NETWORK DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

HIERARCHICAL DESIGN MODEL

PRESENTED BY: GHULAM MADNI BS(IT)

UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION LAHORE, DG KHAN CAMPUS

What is hierarchical network design
First proposed by Cisco in 2002, hierarchical network design has become an industry-
wide best practice for developing reliable, scalable, and cost-effective networks.
Initially, networks had a flat design and could only be expanded in one direction
through hubs and switches, making it challenging to filter out undesirable traffic and
control broadcasts. As a network grew in size, response times would degrade. A new
network design was necessary, resulting in the hierarchical approach
Definition:
A hierarchical design separates a network into distinct
layers, where each layer has a series of functions that define
its role in the network. 
Example:
IBM
What are the typical layers in
hierarchical network design?
1.core
2.distribution
3. access layer.
Core layer

This is the backbone of your network. It

offers fast transport between distribution
switches in the network
Distribution layer
This middle layer offers policy-based connectivity and regulates the
boundary between the other two layers. It’s where routing and data
filtering take place, and is sometimes referred to as the “Workgroup”
layer.
Access layer
Where endpoints and local servers access
the network, and is often referred to as
the “Workstation” layer.