Gathering Network Requirements

1. Gathering Network Requirements Designing and Supporting Computer Networks – Chapter 2

2. Objectives • Explain how the Cisco Lifecycle Services approach enables organizations to prepare, plan, design, implement, operate and optimize a network that supports the introduction of new technologies. • Describe sales activities and the role of the network designer in the pre-sales process. • Explain the process of creating a network design and the information needed before the process can begin. • Identify technical requirements and constraints of the organization to determine the scope of the project. • Explain design considerations for manageability.

3. Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach to Design, Deploy, and Operate a Network • Cisco Lifecycle Services is designed to support evolving networks and has six phases. • Prepare Phase • Plan Phase • Design Phase • Implement Phase • Operate Phase • Optimize Phase

4. Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach to Design, Deploy, and Operate a Network • Prepare Phase: • Define business goals • Consider possible constraints • Develop the strategy and solution • Plan Phase: • Perform site and operations assessment for the existing network • Identify necessary modifications (physical and electrical), change of personnel, processes and tools. • Identify new network applications. • Prepare the project plan • Tasks • Timelines and critical milestones • Risks and constraints • Responsibilities • Resources required

5. Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach to Design, Deploy, and Operate a Network • Design Phase: • Create plans that guide the installation • Complete the design of the network • Generate a final proposal • Implement Phase: • Build the network according to design specifications • Perform testing • Install the new solution • Perform system-level acceptance testing • Document results

6. Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach to Design, Deploy, and Operate a Network • Operate Phase: • Monitor the network • Establish a baseline • Define policies and procedures • Optimize Phase: • Identify and resolve potential network problems such as: • Feature incompatibilities • Insufficient link capacity • Device performance problems when multiple features are enabled • Scalability of protocols

7. Sales Activities and the Role of the Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process • Response document: • Cover letter • Executive summary • Proposed solution and proposed cost • Signature page • Appendices • Customer issues RFP or RFQ • Pre-bid meeting or pre-submittal conference

8. Sales Activities and the Role of the Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process • Request for Proposal (RFP): • Business goals • Project scope • Requirements for new network • Preliminary schedule, milestones and deliverables • Request For Quote (RFQ): • Organizational overview • Required deliverables • Assumptions/agreements

9. Sales Activities and the Role of the Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process • Account manager: • Maintain continuing relationship between company and customers • Serve as primary contact • Pre-sales systems engineer: • Determine the need for upgrades or additions to networks • Determine technical requirements and feasibility

10. Sales Activities and the Role of the Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process • Network designer: • Analyze customer goals and constraints • Select technology and equipment to meet defined network requirements • Diagram placement and interconnection of devices • Design and supervise testing • Post-sales field engineer: • Ensure network upgrade functions as designed • Provide customer training and assistance • Resolve technical problems

11. Process of Creating a Network Design and the Information Needed • Interpersonal skills: • Listening and accurately summarizing information • Corresponding with clients • Presenting technical material • Understand how network users interact with network resources and services • Identify all user groups • Assess the impact of adding new user groups • Prioritize the business goals: • Profitability • Business growth and market share • Customer satisfaction

12. Identify Requirements and Constraints to Determine the Scope of the Project • Identify and document the technical requirements to meet the business goals. • Improving network scalability • Increasing network availability and performance • Enhancing network security • Simplifying network management and support • Identify the constraints that affect the network design, including • cost, schedule, and resources (human and equipment) • network services and protocols

13. Design Considerations for Manageability • Top-down design approach: • Adapt the network to the needs of the organization • Take the design from the perspective of the required network solutions • Bottom-up design approach • Selects network devices and technologies based on previous experience rather than from an understanding of the organization. • Proposed network design may not be able to support the required applications.

14. Design Considerations for Manageability • Typical network management architecture: • Network Management System (NMS) • Network Management Protocol • Managed devices • Management agents • Management information • Network monitoring tools can be used to page or send email to on-call technicians • Tools respond to network fault or when a predefined threshold is met

15. Summary • The six phases of the network lifecycle include prepare, plan, design, implement, operate, and optimize. • A project plan includes tasks, timelines, risks, responsibilities, and resources required to complete a network design project. • Following the required format and schedule is critical to submitting a successful proposal. • All members of the networking contractor staff must demonstrate effective interpersonal skills. • Top-down network design strategies have the best chance to succeed. • A primary requirement for any network is the availability of qualified support personnel.

17. Characterizing the Existing Network Designing and Supporting Computer Networks – Chapter 3

18. Objectives • Diagram and document an existing network to identify strengths and weaknesses in the design. • Use CCO to determine the appropriate IOS version to support network requirements and download and install the appropriate IOS • Use CCO to determine the appropriate hardware features and install the upgrades using safe practices and procedures • Perform a wireless site survey • Organize collected data into a new network design

19. Diagram and Document the Existing Network • Examines the existing network to: • Determine if the design goals are realistic and feasible • Determine if the existing network meets the expectations for scalability, availability, security, and manageability • Identify where new equipment, infrastructure upgrades, and new services can be integrated • Ensure that old and new network devices, media, and functions can work together • Network documentation: • Logical and physical diagrams • Floor plans • Inventory lists for equipment and applications • Current network configuration files

20. Diagram and Document the Existing Network • Log in to network devices • Use Cisco IOS software commands to gain information on routers and switches. • show version • show running-config • show ip route • show cdp neighbors detail • show controllers • show tech-support • show vlan • show vtp • show spanning-tree

21. Diagram and Document the Existing Network • Create a logical network diagram showing • Addressing, routing, and network segmentation • Location of the network equipment and wiring closets • Naming information • Illustrate how information flows through the network • Create a modular block diagram • Core, Distribution and Access layers • Simplify the network to show major functions • Identify and document the strengths and weaknesses of the existing network • Focus on finding ways to overcome weaknesses

22. Use CCO to Determine the Appropriate IOS Version to Support Network Requirements • The Cisco.com web site offers tools and online resources to • help obtain information about the network equipment. • resolve common technical problems. • The tools and resources include the following: • Documentation • Tools • Downloads • Communities and training • News • Access the features available on Cisco.com requires the creation of a Cisco.com registered user account

23. Use CCO to Determine the Appropriate IOS Version to Support Network Requirements • Use the show version command • Verify that the inventory list is correct • Obtain missing information

24. Use CCO to Determine the Appropriate IOS Version to Support Network Requirements and upgrades • Select the correct IOS image using the CCO IOS Feature Navigator • Download the correct IOS to upgrade • Store new IOS image on TFTP server • Transfer the file to the Cisco router or switch • Verify the router or switch goes through the three stages of the boot up process: • Perform the POST and load the bootstrap program • Locate and load the IOS software • Locate and execute the startup configuration, or enter setup mode

25. Use CCO to Determine the Appropriate Hardware Features and Install the Upgrades • Use datasheets to see what modules and interfaces are available • Determine the technologies and media a given device will support • Installing a new hardware option on a Cisco router or switch: • Turn off power • Remove blank faceplace • Install option module • Turn on power and check the new configuration

26. Perform a Wireless Site Survey • Preparation • Schedule the site survey with the customer. • Dress appropriately for the task. • Wear or carry company credentials. • Bring the proper equipment (have a checklist ). • Notify personnel when the staff will arrive and how long the site survey should take • Site survey • Check in with the proper staff upon entry into the stadium. • Work quickly and professionally to instill a sense of confidence in the customer. • Answer questions politely and as completely as possible. • Write down any questions that must be answered by other staff members. • Inform the customer of the survey procedures. • Report back to the customer staff before leaving the premises to inform them of the successful completion of the survey. • Security • Gain security clearance and be escorted if needed. • Safety guidelines • Follow the recommended safety guidelines • Obtain customer approval before touching or attaching devices to any existing networking equipment.

27. Perform a Wireless Site Survey • Performing a site survey consists of the following steps: • Identify physical infrastructure issues • Define customer requirements • Identify coverage areas • Identify possible sources of signal interference • Determine preliminary access point locations • Measure signal strength

28. Organize Collected Data into a New Network Design • Design requirements document: • Overall project goal • the primary purpose of the network design project • specifies how this upgrade will help the business become more successful. • Project scope • physical areas, applications, and user groups • Network requirements • Technical requirements (scalability, availability, security, manageability) • constraints , • user groups and their access requirements and • applications (network traffic characteristics, requirements and their effect on the network • Current state of the network • Logical and physical diagrams • Equipment lists • Applications • Strengths and weaknesses

29. Summary • Ensure that network documentation is accurate and complete before designing an upgrade • Gather information using tools like Cisco Network Assistant • Organize the current network into a modular block diagram to identify where the network needs to be improved. • The Cisco CCO site provides valuable tools and documentation for the design process. • Before producing a wireless network design, it is usually necessary to do a wireless site survey.