Discuss best practices of campus area network design.

https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/articles/s/campus-network-design-best-
practices/

1) Simplify
The best network designs have simple and straightforward connections, and everything in the design serves a specific purpose. Avoid adding
unnecessary components to your network or making unnecessary connections. This will make it easier to set up, operate, and restore if ever
needed.

2) Secure
Install firewalls to protect your organization’s network. The firewall allows you to view and prevent traffic coming to and from your network on
your various endpoints. Depending on the size of your organization, you may need a few firewalls, or one might be enough.

3) Document
Record your network design and store it in your IT documentation. Company SOP’s and other instructions related to the setup and operation of
your network should also be documented. If anything needs to be altered, fixed, something goes wrong with your network, or if your IT
environment goes into full disaster recovery, you will have documentation provided to help you restore and operate your network.

4) Consider scalability
As your business grows, you will want to have your network grow with it to accommodate the growing needs of the company. Functionally
design your network now so it has the ability to work well now and also change and evolve in the future.

5) Monitor
Continually monitor your network to ensure that all devices are working properly. Active monitoring supports network uptime because it gives
you clear visibility of what is operating efficiently and what might be lacking. If you can determine areas of weakness in your network design
early on, you can fix those issues and update the design in your organization’s documentation.

6) Make changes as needed

Just because a network design has been finalized does not mean that it is unalterable. If a certain aspect in your network design isn’t working as
effectively as originally planned, make changes to the design.

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/overview-of-campus-area-network-can/

https://www.auvik.com/franklyit/blog/network-design-best-practices/

Top-Down vs Bottom up Approach to Network Design,

The top-down and bottom-up approaches are two different methodologies used in
network design. Here's a brief overview of each:

1. **Top-Down Approach:**
 - **Concept:** In the top-down approach, the design process starts with an
overarching view of the network requirements and goals.
- **Steps:**
- Begin with understanding business requirements and goals.
- Define the overall network architecture and layout.
- Break down the network into different components and modules.
- Develop high-level designs for each module.
- Gradually refine the design, moving from high-level to low-level details.
- **Advantages:**
- Aligns network design with organizational objectives.
- Ensures that the overall architecture supports business needs.
- Provides a clear roadmap for implementation.
- **Disadvantages:**
- May take longer to reach detailed specifications.
- Initial high-level assumptions may need adjustments based on detailed analysis.

2. **Bottom-Up Approach:**
- **Concept:** In the bottom-up approach, the design process starts with the detailed
specifications of individual network components or modules.
- **Steps:**
- Begin with understanding the detailed requirements of individual network
components.
- Design and implement each component separately.
- Integrate the components to build the complete network.
- Verify that the integrated network meets the overall requirements.
- Address any discrepancies or issues during the integration phase.
- **Advantages:**
- Allows for a detailed and focused approach to individual components.
- Faster to implement specific elements of the network.
- Easier to identify and address issues at the component level.
- **Disadvantages:**
- May result in a network that meets component requirements but lacks overall
coherence.
- Integration challenges may arise if the components were not designed with the
entire network in mind initially.

**Choosing Between the Approaches:**

- **Project Scope:** The choice between top-down and bottom-up often depends on the
scope and complexity of the project. For large-scale projects, a top-down approach may
be more suitable to ensure alignment with business objectives. For smaller, more
modular projects, a bottom-up approach might be more practical.

- **Organizational Culture:** The culture of the organization and its preference for
structured planning versus incremental development can influence the choice of
approach.
- **Flexibility:** Top-down approaches offer a holistic view but may be less flexible
during implementation. Bottom-up approaches provide flexibility in implementing
individual components but may require more effort to ensure overall coherence.

In practice, a combination of both approaches, often referred to as a hybrid approach,

is sometimes used to leverage the strengths of each methodology and strike a balance
between strategic planning and detailed implementation.

https://www.2000trainers.com/ccda-study-guide/network-design-approaches/

https://www.2000trainers.com/ccda-study-guide/comparing-network-design-
approaches/

Classic Three-Layer Hierarchical Model: Core, Access and Distribution Layers,

https://www.ciscopress.com/articles/article.asp?p=2202410&seqNum=4#:~:text=Access
%20layer%3A%20Provides%20workgroup%2Fuser,switches%20within%20the
%20enterprise%20campus

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/hierarchical-network-design/

https://www.auvik.com/franklyit/blog/hierarchical-network-design/
An engineering college has 4 departments viz. Computer, IT, Civil and Mechanical with 5 labs in each
department. Each lab has 20 nodes. The labs are to be connected via a single LAN. Each Department and
lab has to be identified by a unique Subnet id. Give the design details for the backbone/ core layer,
distribution layer and access layer of the campus network. Design IP addressing and subnetting using class
C addressing.

To design the backbone/core layer, distribution layer, and access layer of the campus network with IP addressing and subnetting
using class C addressing, we'll consider the provided information.

1. Backbone/Core Layer:
The backbone/core layer connects all the departments and labs. Since there are 4 departments with 5 labs each, we have a total
of 20 labs. To accommodate this, we can use a subnet mask of /27, which provides 30 usable IP addresses per subnet.

Considering class C addressing, we can allocate a private IP address range for the backbone/core layer, such as 192.168.0.0/24.
This subnet will be further divided to allocate unique subnet IDs for each department and lab as per their requirements.

2. Distribution Layer:
The distribution layer connects the backbone/core layer to the individual labs within each department. Since each lab has 20
nodes, we can assign a separate subnet for each lab using a subnet mask of /28, providing 14 usable IP addresses per subnet.

For example, for the Computer department, we can allocate the subnet range of 192.168.0.0/27 for the distribution layer. This
would allow us to have 5 unique subnet IDs for each lab within the Computer department.

3. Access Layer:
The access layer represents the individual labs within each department. Each lab will have 20 nodes, requiring a subnet that can
accommodate these devices. Since each lab has 20 nodes, we can use a subnet mask of /27, providing 30 usable IP addresses per
subnet.

For instance, for the Computer department, the access layer subnet range can be 192.168.0.0/28. This allows for 16 unique
subnet IDs for each lab in the Computer department.

Remember, these IP addressing and subnetting details are just a suggested design based on the given information. Depending on
the specific requirements, physical layout, and scalability needs, further adjustments may be necessary.

PPDIOO is an acronym that stands for Prepare, Plan, Design, Implement, Operate, and Optimize. It represents a network lifecycle
methodology developed by Cisco for network design and implementation. Here's an overview of the tasks involved in each
phase of PPDIOO:

1. **Prepare:**
- **Task 1: Define Business Requirements:**
- Identify and document the business goals and requirements that the network must support.
- **Task 2: Assess Technical Requirements:**
- Evaluate existing technical infrastructure and determine the technical requirements for the new network.

2. **Plan:**
- **Task 1: Develop a Project Plan:**
- Create a detailed project plan outlining the tasks, timeline, and resource requirements for the network implementation.
- **Task 2: Conduct Site Surveys:**
- Perform on-site surveys to gather information about the physical environment, existing network infrastructure, and
potential challenges.
- **Task 3: Develop a Network Hierarchy:**
- Define the hierarchical structure of the network, including core, distribution, and access layers.

3. **Design:**
- **Task 1: Logical Network Design:**
- Develop a logical design that includes addressing schemes, routing protocols, and network services.
- **Task 2: Physical Network Design:**
- Create a physical design that specifies the hardware, cabling, and device placement.
- **Task 3: Security Design:**
- Integrate security measures, such as firewalls, VPNs, and access controls, into the network design.
- **Task 4: QoS Design:**
- Design Quality of Service (QoS) policies to prioritize and manage network traffic.

4. **Implement:**
- **Task 1: Procure and Install Hardware:**
- Acquire and install the necessary network hardware according to the physical design.
- **Task 2: Configure Devices:**
- Configure routers, switches, and other network devices based on the logical design.
- **Task 3: Test Connectivity:**
- Verify connectivity and functionality at each stage of implementation.
- **Task 4: Implement Security Measures:**
 - Activate and test security measures to ensure the protection of the network.

5. **Operate:**
- **Task 1: Develop Operational Procedures:**
- Create documentation and procedures for ongoing network management and maintenance.
- **Task 2: Monitor the Network:**
- Implement monitoring tools and practices to keep track of network performance and health.
- **Task 3: Provide User Support:**
- Establish support mechanisms for end-users and address issues as they arise.

6. **Optimize:**
- **Task 1: Perform Regular Audits:**
- Conduct periodic audits of the network to identify areas for improvement.
- **Task 2: Update Documentation:**
- Keep network documentation up to date with any changes or optimizations.
- **Task 3: Fine-Tune Configuration:**
- Continuously optimize network configurations based on performance data and evolving requirements.

By following the PPDIOO methodology, organizations can systematically plan, implement, and manage their networks, ensuring
alignment with business goals and adaptability to changing technical requirements.