Chapter 5
Network Design
The following chapter discusses some of the more common approaches to workgroup network design.
The network design process is the formation of the network from initial concept to the plan of implementation. In this Networking Guide, for the sake of brevity, the process of network design is separated from the process of network configuration. Network design is presented and treated as the decisions leading up to the selection of hardware, and network configuration is the process of putting hardware together to create a functioning network.
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When designing a network installation or configuration,draw the network. At the very least, make a rough sketch of each aspect of the network design process. Seeing the various parts of your design will help you identify strengths and weaknesses and make it easier for you to achieve a grasp of the network as a whole.
Similarly, draw out the network configuration once you begin selecting hardware. While it is not necessary to represent every port, labeling modules and showing the connections made between them can point out potential problems before they are cemented into the configuration.
