QA BSc Computing Technologies
Coursework – Network Design and Troubleshooting
Individual Written Report: Case Study Analysis
| Academic year and term: | 2019/20 – Semester-1, Year 2 |
| Module title: | Network Design and Troubleshooting |
| Module code: | |
| Module Convener: | Dr M Hasan |
| Module Learning Outcomes | Students who successfully complete this module will be able to: 1. Identify, analyse and communicate principles and processes of Network Design. 2. Critically analyse and evaluate business and technical requirements. 3. Plan and design a Network Infrastructure (LAN/WAN/MAN). 4. Design and evaluate a management and implementation strategy for a network. 5. Collect and synthesise information to inform a choice of vendor solutions, with the module assignment providing a good opportunity to test this area. 6. Evaluate a range of information comparing alternative methods and techniques used in Network Design. 7. Be able to troubleshoot and maintain integrated, complex networks. |
| Learning outcomes assessed within this piece of work as agreed at the programme level meeting | This assignment will assess the following learning outcomes: 1. Demonstrate a broad understanding of the knowledge base of this module, and its terminology and discourse 8. Evaluate network devices to be used for a particular area in the network in relation to requirement 9. Design and implement a fully functional network infrastructure based on requirement given in the assignment brief 10. Demonstrate autonomous learning context and draw on prior experiences reflecting and evaluating on new leaning outcome. |
| Weighting | 40% of the total module marks |
| Type of assessment: | 1. Individual Written Report: case study analysis and design using network simulation 11. Recommended maximum words (2500 words) |
| Assessment deadline: | Individual Report to be submitted on 03/12/2019 (before 2:00pm). This should be submitted via Turnitin on Moodle as a word-processed document file. |
Assignment Task
This is an individual assignment based on the case study scenario presented below. This assignment will assess your understanding of the principles of network design and the ability to analyse, design and create a network infrastructure fully configured and tested which reflects understanding of network design and troubleshooting.
Scenario
You are working as a network engineer in an IT company. You have been assigned to design and implement a network infrastructure for a small college called Tek-learn.co.uk. The college consists of 3 departments Human Resource, Finance, Academics. The college also includes a library and computer LAB. Each department must not be able to access any other department.
The network consists of four Servers; web, email, dns, and common file server. All servers are shared between all users. The distribution of workstations, as shown in table 1, describes the requirement of each department. The college administration team decided to provide a wireless network to be used by any student/staff using their own wireless device such as smartphone to access the internet.
| Department | Devices | Requirements |
| Finance / HR | 8 Computer & Printer | cannot access any other department |
| Academics | 22 Computers & Printer | cannot access any other department |
| Library | 52 Computers & printer | cannot access any other department |
| Computer LAB | 36 computers | cannot access any other department |
| Class-Rooms | 24 computers | cannot access any other department |
| Wireless Devices | Should be sufficient for a college students and staff | cannot access any department, need to be in a separate logical network but can access servers |
| dns/web/email & File server | 4 Servers | Accessible by all computers |
Table 1: workstation and server distribution and requirements
The IT director emphasised scalability, availability and hence you are required to provide a complete network infrastructure design and implementation. The company will be using private IP address 71.81.91.0/24 within LAN, the company network availability, Scalability and security are very important. The wireless network IP address is 10.11.0.0/16
Task
Analyse the requirements of this scenario evaluating suitable network model and components to design a network infrastructure featuring scalability, availability and security.
Based on your analysis, you are required to apply the appropriate configuration for the selected technologies. Also, discuss, evaluate and apply the necessary network monitoring tools and produce a suitable test and documentation for network maintenance
All relevant network configuration, network diagram and device configuration tables, network simulation files must be included.
Assessment criteria / Marking scheme
| Assessment Criteria | Assessment Criteria | ||
| Introduction | Introduction | ||
| 6 | Introduction to the context and/or background to the topic, indicating the purpose of the report | 10 Marks | |
| 4 | The introduction includes some definitions of complex terminology or acronyms and indicating ideas in view of the conclusion of the report. | ||
| Knowledge and understanding | Knowledge and understanding | ||
| 6 | Demonstrate effective approach to study and research including explanation and discussion of subject concepts, exploring requirements of given assignment | 10 Marks | |
| 4 | Using relevant information paraphrased / interpreted from sound sources, summarising and making sense of information | ||
| Application and Analysis | Applying knowledge and analysis | ||
| 7 | Discussion, examination and analysis of different network components, exploring the relationship between different components. | 15 Marks | |
| 5 | Reasoning of device/components selection based on priori-knowledge, backed by evidence of research from sound sources | ||
| 3 | Discussion and analysis of different network models | ||
| Evaluation and judgement | Evaluation of different components and network model | ||
| 8 | The judgment in selecting components shows understanding of issues based on evaluating and comparing different network components supported by literature. | 15 Marks | |
| 7 | Evaluation of different technologies and/or protocols such as VLANs, Trunking, Access control, DHCP etc. | ||
| Design and Implementation | Network implementation and design | ||
| 10 | Implementation and Configuration of all network components and protocol with evidence (sample network configuration scripts). | 20 Marks | |
| 6 | The plan accommodated the necessary devices and accounted for the unforeseen. | ||
| 4 | Evidence related to the work carried out in designing and implementation is apparent and demonstrate autonomy and independence. | ||
| Testing and documentation | Testing and documentation | ||
| 6 | A well-defined document that reflect testing of given requirements, protocol, and selected components used. | 10 Marks | |
| 4 | Demonstrate and present network testing using appropriate technical language evidently related to the work carried | ||
| Presentation / reflection | Presentation, document structure and reflection | ||
| 6 | The document is well styled using appropriate academic language, presenting information using many methods including graphs, text and diagrams where applicable, | 10 Marks | |
| 4 | The report reflects autonomous and creativity including an insight reflection of learning supported by theory. | ||
| Referencing | Academic integrity and referencing | ||
| 6 | References are correctly presented to an appropriate academic style and relevant to the subject. | 10 Marks | |
| 4 | References are from different sources (Books, journals, periodicals and technical reports) to support the discussion within the report, properly cited and paraphrased to relevant source of information. | ||
| TOTAL: | 100 | ||
Assignment Preparation Guidelines
- All components of the assignment report must be word processed (hand written text or hand drawn diagrams are not acceptable), font size must be within the range of 11 point to 14 point including the headings, body text and any texts within diagrams.
- Standard and commonly used fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri should be used.
- All figures, graphs and tables must be numbered and labelled.
- Material from external sources must be properly refereed and cited within the text using the Harvard referencing system.
- All components of the assignment (text, diagrams. code etc.) must be submitted in one word file and maybe attached at
Plagiarism and Collusion
- Plagiarism: is when presenting somebody else’s work as your own, whether that work be an idea, graphs, figure, illustration or a pure text, be it available in web, textbooks reports or otherwise.
- Collusion: is when copying another student report (text, Figures, Illustration etc..) and submitting as your own.
- Plagiarism will be dealt with seriously and can lead to serious consequences and disciplinary procedure.
- Wholesale use of text and diagrams from websites considered plagiarism.
Submission & Late submission
- Student must assure that the work is satisfactory and fit for purpose, both academically and free from any plagiarism.
- Student must use appropriate coversheet, which must include subject, assignment title, student ID and date-time.
- The lecturers / module convenor do not have the authority to extend the submission deadlines nor the exam time/date. In case of any mitigating circumstances, student should apply and fill the relevant form(s) available at —-Student Services———-
- Late submission within first seven (7) days after deadline, the mark will be capped to 40.
- Late submission after seven (7) days, the assignment will not be marked.
- File name should be appropriate to the topic/title of the assignment pretext by Student ID, (StudentID-Assignment title)