Description:
Planning an IT network requires a structured approach. This article contains some important tips for the planning and creation.
For your LANCOM support requests, you can help us get the best understanding of your network if you send us a detailed network plan (physical & logical). Please note item 11 “Documentation”.
1) Requirements review:
Specify the network requirements. Consider factors such as the number of users, the type of traffic, the bandwidth required, security requirements, etc. The more specific your requirements are, the better you can plan your network.
2) Specify network topology:
Decide on a network topology that best suits your needs. Consider factors such as scalability, performance, and redundancy.
3) IP addressing:
Develop an IP addressing plan to identify each device and subnet on the network. Decide whether you want to use IPv4 or IPv6 and how you want to assign and manage the addresses.
4) Plan the network devices:
Determine which network devices are required, including routers, switches, firewalls, access points, etc. Decide what features and capacities these devices should have to meet your needs.
5) Establish the security measures:
Establish security policies to protect the network from unauthorized access, threats, and data loss. Consider the security measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), virtual private networks (VPNs), etc.
6) Select network protocols:
Decide which network protocols to use for managing the communications and network traffic. These include protocols such as TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, SNMP, etc.
7) Consider scalability and growth:
Plan the network for future growth and scalability. Ensure that the network is easily expandable and able to meet increasing demands.
8) Install redundancy and high availability:
Plan redundant components and resilience mechanisms to ensure that the network is failsafe and remains available in the event of hardware or connection problems.
9) Set up network management:
Define how you want to manage and monitor the network. Consider aspects such as remote monitoring, logging, performance management, troubleshooting, and upgrades. We recommend that you manage your network with the LANCOM Management Cloud (LMC).
10) Generate implementation plan:
Develop an implementation plan that includes step-by-step deployment of the network. Plan the resources, timeline, and responsibilities for each phase of implementation.
11. Documentation:
Maintain a central and comprehensive documentation including the network map and all relevant information. This helps with the management, maintenance, and future updates of the network.
Physical cabling diagram:
Sketch the cabling on your physical network plan. You can use specialized software or even just pencil and paper will do. Record the cable routes and the connection points between the devices. Pay particular attention to the type of cabling, such as Ethernet cable, fiber-optic cable, or coaxial cable,
- Note the lengths of the cables, the connectors, patch panels, or socket outlets that connect to each piece of equipment.
- Add all important information, such as where the devices are located, details about the cabling, the power supply, and security measures.
Drawing of the logical structure:
Use diagramming software such as Microsoft Visio, yEd, Draw.io, or even just paper and pencil to show the logical structure of your network. Draw the network components as symbols and link them according to their connections. Use lines to indicate connections between components.
- For each symbol in the network plan, include additional information to such as IP addresses, subnets, VLANs, protocols, or services provided by the components.
