ICSA 733 Week 8 1

Fundamentals of Telecommunications

Week 8: Network Planning

Elizabeth Lane Lawley, Instructor

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Planning & Design Cycles

Three discrete but highly interrelated cycles

Strategic Planning CycleTactical Planning CycleOperational Planning Cycle

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Strategic Planning

Seeks to optimize corporate goalsInvolves competitive analysisMarshals information resources in a

proactive fashionCommonly takes from 3-5 months

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Tactical Planning

Focus is on the actual selection and design of the network and its constituent components

Commonly takes from 1-3 months

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Operational Planning

Ongoing monitoring of network activity

Primarily role network management and all the associated activities

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Strategic Planning & Corporate DP/MIS

Traditional DP/MIS seen as “monolithic” entities, often shrouded in mysticism

Divestiture of AT&T shifted many new telecommunications responsibilities onto DP/MIS

Increase in sophisticated end-user platforms has led to sophisticated end-users

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Strategic Planning Functions

Matching IT with stated business goals and objectives

Identifying critical information resourcesUnderstanding processes, human issues,

and technical considerationsShifting from reactive to proactive modesDeveloping a flexible, long-term network

strategy

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Tactical Planning Functions

Modeling the current network and traffic

Modeling the proposed networkDeveloping a model that takes into

account cycles of growth and trafficTechnology assessmentIdentifying migration strategiesSelecting appropriate paths for growth

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Operational Planning Functions

Security managementPlanningFault managementPerformance managementConfiguration managementAccounting

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Design & Implementation

Systems approach takes into account the interrelationship of various parts

Planning is critical to network success, both technically and organizationally

Managers and uses must “buy into” the network in the earliest planning stages

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Feasibility Studies

Used when improving a current network or developing a new network

Problem definition is critical: What problems indicate the need for a new or upgraded network?

Problems identified become “needs assessment factors”

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Sample Needs Assessment Factors: Management

Timely access to data for improved decision-making

Increased paperwork or information flow

Need for better int’l exchange of data

Unsatisfactory organizational data flow

Planned future growthNegative morale

effect of old networkCompetition forcing

change Inadequate

productivity or spaceNeed for expanded

capacity

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Sample Needs Assessment Factors: Technical

Inability to maintain current network

Unreliability of current network

Obsolete hardware/software

Need to interconnect systems

Inadequate shared data

Inadequate security or privacy

Desire to incorporate new technologies

Need to conform to industry standards

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Feasibility Study Report

Informs management about problems, their causes, and potential solutions

States the purpose or objectives of the network

Makes it easy for management to make a “yes” or “no” decision about all or portions of the proposed network

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Network Design Plan

A successful design plan incorporates three feasibility factors: Technical feasibility Operational feasibility Economic feasibility

Design plan has two main components Network goals Network evaluation criteria

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Network Goals

Derived from objectives identified in feasibility study

Three distinct goals Major goal: why are we building the

network? Intermediate goals: what other benefits

with the network provide? Minor goals: what function can this system

provide for the organization in the future

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Network Evaluation Criteria

TimeCostQualityCapacityScopeEfficiencyProductivityAccuracy

FlexibilityReliabilityAcceptanceControlsDocumentationTrainingNetwork life

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Understand Current Network

Generates better understanding of communications environment

Provides benchmarks for measuring performance of new network

Includes analysis of applications, users, and data

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Define New Network Requirements

Two key questions to keep in mind: What is it’s purpose? What is it to

produce?

Organized into Mandatory Desirable Wish List

Incorporates strategic plan What applications and

data are forecast? How will information

environment change?

Incorporates operational needs Circuit capacity Processing time Productivity

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Key Requirement: Response Time

RT = MIT + APT + MOT RT: response time, MIT: message input time,

APT: application processing time, MOT: message output time

“x percent of all response time must be less than or equal to y seconds”

Cost and response time are inversely proportional

Many vendors provide simulators

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Identify Geographic Scope

International? Country? Metropolitan? Local?

Map out all locations requiring connections

Within a given location, utilize blueprints and schematics to determine wiring closets and constraints

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Identify Network Security and Control

Identify potential threats to the information and integrity of the network

Develop specific responses to each threat, including prevention, detection, and elimination

Assign responsibility for managing potential and actual problems

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Network Design: Goals

Minimum circuit distances

Adequate circuit capacity

Good response timeEfficient software and

protocolsHigh level of

reliabilityReasonable costs

Acceptance of network by users and managers

Sufficient security and control for the highest risk application

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Network Design: Software Considerations

Protocol selection (TCP/IP, OSI, SNA, etc)

Security software requirementsDistributed vs localized application

and data locationDiagnostics and maintenance

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Network Design: Hardware Considerations

Topology selection (Ethernet, Token-Ring, etc)

WorkstationsSevers (file, database, telecom, etc)HubsInternetworking devicesPeripherals (modems, printers, etc.)

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Determining Costs

Costs should not factor into preliminary network planning

Identify alternatives first, then relate costs to attainable network design configurations

Separate out direct and indirect costs, as well as direct and indirect benefits

Learn how to write a good RFP!

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Selling the Network

Three choices theorem Presenting the preferred option between

two less desirable options is more likely to ensure its selection by management.

Objections can center on ROI issues, cost/benefit analysis, clashes in strategic plan perspectives, or personality issues

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Network Implementation

Implementation plan must spell out in detail who is responsible for what aspects

Four basic approaches Direct cutover Chronological cutover Phased implementation Pilot operation