horizontal cabling.

Network Design Methodology

The design process begins with requirement analysis, followed by site surveys to determine optimal AP placements and cabling pathways. Performance estimates involve calculating signal coverage areas, capacity needs based on traffic load, and estimating interference factors. Antenna selection, such as sector or omnidirectional antennas, depends on floor layouts and coverage requirements. The design incorporates capacity planning, considering peak loads and scalability options.

Performance Estimation

Performance per AP is estimated using throughput models that consider antenna gain, interference levels, and protocol overhead. For example, dual-band 802.11ax APs with 4x4 MIMO are capable of delivering aggregate throughputs exceeding 2 Gbps under optimal conditions. Capacity planning also factors in concurrent users and nominal traffic per user (15-20 Mbps).

Sample Basic Design and Calculations

Assuming an AP covers approximately 20 meters radius in open areas, placing 10 APs across a typical floor assures overlapping coverage. The capacity calculation indicates that with 10 APs each delivering 2 Gbps, the total wireless capacity exceeds the estimated peak demand of 10,000 users multiplied by 20 Mbps each (total 200 Gbps for the entire floor, distributed across APs).

IP addressing utilizes a private class B network (e.g., 192.168.0.0/16) with subnetting tailored to each building and floor, ensuring manageable network segments and security. For example, each floor might use a /24 subnet, with dedicated VLANs for VoIP, data, and management traffic.

Wireless and WAN Standards

The WLAN employs IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) for high efficiency and capacity. The WAN connection across the road comprises fiber-optic links supporting MPLS or VPN over fiber for secure and high-speed connectivity between buildings and the main office. The WAN topology is designed with redundant paths to ensure high availability.

Conclusion

The proposed design meets the current and future needs of Return2Fender Transport Company by integrating scalable wireless and wired technologies. The strategic placement of APs, robust backbone cabling, high-capacity switches, and secure IP addressing create a resilient and efficient enterprise network capable of supporting increased user demand and advanced applications like high-definition video conferencing and VoIP.

References

• Cisco Systems. (2020). Cisco Wireless Design Guide. Cisco Press.
• IEEE Standards Association. (2019). IEEE 802.11ax-2019: IEEE Standard for Information technology--Telecommunications and information exchange between systems--Local and metropolitan area networks--Specific requirements - Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications.
• International Organization for Standardization. (2019). ISO/IEC 11801: Information technology — Generic cabling for customer premises.
• Barr, M. (2017). Structured Cabling for Enterprise Networks. Elsevier.
• Salahuddin, M., et al. (2019). Performance analysis of Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): Features and enhancements. IEEE Communications Magazine, 57(2), 14-20.
• Wang, P., & Li, J. (2021). Designing scalable enterprise wireless networks: Strategies and best practices. Journal of Network and Systems Management, 29(3), 573-593.
• Mahmoud, H., & Noor, M. (2020). Fiber optic backbone design for high-capacity enterprise networks. Optical Fiber Technology, 56, 102211.
• Huang, Y., et al. (2022). IP addressing and network segmentation in large enterprise networks. IEEE Network, 36(1), 26-33.
• McCarthy, P. (2018). Enterprise WLAN deployment: Planning, design, and implementation. Wiley.
• Kim, D., & Lee, S. (2023). Future-proofing enterprise networks: Technologies and trends. IEEE Communications Standards Magazine, 7(1), 48-55.