Posted: February 4th, 2015

Discussion (Scenario based)

Paper, Order, or Assignment Requirements

 
Task B1, B2 and B3 in the attached document is to be completed.

IT Infrastructure – Assessment

Introduction

This assignment consists of six tasks related to a single scenario. The tasks are intended to assess whether you have met the minimum acceptable level for each of the learning outcomes associated with this module

1. Critically evaluate an enterprises IT strategy to assess whether it meets the enterprises current needs and aspirations
2. Critically evaluate an enterprise’s technical information to assess equipment suitability
3. Critically evaluate wireless networks to assess their suitability to meet the needs of the enterprise
4. Capture and analyse network traffic to assess the performance of the network.
5. Evaluate strategies for data management, storage and disaster recovery
6. Critically evaluate own and other’s designs.

The grading criteria at the end of the assignment indicate how the learning outcomes relate to the tasks.

Scenario

A large manufacturing organisation has a factory sight which has the following network architecture. Note that although a single 24 port 2960 is shown in each department they are actually 4 stacked 24 port switches giving 96 ports for each department. The subnetting policy has been the cause of a number of issues with the network and a new Network Manager has been appointed and has decided to address the issue.

There are 40 end user devices in the manufacturing department 60 in production and 95 in Design. There are typically around 20 visiting staff from partnering companies who require wireless access though this can be as many at 75 at any one time.

As part of the overall strategy the Network Manager is considering replacing all the existing PCs (which are getting towards end of life anyway) and servers and using a cloud based solution. What he has in mind is to use third party servers accessible from anywhere through the internet. All data storage will be off site. He is also considering using virtual PCs so that all the processing is also done off site so that the 17 machines on the desktop are only used for entering data, interacting with the applications and displaying the output.

He is planning on using the 172.30.0.0 private address range and subnetting it in the following manner.

The reports requested below are intended for presentation at board meetings so high quality is expected. There is a word limit as the board members are busy people and do not like having to wade through more words than are necessary. It will therefor be necessary to make good use of appendices (which do not contribute towards the word count) to provide supporting evidence for the claims made in the main body of the report. It is important that you identify the core points and state them clearly and concisely in your report. If the reader wants to verify the evidence used to support the points made in the report then this should be available in the appendix.

Allied to this is the importance of providing references for claims made. It is not enough just to have a reference list at the end of the report. it is also essential to use Harvard standard citations in the text where the reference is used.

Task B1

Write a position paper that briefly indicates the weaknesses in the proposed design and propose a suitable alternative design.

Task B2

The IT Manager is particularly interested in a recommendation for providing proper support for the wireless devices. Make use of Cisco material to identify the recommended way of supporting wireless on a single site.

Task B3

The report must also briefly discusses the pros and cons of a cloud-based approach for all the company’s data storage requirements, virtual desktop and backup.