Snehal S.

Fadale /Roll no: 04

Assignment No: 1
Q1. Explain SONA framework for flexible network design.

The Cisco SONA framework shows how integrated systems can both allow a dynamic, flexible
architecture, and provide for operational efficiency through standardization and virtualization. It
brings forth the notion that the network is the common element that connects and enables all
components of the IT infrastructure. Cisco SONA outlines these three layers of the IIN.

Network Infrastructure Layer:

● Includes the network devices and links 
● Places such as campus, branch, data center, enterprise edge, WAN, metropolitan-area network
(MAN), and with the teleworker. 

Interactive Service Layer: 

● Enables efficient allocation of resources to applications and business processes delivered
through the networked infrastructure 
● This layer includes the following services:
 a) Voice and collaboration services
b) Mobility services
c) Wireless services
d) Security and identity services
e) Storage services
f) Compute services
g) Application networking services (content networking services)

Application Layer:
● This layer includes business applications and collaboration applications. 
● This layer includes the following collaborative applications: 
— Instant messaging 
— Cisco Unified Contact Centre 
— Cisco Unity (unified messaging) 
— Cisco IP Communicator and Cisco Unified IP phones 
— Cisco Unified Meeting Place 
— Video delivery using Cisco Digital Media System

Benefits of SONA:

The benefits of SONA are as follows:

■ Functionality—SONA supports the enterprise's operational requirements. The network's

services meet the requirements of the business.

■ Scalability—SONA separates functions into layers, allowing for the growth and expansion of
organizational tasks. Modularity and hierarchy allow for network resources to be added to allow
growth.

■ Availability—SONA provides the services from any location in the enterprise and at any time.
The network is built with redundancy and resiliency to prevent network downtime.

■ Performance—SONA provides fast response times and throughput, with quality of service
per application. The network is configured to maximize the throughput of critical applications.
■ Manageability—SONA provides configuration management, performance monitoring, and
fault detection. Network management tools are used to detect and correct network faults before
applications are affected. Trending tools are used to determine when to add more infrastructure
or services to support the increasing demands of applications.

■ Efficiency—SONA provides the network services with reasonable operational costs and
sensible capital investment. Maximum use of existing resources reduces cost and additional
equipment is added only when the application demands increase.

Q2. Compare top-down vs bottom-up network design approach.

There are two different kinds of network design: top-down and bottom-up. Top-down means
starting from the application layer and going down, and bottom-up means starting from the
physical layer and going up. Of course, both approaches have advantages as well as
disadvantages.

TOP – DOWN APPROACH BOTTOM – UP APPROACH

It is the process of breaking the overall In bottom- up design individual parts of the
procedure or task into component parts and the system are specified in details.
subdivide each component module until the
lowest level of detail has been reached.
Top-down is slower, more accurate, more The bottom-up design approach is widely used
professional and provides you and your and faster.
customer the ‘big picture’.
Benefits: Benefits:
1. Incorporates Organizational Requirements 1. Allows a quick response to a design request
2. Gives big picture to organization and 2. Facilitates design based on previous
designer. experience

Disadvantages: Disadvantages:
1. Time Consuming 1. May result in inappropriate network design
 2. High probability of failure

Q3. Explain different phases in PPDIOO networks lifecycle.

The network design methodology presented in this section is derived from the Cisco

PPDIOO phases:

 Prepare

 Plan
 Design
 Implement
 Operate, and Optimize (PPDIOO) methodology, which reflects a network’s lifecycle.

 Prepare phase: Business agility starts with preparation: anticipating the broad vision,
requirements, and technologies needed to build and sustain a competitive advantage. In
the prepare phase, a company determines a business case and financial rationale to
 support the adoption of new technology. By carefully anticipating future needs and
developing both a technology strategy and a high-level architecture to meet those needs, a
business is better equipped to contain costs during deployment and operations.

 Plan phase: Successful technology deployment depends on an accurate assessment of a

company’s current network, security state, and overall readiness to support the proposed
solution. In the plan phase, a company ascertains whether it has adequate resources to
manage a technology deployment project to completion. To evaluate and improve
network security, a company tests its network for vulnerability to intruders and outside
networks. The company then develops a detailed project plan to identify resources,
potential difficulties, individual responsibilities, and critical tasks necessary to deliver the
final project on time and on budget.

 Design phase: Developing a detailed design is essential to reducing risk, delays, and the
total cost of network deployments. A design aligned with business goals and technical
requirements can improve network performance while supporting high availability,
reliability, security, and scalability. Day-to-day operations and network management
processes need to be anticipated, and, when necessary, custom applications are created to
integrate new systems into existing infrastructure. The design phase can also guide and
accelerate successful implementation with a plan to stage, configure, test, and validate
network operations.

 Implement phase: A network is essential to any successful organization, and it must

deliver vital services without disruption. In the implement phase, a company works to
integrate devices and new capabilities in accordance with the design—without
compromising network availability or performance. After identifying and resolving
potential problems, the company attempts to speed return on investment with an efficient
migration and successful implementation—including installing, configuring, integrating,
testing, and commissioning all systems. After network operation is validated, an
 organization can begin expanding and improving IT staff skills to further increase
productivity and reduce system downtime.

 Operate phase: Network operations represent a significant portion of IT budgets, so it’s

important to be able to reduce operating expenses while continually enhancing
performance. Throughout the operate phase, a company proactively monitors the health
and vital signs of the network to improve service quality; reduce disruptions; mitigate
outages; and maintain high availability, reliability, and security. By providing an efficient
framework and operational tools to respond to problems, a company can avoid costly
downtime and business interruption. Expert operations also allow an organization to
accommodate upgrades, moves, additions, and changes while effectively reducing
operating costs.

 Optimize phase: A good business never stops looking for a competitive advantage. That
is why continuous improvement is a mainstay of the network lifecycle. In the optimize
phase, a company is continually looking for ways to achieve operational excellence
through improved performance, expanded services, and periodic reassessments of
network value. Is a new capability or enhanced performance recommended? As an
organization looks to optimize network and prepares to adapt to changing needs, the
lifecycle begins anew continually evolving the network and improving results.

Q4. What types of tools can be used during the network design process?

 Solar Winds Network Topology Mapper (FREE TRIAL) Solar Winds Network Topology
Mapper is a tool made specifically for designing network diagrams from scratch.
 CADE. CADE is a topology mapper and 2D vector editor
 Concept Draw Pro
 Dia.
 Diagram Designer
  E Draw
 Microsoft Visio
 Network Notepad.

Q5. What might necessitate a redesign of the network.

A supply chain redesign is the type of project that often gets deferred, especially when budgets
are tight. Redesigns are complex and time-consuming, and many organizations lack the needed
skills and experience.

1. You have objectives rather than strategies. The first sign that it may be time for a redesign
is that you are focused on supply chain objectives but lack a clear strategy. Supply chain design
tools are very helpful in such situations. They can quickly assess the impact of purchasing
decisions and produce accurate numbers that will lead to more productive discussions. Even
better, the supply chain group can model suppliers' costs and look for ways to reduce them so
that purchasing can then negotiate discounts. For example, perhaps your company could utilize
existing backhaul opportunities to pick up a supplier's goods; this would reduce the supplier's
costs and open the way for lower prices.

2. People ask: Why do we do things this way? The second sign that it may be time for a redesign
is that few people in your organization recall exactly why your company's warehouses are
located where they are. It may mean that the current supply chain configuration is no longer fit
for today's requirements.

3. The number of products and customers is growing faster than your budget. The third sign
is that your budget is not growing as fast as your product range and customer base. Once again,
modeling with supply chain network design software can help you foresee the cost and service
impact of change. Managers can simulate how keeping or dropping particular customers and
products will affect profits.

4. Consolidation or collaboration is coming. An impending acquisition, collaboration with

another company to share resources, or centralization of previously decentralized supply chain
functions all suggest that a network redesign is probably in order.

5. You experience a major service failure. An important customer has just called and
expressed dissatisfaction concerning a service failure. If this is not the first time that problem has
occurred, then you may have a systemic problem, and a redesign could help prevent it from
happening again. A common cause of supply chain service failures is a lack of robustness in
supply chain design. Lean supply chains in particular can be fragile, as by definition there is little
stock to buffer things going wrong.

6. Fear is in the air. Your company's own practices and processes are in good shape, yet the
CEO is nervous. What's worrying him or her? The things the company can't control, like supply
chain disruptions that will affect profits and investors' earnings. When that's the case, it's time for
an assessment (or a reassessment) of potential risks to your supply chain and perhaps a network
revision that will reduce the potential for disruption.

7. It's time to renew a third-party logistics contract. It is difficult to revise your supply chain
when your company is tied into long-term contracts with third-party logistics (3PL) partners.
Best practice, however, is to review your network design every three to five years, which tends
to be in line with the length of third-party logistics contracts. Thus, about a year before a contract
is scheduled for renewal is a good time to begin reconsidering your supply chain configuration.
This gives you time to obtain support for change within the organization and to negotiate
contracts for new lanes or locations.

Q6. Why is the network designer involved in the implementation phase?

Step 1:

Plan a phased approach to implementation. Introduce the computer room core switches first,
providing connectivity to the servers. Depending on the size of the company and business
process needs, it might be possible to immediately follow this activity on the same day by
implementing the new access layer switches. Schedule wide area connectivity following the
introduction of the core switches in the computer room, selecting a time that does not conflict
with the access layer installation. Coordinate wide area connectivity with the telecommunication
vendor providing this portion of the network service.

Step 2:

Inform all employees of the scope of implementation for each phase, along with dates and times.
Implementation of new equipment generally means systems and data will not be available at the
time of the change. This gives employees the opportunity to plan their work around the resulting
downtime.

Step 3:

Pre-configure network equipment and test it prior to implementation.

Step 4:

Schedule the personnel and support needed from among IT department staff members and any
vendor staff that must support the implementation.