Cisco Certified Borderless Network Design Services and Consulting
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Designing a network can be a complex project that argues for a structured approach.
A top-down approach to design must be used to properly design a network infrastructure that meets the application and business needs.
The Open Standards Interface (OSI) model to the right is frequently used to represent the data layers in a network.
The top-down network design approach starts with the top layer (application) to determine the requirements that dictate how the lower layers (transport through physical) must be configured to satisfy the requirements of the upper layers.
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Step 1 - Application Requirements
Determine what applications are required to meet the business needs. This includes both the business applications themselves and the collaboration components needed to support the applications.
Step 2 - Logical Connectivity Requirements
Specify the logical connectivity and services required to deliver the required applications. This might include data access to specific servers, identity solutions, storage services, security services, voice/video services, routing, and Quality of Service (QoS).
Step 3 - Split Network Functionality
Segment the network functionality to determine the hierarchy of elements in the network. For example, the network might be split into server, storage, and client segments.
Step 4 - Design Structured Elements
Design each of the structured elements to provide the network connectivity required by the applications.
Implementing The Design
Once a network design has been completed, the implementation and migration are documented in as much detail as possible. The design is then verified in either a pilot or prototype network that does not affect the production network. Once proven, the actual implementation can be executed.