Kudler Fine is evaluating their current network and creating a logical design document that will show what needs to be done to upgrade or install a new network system to meet the goals set out to achieve. The list of goals presented by Kudler management is as follows:
Faster Checkout Response
Collect Customer Data
Track Customer Data and Purchases
Ensure the security of their customers personal data
Review of Current Network
The current network is a fairly early design called an Ethernet Bus network. A bus network Topology is an architecture in which a set of clients are connected via a shared communications line, called a bus. Each of the 3 sites utilizes the same configuration of servers, workstations, standalone UPS and a 56k modem which are connected to an Ethernet backbone. Bus networks are difficult to troubleshoot because if the backbone goes down then every piece of hardware on the wire is affected. If one user is sending a signal on the network simultaneous to another user, the signals will collide causing a drop to both signals. These networks usually will be in a listening state to ensure no others are sending packets at the same time, this type of collision detection is called, carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD).
Network Topology
Each of the La Jolla and Del Mar sites both have the same architecture, which is 1 Ethernet backbone connecting 3 servers, 4 workstations, 1 printer and external CD burner connected point to point to a server, and one standalone UPS. The Encinitas site is similar in design, but downsized as it still has 1 Ethernet backbone connecting 4 workstations, 1 server, and 1 standalone UPS. Logical Topology
Each site of Kudler Fine Foods depends on one Novell server and one 56K modem for network communications. This means that should one of the 56K modems go down, the site is unable to communicate data with either of the other sites. Also, if one of
References: Cisco, (1996), Product overview, TCP/IP, Retrieved July 21, 2007 from: http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/535/4.html Microsoft, (2006), Knowledge base article 99588, Hardware abstraction layer (HAL), Retrieved July 21, 2007 from: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/99588 Network Survivability. (February 2001). ATIS Committee T1A1. Retrieved 7/15/07 from http://www.atis.org/tg2k/_network_survivability.html. Netware. (n.d.). Novell Network Operating System and Protocol Suite. Retrieved 7/15/07 from http://www.javvin.com/protocolNetWare.html. Novell, (2007), Lifecycle support, Novell 4.2, Retrieved July 23, 2007 from: http://support.novell.com/lifecycle/lcSearchResults.jsp?st=Netware&sl=-1&sg=-1&pid=1000&x=32&y=8