Buisness LAN setup `need direction`

Howdy,
1.This is my first post ..and this is my 2nd semester in computer networking.
2. I have been taught a little bit about routers (w.ref to layer3 and not CISCO)
3. I need help in this scenario, in which i have to put in words the solution to set up a network: I am looking for suggestions based on your expertise
Here are the details:
Client (an stock broker firm) has:
Mix of 486 and Pentium based workstation (hypothetical)
•.Windows 95on all workstations
•.Windows 95on all workstations
•.T1 connection to ISP
•195.58.34.0 is the assigned domain IP address
Client Requires upgrade:
• Massive storage – 100MB per client and 6500 clients = 650TB
• Web server with GUI administration (using CISCO software)
• Reliable backup – RAID 1 or RAID 3 with Centralized Backup solutions
• Fast internet, internal and external, access
• 350 workstations – 8 departments
• Break down of laptop and desktop workstation: IT 50%, R&D 45% and Sales 65%
• Each department requires its own segment(s) and print server(s)
• Server OS – WINDOWS2003
• Client OS - WinXP
• MSOffice 2000
• Softwares installed on workstations based on the user/department function(s) as needed
---------------------------------------

Now, i have been checking @ various sources for T1 and T3 pricing(in CAD) but unable to find as most of the websources require more information, about which i have no clue.
For e.g i understood (thru resources on the web) that to setup T1 line i need to know more about Loop-back devices such as CSU/DSU and i have to decide which router to use etc. As i dug deeper i found that Cisco has Catalyst products which are switches and Routers which are diiferent. Now, can anyone direct me where should i start and how to go about this scenario to obtain a proper solution.

If the mod's think that this post is to be locked ( for any reason)..please let me know..(too), ;-)

In other words, this is your homework assignment and/or project for school? Sorry, we can't/won't help ya there. Besides, you'll feel much better doing it yourself.

Call hosts, get prices, use Google, even call IT companies locally if you like. Good luck!

Chris

Okay, Thank you. I have decided to call a few ISP's (who offer T1 services in Toronto) but since i did not know what equipment to use, because some websites vouch for some Cisco routers and i was not sure among of the hundreds of Cisco equipments, which are end ofline models or which are commonly used or atleast ideal one for the scenario assigned to me; i thought may be members in this forum may direct me, like "e.g: I think in T.O (Toronto) Bell Canada offers T1 lines, but i am not sure" or "I think you might look in to Cisco1721 model.." that's all. Anyways, i appreciate your input and thank you for your time. WIll post once i get a decent amount of work done!

I'd love to hear what you come up with. Good luck. We ARE willing to help and offer ADVICE, just not DO this kind of thing. You're on the right track, though, by the way!

Chris

you have a tough network to build for a project. Ill point you in a direction for infrastructure and you can research why these suggestions where made. Cisco's site is not easy to navigate for finding the right equipment.

Internet -> cisco 2600 w/T1WIC -> PIX 515 ->5500 series (core switch) -> 3500 series (access switch for each vlan, gigastack module for each department.)

the models of the switches you will need to find on your own smaller or larger switches will be needed depending on location, to fit your needs ( fiber ports, 10/100/1000 ethernet ports, etc.)

just a suggestion to help you save some time on your research.

Question:
Difference between Fractional T1 and Dedicated T1?
How much will be the speed for 45http operation ( on the webserver) at peak (max hits), what is the impact on the decision of T1 or T3. i.e . will the following design work?
T1-->Firewall-->Webserver 1 | and Webserver2 (backup)

or
Two T1 lines-->|MUX(time division)-->Firewall-->Webserver 1
|and Webserver2 (connected thru the Mux for loadbalance -not sure i am using the right term)

or
T3-->Firewall-->Webserver1&2
as i found out that T1 handles max of 10http/sec whereas T3 handles 300http/sec.

Also, what does port speed mean?Is it different than the 1.5Mbps that T1 offers?

In addition, what is the significance of the **00series vs **00series routers other than specs (or they same in functionality??)

Does all the routers come with firewall? i.e ISP-->Firewall-->Webserver--->Router--->LAN(with server/DHCP/DNS--->switches-->workstations(based on depts)--correct! or it should be
ISP-->Router(with FWall)-->Webserv+other servers-->Switches-->workstation subnets

Can a DNS server function as a DHCP server?

Should i use a Proxy server..is it necessary?

For backup, which is the best and cost effective media to use? DVD being newer tech vs Tape devices which is commonly used. i have done some research on Tapes with TB capacity??(Man, i was surprised)

Also, can someone tell me what is an executive summary and how to write it?? Pleaseeeeeee

Answer: A dedicated circuit can be a full T1 or fractional T1 this is based on the bandwidth you require (ie there are 24 channels in a T1 each has 64k or 56k of bandwidth) a frac T1 would utilize less channels thats it. Dedicated means you are not sharing the circuit. the two offerings would be dedicated or frame relay.

How much bandwidth you need nepends on how much traffic you are expecting so I cant answer this cause I dont know how much your gonna have.



Answer: No unless you buy the firewall IOS. Otherwise it would be like this...
Internet-> router -> PIX (firewall w/DMZ to web servers) -> switches



Answer: yes they both can run on same server



Answer: Read what a proxy server does I dont know your needs



Answer: Tape



Answer: Please, isnt this what you are going to school for? Good luck on this I feel I pointed you in the right direction for technical issues enough to help your research. also for explanations on T1 and frame relay or other tech stuff goto whatis.com

Hey thank u very much!
Err...! Well, i understood what executive summary is ( actually it was mentioned by my teacher) however, it is similar to Memo report (bangin' his head ).
Again, i need the answer for my question:
Can i use 2 T1 lines and put a MUX there to balance the bandwidth instead of 1 T3 line?


But doesn't firewall comes before Router? I'm confused!1

You could actualy run 2 T1 lines to two interfaces on the same router and load balance them either by destination IP or By packets (by packet is processor intensive). cisco will load balance upto 4 lines by default and upto a max of six. Use IGRP or better for routing for link failure purposes. Please goto cisco's site and read multilink PPP and load balancing. I have only done this on CEF enabled routers (ie. 7000 thru 12000 series)


No the router comes first ( you may get a firewall IOS if you like) then comes firewall that will have two interfaces it will perform NAT/PAT fixup protocols and such depending on firewall, adding a third interface for a seperate network with a lower security level then internal higher than internet performing static NAT will provide the DMZ for your web servers.

internet
|
router
|
firewall -> DMZ
|
Internal private network

"Question:
Difference between Fractional T1 and Dedicated T1?"

A dedicated T1 is called a Point to Point T1. A frame relay T1 is a switched network.

What this means is you get the FULL bandwidth of of 1.54mbps with a Point to Point which is the port speed. This is NOT true with Frame Relay. Frame has CIR [committed information rate] which is usually HALF of the bandwidth. So if you have a full frame relay T1 your cir is 768K. They both come in different increments usually starting at 56K on up.

Any T1, whether frame or dedicated at any port speed or cir, is 24 channels. A T3 is equal to 28 T1's and with it comes a much LARGER price tag. Each channel is 64k but you lose some k due to overhead.

In my experience I would never do a frame relay link again. You do NOT get the actual bandwidth you pay for due to a 100+to1 over subscription by the phone company. Frame is shared. Point to Point is not. When you "share" bandwidth its like DSL. More folks on the less bandwidth for you. You can track this in your router with discard eligible packets. I used to get MILLIONs and the Qwest engineers would do a song and dance [even lie] concerning this. No issues with dedicated but it is more expensive the longer the distance.

Quite honestly considering your system requirements I would not consider a Microsoft solution. Unix, VMS, IBM or other highend system is how I would manage the storage. You could still have MS servers handling authenication/Office stuff but MS clustering [compared to unix and vms clustering] is a joke and you need some serious fault tolerance in the system. [after all you don't want the phone calls from 6500 people if the system is down]. You also have to plan for additional capacity since I have never seen the plan actually be the same when it comes to implementation time or after folks start using the system.

Looks like you will have fun with this training project. Best of luck!

Frame relay uses whats called a PVC and the bandwidth you are supposed to be guaranteed is the CIR (commited information rate ) This is what you pay for. if other users on this pipe are not using all their bandwidth you can burst and use theirs so if you ordered a 256k pipe and no one is on it you could get the full T1 and not pay for it sort off like cable you share your bandwidth with everyone in the neighborhood except the cable isnt encrypted and you have no CIR that will keep you from going under a certain bandwidth hehe. The advantage to frame however is more in design to cost as I could have one interface on my router with a single T1 WIC that has 3 or four virtual sub interfaces ( frame PVC's) each one going to another site giving me a full mesh network to all my sites for the cost of a T1. It has its uses. Consider this 4 sites need to be meshed for I dont know lets say BGP4 this protocol has to be fully meshed or use route reflectors so lets fully mesh with frame you would buy 4 T1's with dedicated circuit's you would need 12. cost versus speed and since your CFO usualy runs IT you will lose to cost LOL!

Nice to see ya again wanderer2

Woohoo! I can handle french a bit...but not Latino! Google here i come......

Excellent point about frame juniperr. I used to have three 56K pvcs with a full T1 pvc going to 4 sites. Oh what a mess when one site went dead and the telephone company reports red frames on that pvc. After a wan capture [they had to eat this one :-) ] it turns out someone messed up the switch and was sending the T1 traffic to the 56K link. Ah the joys of frame! Good to see you too.