Copyright © Curt Hill Components and Artifacts Network and Infrastructure

Recall the Cube Copyright © Curt Hill

Introduction In this EA 3 model there are five levels Goals and Initiatives Products and Services Data and Information Systems and Applications Network and Infrastructure This considers the components and artifacts of the Network and Infrastructure Copyright © Curt Hill

What is this about? Hardware The main focus is on the operational computers and networks that the enterprise owns and uses Every piece of hardware comes into view Three categories: –Computer –Network –Other computer related – such as manufacturing robots Copyright © Curt Hill

Networks Networks come in several flavors –Data –Telecommunications –Video These used to be completely separate, but are now growing together Copyright © Curt Hill

Data Networks Communications mechanisms between computer systems Main goal is carry data/information between systems Data must be digitized A Local Area Network is usually confined to a building Intranets are collections of close LANs Wide Area Networks are geographically dispersed Copyright © Curt Hill

Telecommunications Main goal is voice communications These are telephone networks Data may be analog or digital Public Business Exchange (PBX) serves a business or local enterprise Larger networks are usually public carriers –Baby bells –Cell companies Copyright © Curt Hill

Video Specialized network designed to carry video Transmit from producing sites to viewing sites May be analog or digital Public carriers –Broadcast television –Cable/satellite television Copyright © Curt Hill

The merger Telephone used to be entirely analog as did television In the latter quarter of the twentieth century telephones went digital Broadcast television stopped being analog in June of 2009 These may now be transmitted over the internet ND IVN converted from dedicated video network to transmission over the internet Copyright © Curt Hill

Your turn How many kinds of networks do we have at VCSU? Copyright © Curt Hill

Network Pieces Every network, regardless of type, has certain pieces A connection point –Where end users connect External interface –Where this network connects to others, if it does Backbone –The transmission facilities and the associated hardware Copyright © Curt Hill

Artifacts Network Connectivity Diagram Network Inventory Capital Equipment Inventory Building Blueprints Network Center Diagram Cable Plant Diagram Rack Elevation Diagram Virtually all of these will be augmented by text documents Copyright © Curt Hill

Network Connectivity Diagram Show physical connections What we want to see: –Various systems –Connections between these –Connections to internet or other WAN –Wireless access points Consider the pieces of the next slide’s diagram Copyright © Curt Hill

Example Copyright © Curt Hill

Network Inventory The equipment that makes the network function: –Routers, switches and hubs –Network printers –Servers We want to see: –Description –Manufacturer and model –Internal ID –Location Copyright © Curt Hill

Audience Participation As we have seen before, we often have several diagrams, treating one thing –Example: Network Connectivity Diagram and Network Inventory Why do we need this profusion of documents to describe one thing? Copyright © Curt Hill

Capital Equipment Inventory Similar to the network inventory, but things that are not part of the network –Same types of descriptions Capital equipment purchases usually take a different process than incidental items –Usually there is a threshold cost point Typically heavy equipment intended to last more than a year or two Copyright © Curt Hill

Your Turn What kind of things does VCSU have that might fit into this inventory? Copyright © Curt Hill

Building Blueprints These are used in planning where new space may be obtained for: –Offices –Storage –Production Also important for planning placement of computing and network equipment and cabling Like all artifacts, we prefer an electronic version Copyright © Curt Hill

Network Center Diagram Floor diagram of how the machine rooms are laid out We want to see a floor plan with the locations of: –Equipment racks –Cooling (if it takes floor space) –Desks and workbenches (if present) Copyright © Curt Hill

Cable Plant Diagram The goal of this diagram is to show network cabling in relation to buildings We would like to see –The cable types –Network closets –Computer rooms This should distinguish between the three types of networks –Data, voice, video Copyright © Curt Hill

Rack Elevation Diagram Shows the racks within a server room, network center or network closet Closely related to previous two diagrams These change over time, so should be maintained electronically Copyright © Curt Hill

VCSU Example As of 2013 VCSU maintained this in a spread sheet Copyright © Curt Hill

VCSU Example Copyright © Curt Hill

Standards Standards is a thread that should pervade the EA process A number of technical standards exist in networking Each of these should be identified This will assist the planning process Acquisition of new equipment will be easier when the required standards are known Copyright © Curt Hill

Security Networks should be made subject to security reviews The artifacts from this are generally text reports These should include: –A security plan –Vulnerability test reports –Recovery plan –Continuity of operation plan Copyright © Curt Hill

Last word on artifacts In the presentations on the five levels of the EA Cube we have seen many possible artifacts that document the enterprise This is not the only possible set of artifacts In any particular EA different documents and diagrams could have been used The EA team determines what to use –This may be modified as they create and collect Copyright © Curt Hill