Develop An Entire Home Network With A Budget Of 500000

Develop An Entire Home Network With A Budget Of 500000 Your Config

Develop an entire home network with a budget of $5,000.00. Your configuration must assume the purchase of associated hardware for access to both wireless and wired connections and a broadband connection. For the purpose of your configuration, you must assume the network will be used by four (4) individuals. Write a two to three (2-3) page paper in which you: Describe the hardware you will purchase or build (inclusive of computers, memory, storage, video cards, printers, routers, and cabling). Justify your hardware selection. Develop a spreadsheet or table within the two to three (2-3) page paper that itemizes the costs from the online retailer(s) of your choice. Summarize and support the approach you will use to back up your devices. Suppose you were provided an additional $2,000.00 to enhance your network. Explain the changes you would make to grow your infrastructure. Support your response inclusive of memory, storage, networking, and redundancy solutions. Use at least two (2) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the professor's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

Paper For Above instruction

Designing a comprehensive home network within a budget of $5,000 presents an excellent opportunity to balance high-quality hardware, future-proofing, and cost-effectiveness. This paper outlines the necessary components, their justifications, an itemized cost analysis, backup strategies, and proposed enhancements with an additional $2,000 budget increase.

Hardware Selection and Justification

The core of any home network begins with reliable networking hardware. For this setup, I recommend a combination of wired and wireless infrastructure to meet the varied needs of four individuals. The primary components include a high-performance router, switches, computers, peripherals, and cabling. Each component is selected based on performance, durability, and compatibility with future upgrades.

For the main router, I propose a high-end tri-band router such as the Netgear Nighthawk AX12 (AX6000). This device supports Wi-Fi 6, offering higher throughput, better security, and improved device capacity which are essential for multiple users streaming, gaming, and remote working. Additionally, a managed switch like the TP-Link TL-SG105 provides reliable wired connectivity for desktops and printers, ensuring network stability and speed.

Computers will consist of four desktop units, each equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSDs for primary storage, and dedicated graphics cards such as the NVIDIA GTX 1660 for potential multimedia tasks. Printers, including a wireless all-in-one model like the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015, enable multiple device sharing and reduce the need for individual printers. Cabling includes Cat6 Ethernet cables, which provide high-speed wired connectivity and future scalability.

Cost Itemization

ComponentSpecificationEstimated Cost (USD)
RouterNetgear Nighthawk AX12$450
SwitchTP-Link TL-SG105$30
Desktops (4)Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, GTX 1660$2,200
Printers (2)HP OfficeJet Pro 9015$300
CablingCat6 Ethernet cables (100 ft.) x 10$150
Miscellaneous peripheralsKeyboards, mice, UPS$250
Backup SolutionWD My Book 4TB External HDD$150
Total Estimated Cost$3,530

The remaining budget allows for optional upgrades such as additional backup solutions, better peripherals, or higher-capacity storage devices. This setup balances performance and cost, suitable for four users engaging in various activities including streaming, gaming, remote work, and general browsing.

Backup and Data Protection Strategy

An effective backup solution is critical to prevent data loss. The primary method involves a combination of local and cloud backups. The WD My Book 4TB external hard drive provides a cost-effective, reliable solution for daily incremental backups of all desktops and important files using backup software like Acronis True Image or Windows Backup. For added redundancy, selecting a cloud backup service such as Backblaze or Carbonite ensures off-site data recovery, safeguarding against physical damage, theft, or failure of local devices.

Automated backup routines should be scheduled daily during off-peak hours to ensure data integrity without disrupting network performance. Regular testing and verification of backup files are essential to ensure restore capabilities are functional.

Enhancements with an Additional $2,000

With an extra $2,000, the network can be significantly upgraded to enhance speed, redundancy, and security. The first priority is to increase storage capacity with Network Attached Storage (NAS) such as a Synology DS920+ with 4-8TB drives configured in RAID 5, providing redundancy and easier data management. This setup offers centralized storage accessible by all users with high data transfer speeds, ideal for media streaming and backups.

Additionally, upgrading the existing PCs to include more RAM (32GB), faster SSDs (1TB NVMe), and adding a dedicated graphics card like the NVIDIA RTX 3060 can improve performance for demanding tasks such as video editing or gaming.

For network redundancy, implementing a secondary internet connection via a dual-WAN router ensures continuous connectivity if the primary ISP experiences outages. This setup minimizes downtime, crucial for remote work and streaming. Investing in enterprise-grade security solutions, such as hardware firewalls (e.g., Ubiquiti Networks USG-Pro), further enhances security against potential threats.

Finally, deploying uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) for all critical devices ensures continuous operation during power failures, protecting hardware and preventing data corruption.

Conclusion

Constructing a robust home network within a $5,000 budget is achievable by carefully selecting high-quality hardware tailored to the specific needs of four users. The proposed setup provides a balance of wired and wireless connectivity, reliable backup strategies, and room for future expansion. With an additional $2,000 investment, the network’s performance, security, and redundancy can be further optimized, ensuring it meets the demands of modern digital lifestyles while safeguarding user data and providing seamless connectivity.

References

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  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2021). Cybersecurity Best Practices for Homes. DHS.gov. https://www.dhs.gov/publication/cybersecurity-best-practices-homes
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