In most enterprise networks, Ethernet is the container of choice (many WAN providers will use Ethernet to transmit your service). This layer takes PDUs (Protocol Data Units) transferred from the network layer and prepares them for transmission via a container. Layer 2 – The Data Link Layer (The Logical Link Layer) The location of your equipment will have a strong influence on the quality of your service. Organizing the Physical layer will be your foremost concern when designing a network for a large office environment. At this stage an administrator’s main concern is making sure that the right devices are connected together, and making sure that connected devices aren’t too far apart. It can also be used to refer to electric and wireless signals. This layer includes all of the equipment that you can physically touch on your network, from routers, computers, hardware and cables right down to printers and laptops. Having a solid awareness of how your network layers operate will assist you when going through the process of designing your network. As a result, this guide will not cover layers five through seven. When it comes to network topology in particular, the lower levels are the main point of focus. The layers of the OSI model from seven to one can be listed as follows: application, presentation, session, transport, network, data link, and physical. The OSI is a network model that is comprised of seven layers. Network LayersĪt the core of any networks design is the OSI model. When troubleshooting it will make it easier to point to faulty devices (particularly if you have a topology map). Building your topology structure intelligently will allow you to create a network that minimizes any bottlenecks and works to prevent any single point of failure. The speed with which packet transfers occur will be one of the biggest factors in the quality of your service. How well your network functions all comes down to how your devices communicate with each other. In other words, without a topology map you’re going to be flying blind.
If you don’t know how your network is structured and how its components connect together, then there is little you can do to maintain your service quality. Having a firm grip on your Network design and topology is incredibly important because it serves at the basis of network monitoring. In this article we look at the basics of network design, why it is important, and provide you with a range of tools to help you design your network from scratch. Understanding how your topology works will determine how effectively you can exercise quality of service monitoring. The structure of your topology will provide you with a strong basis for conducting quality of service (QoS) monitoring and troubleshooting. > Jump to our list of the best network mapping tools below<<< As a result, it is important to learn everything you can about how your network is connected. The design of a network is almost as important as your infrastructure in determining your system performance and your network monitoring ability. Network design is the backbone of any enterprise grade network you’ll ever encounter.