College of Information and Computing

LESSON 2
Basic Enterprise Network Architecture

Learning Outcomes:

Ø Explain what constitutes an enterprise network

Ø Describe the common enterprise network architecture types
Ø Describe some of the solutions commonly implemented within an enterprise network to
support business operations

Time Frame: Week 1

Introduction

This lesson focuses on enterprise network architecture. Specifically, it describes the network
size, flat network design, and multi-layered network design. Some best practices and recommended
network architecture based on size and requirements are provided.

ACTIVITY

Computer Network Mapping

Illustrate your concept of a computer network as you have seen at home, school, office,
malls or Internet cafes. The illustration should include two or more devices or equipment, cables,
ISP and other components. Label each component appropriately.

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ANALYSIS

Briefly discuss the following questions.

1. Do you think adding more devices in the network affects its performance? Why?
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2. What are some factors that may affect a network’s performance? Explain.
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ABSTRACTION

Definition
An enterprise network is a backbone for facilitating an organization's communications
and connecting computers and devices throughout departments. It is present within various
industries, from office environments to more massive energy, finance, and government-based
sectors, which often comprise enterprise networks that span multiple physical locations [5].

Real World Enterprise Networks

The introduction of the Internet as a public network domain allowed for an extension of
the existing enterprise network to occur, through which geographically dispersed networks
belonging to a single organization or entity could be connected. It brings with it a set of new
challenges to establish interconnectivity between geographically dispersed enterprise networks,
while maintaining the privacy and security of data belonging to an individual enterprise [5].

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Enterprise Remote Network

Enterprise networks may span over large geographical distances that often take the form of
regional branch and head offices and employees that represent a non-fixed entity. This separation
poses challenges in providing interconnectivity and enables ubiquitous networks available from any
location at any time.
The evolution of enterprise solutions has enabled public and third party network providers
to offer anywhere, anytime connectivity and private network connections over a public network
infrastructure. It extends remote capabilities of the enterprise network beyond the enterprise's
physical boundaries, allowing remote offices and users alike to establish a single enterprise domain
that spans over a large geographic expanse.

Enterprise Remote Network

Network Size
• Small network (up to 200 devices)
• Medium-size network (200 to 1000 devices)
• Large network (1000+ devices)
• Small to large sized enterprise networks must take into account the performance of the
network as well as providing redundancy in the event of network failure in order to maintain
service availability to all users. As the network grows, the threat to the security of the
network also increases which may also hinder services.

Enterprise Network Basic Architecture

• Flat network
ü A flat network is a computer network design approach that aims to reduce cost,
maintenance and administration. Flat networks are designed to reduce the number

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of routers and switches on a computer network by connecting the devices to a single

switch instead of separate switches.

ü Devices are all part of the same bandwidth and broadcast domain and have the
capability to impact the throughput of other devices and cause delay in traffic
delivery.

• Multi-layered Design
ü A multi layered architecture is defined to optimize traffic flow, apply policies for
traffic management and controlled access to resources, as well as maintain network
availability and stable operation through effective network redundancy.
ü The multilayer design also enables easy expansion, and together with a modular
design that provides for effective isolation and maintenance should problems in the
network occur, without impacting the entire network.

Examples of Multi-layered Design

An internal network of a campus is composed of the terminal layer, access layer,
aggregation layer, core layer, and egress area.
• Terminal layer (contains end-user devices)
• Access layer (connects end-users to the campus network; ethernet switches; AP)
• Aggregation layer (connects access devices and users to the core; layer 3 gateway used for
management of user, security, QoS, etc.)
• Core layer (backbone; switching core; connects parts of the campus network; high
bandwidth usage & fast convergence)
• Egress area (edge bet. the internal and external network)
• Data center area (has servers and application systems)
• Demilitarized zone (provide access to external guests; access permission to this area is
strictly controlled)

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Campus Network Example 1

Campus Network Architecture Example 2

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Campus Network Architecture Example 3

Architecture Model Selection based on the Network Size

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Architecture Model Selection based on Service Requirements

Best Practices for Large-sized Networks

In large campuses, networks are usually deployed by building. The whole campus is
deployed with one core layer. Each building is treated as an independent aggregation point and is
deployed with networks in a two-layer tree structure.
In this architecture, data traffic within a building is forwarded locally, and the core layer
delivers data traffic between different buildings.

Tree Structure of a Large-sized Campus Network

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Best practice for medium-sized networks

When there are too many access points requiring multiple aggregation points, a three-layer
structure is employed. Each floor in a building has an ELV room, which acts as an aggregation
point. The whole building uses a three-layer design and has one core layer.
When different services or departments need to be isolated, an aggregation point must be
deployed for each service or department. In this case, a three-layer structure is used.

Tree Structure of a Medium-sized Campus Network

For more details, visit the Huawei link below:

https://support.huawei.com/enterprise/my/doc/EDOC1100027409?section=j005

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APPLICATION

Exercises
1. Which layer in a multi-layered design consists of end-user devices?
a. Terminal c. Aggregation
b. Access d. Core
2. It provides access to users external to an organization.
a. Terminal c. Core
b. Demilitarized zone d. Egress
3. What is the ideal architecture type for a large sized network?
a. Flat network c. one layer architecture
b. Two-layer architecture d. three-layer architecture

Well done! You have just finished Lesson 2 of this module. Should there be some parts of
the lesson which you need clarification, please feel free to communicate with your instructor using
applicable modes.

Now if you are ready, please proceed to Lesson 3 of this module which will discuss about
introduction to transmission media.

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