IT 340: Final Project Guidelines And Grading Guide

IT 340: Final Project Guidelines and Grading Guide Overview The final pr

It 340 Final Project Guidelines And Grading Guide Overview The final project for this course is the creation of a networking report that outlines the business and technical network requirements for a fictional advertising agency. The report will include strategies for WAN connectivity, IP addressing, and wireless access, along with the business and technical rationale for the recommendations. Terms and concepts used in the report must also be explained clearly and thoroughly. The project includes two milestones submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final project is submitted in Module Seven.

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes: · Understand the language, theory, and concepts involved in telecommunications and networks · Understand the relationship between networking technology, network services, and business · Demonstrate practical hands-on competency with networking hardware and software · Present and communicate networking concepts to others Prompt The scenario: Newton Ad Agency is a startup with three locations. The headquarters is located in Austin, TX, with a satellite office located 2 miles away in a rural area. There is a clear line of sight between the two offices. The New York office needs to share large media files with the Austin office.

The New York office will also have a web server for clients to download large media files and needs to be able to do it quickly. To hire the best talents, Newton Ad Agency allows employees to work from home full-time. Remote workers will need access to the network in Austin. The IT Department should have the ability to log into all of the workstations, including the remote computers, when they are connected to the network. You have been hired as the network administrator.

You are tasked with building the network IP strategy, building a remote access strategy, and selecting WAN technologies that meet the business requirements. As one of your first tasks, you have been asked to develop a proposal for the management team. These members have varying backgrounds and sometimes limited knowledge of IT services. Newton Ad Agency: Business and Technical Requirements 1. Spend no more than $1,100 per month on internet for all sites (after initial hardware and setup costs) 2.

The company IP addresses should be within the following range: 192.168.100.0–192.168.103.255 Austin Headquarters: Business and Technical Requirements 1. Fast WAN connectivity 2. Must have backup WAN connectivity with 99.999% uptime 3. IP addresses must support 500 hosts 4. Must provide wireless access for users 5.

All wireless connectivity must be centrally managed Austin Headquarters: Available Internet Options 1. Fiber Optics ($. T1 ($. Cable ($. DSL ($75) New York Office: Business and Technical Requirements 1.

Fast WAN connectivity 2. IP address strategy for 200 users/PCs New York Office: Available Internet Options 1. Fiber Optics ($. T1 ($. Cable ($.

DSL ($50) Rural Satellite Office: Business and Technical Requirements 1. Does not have any type of commercial WAN connectivity 2. Needs to have WAN connectivity (located 2 miles from headquarters and line of sight—show this in a diagram) 3. IP address strategy needs to support 200 users/PCs Critical Elements Based on the scenario above, students will develop a 5- to 7-page networking report for the owners of the advertising agency. The report must include the following: 1.

The WAN connectivity at each location 2. A diagram showing the WAN connectivity 3. An explanation of why the specific WAN technology was chosen 4. IP address strategies at each location 5. Wireless access strategy at the Austin office a) List and explain the services that will support remote workers b) List and explain the service(s) that IT will use to access all workstations on the network 6.

An explanation of the terms and concepts used in the paper Milestones Milestone One : IP Assignments In task 3-3 , you will submit the IP assignments for each site along with the calculations on how you subnetted the addresses . This milestone is graded with the Final Project Milestone One: IP Assignments Rubric. Milestone Two : WAN Technology Requirements In task 5-2, you will submit a report on the WAN technologies chosen for each site, along with a diagram showing the connectivity. This milestone is graded with the Final Project Milestone Two: WAN Technology Requirements Rubric. Final Submission : Networking Report In task 7-2 , you will submit the final networking report for the advertising agency scenario.

It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This will be graded using the Final Product Rubric (below). Final Product Rubric Format : Written components of project must follow these formatting guidelines when applicable: double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and discipline-appropriate citations . The paper should be 5 to 7 pages, not including cover page and resources.

Instructor Feedback : Students can find their feedback in the Grade Center. Critical Elements Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not Evident Value WAN Connectivity Recommends an effective WAN connectivity solution that fully meets the requirements of each office (15) Recommends a WAN connectivity solution that generally meets the requirements of each office (12.75) Recommends a WAN connectivity solution, but does not adequately address the requirements of each office (8.25) Does not recommend a WAN connectivity solution for each office ( WAN Diagram Provides a professional-quality diagram that fully illustrates the proposed WAN solution (15) Provides a high-quality diagram that illustrates the proposed WAN solution (12.75) Provides a diagram that does not fully illustrate the proposed WAN solution (8.25) Does not provide a diagram that illustrates the proposed WAN solution ( Explanation of WAN Decisions Provides a clear, concise, and complete explanation of why specific WAN technologies were chosen (10) Provides a generally effective explanation of why specific WAN technologies were chosen (8.5) Provides an incomplete or inadequate explanation of why WAN technologies were chosen (5.5) Does not provide an explanation of why WAN technologies were chosen ( Wireless Access Strategy at the Austin Office Describes an effective wireless access strategy that fully addresses the stated requirements (15) Describes a wireless access strategy that addresses most of the stated requirements (12.75) Describes a wireless access strategy that does not adequately address stated requirements (8.25) Does not describe a wireless strategy that addresses the stated requirements ( Services for Remote Workers Provides a clear, concise, and complete explanation of proposed services for remote workers (10) Provides an accurate explanation of proposed services for remote workers (8.5) Provides an explanation of proposed services for remote workers, but the suggested solution is inadequate or unclear (5.5) Does not provide an explanation of proposed services for remote workers ( Services for IT Access Provides a clear, concise, and complete explanation of remote access IT services that meet stated requirements (10) Provides an adequate explanation of remote access IT services that meet most of the stated requirements (8.5) Provides an inadequate explanation of remote access IT services (6) Does not provide an explanation of remote access IT services ( Terms and Concepts All terms and concepts are clearly and accurately explained (15) Most terms and concepts are accurately explained (12.75) Terms and concepts are explained, but explanations are often missing or incomplete (8.25) Does not explain terms and concepts used in the report ( Articulation of Response Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format (10) Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization (8.5) Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas (5.5) Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas ( Earned Total Comments: 100%)

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The rapid evolution of networking technology has transformed how businesses operate, communicate, and strategize. For a startup advertising agency like Newton Ad Agency, establishing a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective network infrastructure is critical to support collaboration, file sharing, remote working, and client service delivery. The following report provides a comprehensive networking strategy tailored to the company's specific business and technical requirements, focusing on WAN connectivity, IP address management, wireless access, and remote access services across multiple office locations.

WAN Connectivity at Each Location

Austin Headquarters

The Austin headquarters demands fast, reliable WAN connectivity with near-perfect uptime to ensure productivity and data accessibility. Given the emphasis on speed and reliability, fiber optic internet is the optimal choice. Fiber offers high bandwidth with scalability to support future growth and supports high-volume data transfers, necessary for large media files shared with remote locations. To meet the company's requirement for backup connectivity with 99.999% uptime, a secondary connection via T1 or broadband cable with automatic failover will be employed, ensuring continuous operation.

New York Office

Similar to the Austin office, the New York satellite office requires high-speed WAN connectivity capable of supporting approximately 200 users and handling large media file exchanges efficiently. Fiber optic connection is recommended, supplemented by a secondary T1 or cable connection for redundancy. The choice depends on availability and cost considerations, with fiber preferred for its bandwidth but T1 or cable as fallback options.

Rural Satellite Office

The rural satellite office, located merely two miles from the headquarters with a clear line of sight, lacks commercial WAN services. Therefore, point-to-point wireless broadband or microwave link technology is optimal. These wireless solutions provide high-bandwidth connectivity over short distances with minimal latency. A directional antenna setup will be employed to establish a reliable wireless link, supporting up to 200 users and integrating seamlessly with the existing network infrastructure.

Diagram of WAN Connectivity

[Here, a professional diagram should be inserted, illustrating:

• a central Austin headquarters with wired connections to the New York office and rural satellite office
• the wireless point-to-point link between Austin and the rural office
• redundant internet connections at each site

Explanation of WAN Technology Choices

The selection of WAN technologies is driven by the unique requirements and constraints of each location. Fiber optic connections are ideal for urban centers like Austin and New York due to their high bandwidth, reliability, and scalability. Backup connections via T1 or cable serve as contingency options, ensuring minimal downtime and continuous access to critical resources. For the rural satellite office, a point-to-point wireless link is the most feasible solution given the absence of commercial WAN services and the proximity with line-of-sight. Wireless technology such as microwave or fixed wireless broadband provides the necessary bandwidth, quick deployment, and cost-effectiveness for such scenarios while maintaining sufficient speed and reliability.

IP Address Strategies

Austin Headquarters

The headquarters will utilize private IP addresses within the 192.168.100.0/24 subnet, supporting up to 500 hosts. Subnetting will be performed to allocate specific IP ranges for different departments, wireless access points, and guest networks. For example, the primary subnet 192.168.100.0/23 can accommodate around 510 hosts, with dedicated segments for wireless, administrative, and server use, thus ensuring network segmentation and enhanced security.

New York Office

The New York office will also use a segment within the 192.168.102.0/24 network, supporting approximately 200 users. A /24 subnet provides 254 usable addresses, which is suitable for current needs, with room for future expansion. Proper subnetting and VLANs can be implemented to separate critical network traffic and improve security.

Rural Satellite Office

This location will have its subnet within 192.168.101.0/24, supporting up to 200 users. The subnet will allow efficient IP management and facilitate remote and wireless user access, with appropriate DHCP configuration to dynamically assign IP addresses.

Wireless Access Strategy at the Austin Office

The wireless access network at Austin will be centrally managed through enterprise-grade controllers to ensure security, scalability, and ease of management. Deployment of multiple access points (APs) strategically placed to cover the entire office will support high-density user environments. WPA3 encryption and SSID segmentation for employees, guests, and remote workers will be employed to enforce security policies. Wireless services will support remote workers through VPN access, enabling secure, encrypted connections from home.

Services Supporting Remote Workers

• Virtual Private Network (VPN): Enables remote users to access the corporate network securely from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP): Allows remote management and troubleshooting of workstations.
• Cloud-based collaboration tools: Such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, and cloud storage solutions for seamless communication and data sharing.

Services for IT to Access All Workstations

• Remote Management Tools: Such as Remote Desktop and management software (e.g., SolarWinds, TeamViewer) that allow IT staff to log into and control workstations remotely.
• Network Access Control (NAC): Ensures only authorized devices connect to the network, and IT can verify device compliance.
• Centralized Logging and Monitoring: Systems such as SIEM tools that aggregate logs for real-time monitoring and auditing.

Terms and Concepts Explanation

The report employs several fundamental networking terms and concepts. WAN (Wide Area Network) is a telecommunications network that spans a large geographic area, enabling connectivity between distant offices. Fiber optic technology uses light signals over glass or plastic fibers for high-speed data transmission, ideal for backbone connections. Point-to-point wireless refers to a dedicated wireless link between two fixed locations, suitable for short-distance, line-of-sight scenarios such as rural offices. Subnetting is dividing an IP network into smaller logical sections to optimize IP address usage and enhance security. VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates a secure tunnel over the internet, allowing remote users to access the internal network safely. Wireless security protocols like WPA3 protect wireless communication from unauthorized access. Understanding these concepts is essential for designing effective, secure, and scalable networks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, designing an efficient and reliable network for Newton Ad Agency involves selecting appropriate WAN technologies tailored to each location's needs, structured IP addressing to facilitate management and security, and robust wireless and remote access strategies to support modern work practices. The chosen technologies and strategies will ensure the company's operations are secure, scalable, and resilient, aligning with their business goals while adhering to budget constraints. Proper planning and implementation of these network components will foster continued growth, collaboration, and competitive advantage in the advertising industry.

References

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