Network Design Case Study

Objective

This project focuses on designing a scalable and redundant network for a medium-sized business using hierarchical network design principles.

Scenario

A company, SmartTech Solutions, requires a robust network infrastructure to connect three buildings: Administration, Sales, and IT. The network must support 50 employees per building, ensure secure communication, and provide room for future expansion.

Network Design

1. Architecture Overview

• Core Layer: A high-performance core switch serves as the backbone.
• Distribution Layer: Two distribution switches connect to the core for redundancy.
• Access Layer: Each building has two access switches for connecting employees' devices.

2. IP Addressing Scheme

Department	Network Address	VLAN ID
Administration	192.168.10.0/24	10
Sales	192.168.20.0/24	20
IT	192.168.30.0/24	30

3. Routing & Redundancy

• Inter-VLAN Routing is enabled for department communication.
• HSRP/VRRP ensures backup router availability.
• EtherChannel is used to bundle redundant links.

4. Security Features

• Access Control Lists (ACLs) restrict inter-department access.
• Port Security limits unauthorized device connections.
• MAC Address Filtering is enforced on access switches.

Tools & Technologies Used

• Cisco Packet Tracer or equivalent network simulation software
• EtherChannel, VLANs, Inter-VLAN Routing
• HSRP/VRRP for redundancy
• ACLs and Port Security for security enforcement

Setup Instructions

1. Open Cisco Packet Tracer.
2. Load the provided network design file.
3. Verify VLAN, IP addressing, and routing configurations.
4. Run ping and traceroute commands to test connectivity.
5. Simulate failover scenarios to confirm redundancy.

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Author

This project was created by the repository owner.