Devices in a Small Network
Summary
This topic identify the devices used in a small network. Start learning CCNA 200-301 for free right now!!
Note: Welcome: This topic is part of Chapter 17 of the Cisco CCNA 1 course, for a better follow up of the course you can go to the CCNA 1 section to guide you through an order.
Table of Contents
Small Network Topologies
The majority of businesses are small; therefore, it is not surprising that the majority of business networks are also small.
A small network design is usually simple. The number and type of devices included are significantly reduced compared to that of a larger network.
For instance, refer to the sample small-business network shown in the figure.
This small network requires a router, a switch, and a wireless access point to connect wired and wireless users, an IP phone, a printer, and a server. Small networks typically have a single WAN connection provided by DSL, cable, or an Ethernet connection.
Large networks require an IT department to maintain, secure, and troubleshoot network devices and to protect organizational data. Managing a small network requires many of the same skills as those required for managing a larger one. Small networks are managed by a local IT technician or by a contracted professional.
Device Selection for a Small Network
Like large networks, small networks require planning and design to meet user requirements. Planning ensures that all requirements, cost factors, and deployment options are given due consideration.
One of the first design considerations is the type of intermediary devices to use to support the network.
When implementing a network, create an IP addressing scheme and use it. All hosts and devices within an internetwork must have a unique address.
Devices that will factor into the IP addressing scheme include the following:
It is recommended that you plan, document, and maintain an IP addressing scheme based on device type. The use of a planned IP addressing scheme makes it easier to identify a type of device and to troubleshoot problems, as for instance, when troubleshooting network traffic issues with a protocol analyzer.
For example, refer to the topology of a small to medium sized organization in the figure.
The organization requires three user LANs (i.e., 192.168.1.0/24, 192.168.2.0/24, and 192.168.3.0/24). The organization has decided to implement a consistent IP addressing scheme for each 192.168.x.0/24 LAN using the following plan:
| Device Type | Assignable IP Address Range | Summarized as … |
|---|---|---|
| Default gateway (Router) | 192.168.x.1 – 192.168.x.2 | 192.168.x.0/30 |
| Switches (max 2) | 192.168.x.5 – 192.168.x.6 | 192.168.x.4/30 |
| Access points (max 6) | 192.168.x.9 – 192.168.x.14 | 192.168.x.8/29 |
| Servers (max 6) | 192.168.x.17 – 192.168.x.22 | 192.168.x.16/29 |
| Printers (max 6) | 192.168.x.25 – 192.168.x.30 | 192.168.x.24/29 |
| IP Phones (max 6) | 192.168.x.33 – 192.168.x.38 | 192.168.x.32/29 |
| Wired devices (max 62) | 192.168.x.65 – 192.168.x.126 | 192.168.x.64/26 |
| Wireless devices (max 62) | 192.168.x.193 – 192.168.x.254 | 192.168.x.192/26 |
The figure displays an example of the 192.168.2.0/24 network devices with assigned IP addresses using the predefined IP addressing scheme.
For instance, the default gateway IP address is 192.168.2.1/24, the switch is 192.168.2.5/24, the server is 192.168.2.17/24, etc..
Notice that the assignable IP address ranges were deliberately allocated on subnetnetwork boundaries to simplify summarizing the group type. For instance, assume another switch with IP address 192.168.2.6 is added to the network. To identify all switches in a network policy, the administrator could specify the summarized network address 192.168.x.4/30.
Redundancy in a Small Network
Another important part of network design is reliability. Even small businesses often rely heavily on their network for business operation. A failure of the network can be very costly.
In order to maintain a high degree of reliability, redundancy is required in the network design. Redundancy helps to eliminate single points of failure.
There are many ways to accomplish redundancy in a network. Redundancy can be accomplished by installing duplicate equipment, but it can also be accomplished by supplying duplicate network links for critical areas, as shown in the figure.
Small networks typically provide a single exit point toward the internet via one or more default gateways. If the router fails, the entire network loses connectivity to the internet. For this reason, it may be advisable for a small business to pay for a second service provider as backup.
Traffic Management
The goal for a good network design, even for a small network, is to enhance the productivity of the employees and minimize network downtime. The network administrator should consider the various types of traffic and their treatment in the network design.
The routers and switches in a small network should be configured to support real-time traffic, such as voice and video, in an appropriate manner relative to other data traffic. In fact, a good network design will implement quality of service (QoS) to classify traffic carefully according to priority, as shown in the figure.
Priority queuing has four queues. The high-priority queue is always emptied first.
Glossary: If you have doubts about any special term, you can consult this computer network dictionary.
Ready to go! Keep visiting our networking course blog, give Like to our fanpage; and you will find more tools and concepts that will make you a networking professional.
