Introduction to Networking: Case Study



Introduction to Networking:

Case Study

Tim Pardoe

Recipient: Ivo Chakarov

Staffordshire University

Abstract

This document looks at the updated network requirements of Warmingham Health Authority, and discusses how the use of routers, variable length subnetting and routing configuration can improve the efficiency of their corporate IT network.

Contents

Contents 2

1. Introduction 3

2. IP Addressing 5

3. Configuration 6

3.1 Packet Tracer 6

3.2 Configuration Checklist 7

3.3 Port Configuration 8

3.4 Routing Network Statements 9

3.5 Host Table 10

4. Cabling Diagram 11

5. Project Costs 13

6. Summary 16

7. References 17

1. Introduction

The IT group at Warmingham Health Authority provides hardware, software and technical support for two small hospitals at Audley and Peover, and the team are looking to update their current IT network. Based on a router-hub configuration, the network is currently using a single Class A private IP address for the entire infrastructure, and is now unable to support their expanding need for extra hosts and greater reliability.

The proposed network design replaces the hubs with switches, installs new routers at Audley, Peover and the IT headquarters at Warmingham, and provides an internet connection accessible from any of the host machines at either site. There are 120 doctor and 90 administrator machines at each hospital with the Warmingham HQ responsible for 25 hosts, including 2 patient records and healthcare information servers.

The IP address provided by the IT department was 172.168.0.0, a class B address with a default subnet mask of 16. In order to use the available address space efficiently, variable length subnetting mask (VLSM) was used to divide the network space into 7 smaller subnets proportional to the number of hosts required. This was achieved by calculating the number of addresses required for each network segment, then borrowing enough host bits to allow the number of required addresses in each subnet. For example, 120 host machines needed IP addresses for the doctors at Audley Hospital. By borrowing 7 host bits, this would allow a maximum of 128 IP addresses for that subnet. Each subnet would then be calculated in turn in decreasing order, and finishing with the smallest subnets where only 2 IP addresses were required.

From these calculations, start and end addresses could be determined, with the appropriate subnet mask, broadcast, network and gateway addresses identified to allow configuration of the new network. The full IP addresses for each device within the subnets are shown on the table in section 2.

2. IP Addressing

|Host / Interface |IP address start |IP address end |Mask |

|Hostname |Audley |Peover |Warmingham |

|Console Password |cisco |cisco |Cisco |

|Secret Password |class |class |Class |

|VTY Password |class |class |Class |

|Serial IP Addresses |2/0 172.168.2.33 |2/0 172.168.2.37 |2/0 172.168.2.34 |

| | | |3/0 172.168.2.38 |

| | | |6/0 145.45.5.100 |

|Serial Clock Rate |64000 |64000 |64000 |

|Serial Descriptions |Yes |Yes |Yes |

|FA IP Addresses |0/0 172.168.0.126 |0/0 172.168.0.254 |0/0 172.168.2.30 |

| |1/0 172.168.1.126 |1/0 172.168.1.254 | |

|FA Descriptions |Yes |Yes |Yes |

|Enable Interfaces |FA0/0 |FA0/0 |FA0/0 |

| |FA1/0 |FA1/0 |S2/0 |

| |S2/0 |S2/0 |S3/0 |

| | | |S6/0 |

|Default Route |0.0.0.0 S2/0 |0.0.0.0 S2/0 |0.0.0.0 S6/0 |

|Routing Config |eigrp 1 |eigrp 1 |eigrp 1 |

|Network Statements |Please see separate table in section 3.4 |

|Host Table |Please see separate table in section 3.5 |

|Message of the Day |Welcome to Audley Hospital / Peover Hospital / Warmingham HQ… please note unauthorised access |

| |is prohibited! |

3.3 Port Configuration

Audley and Peover Switches

|FA0/1 |Connection to Audley or Peover Routers |

|FA1/1 |Connection to Audley or Peover PCs |

Audley Router

|FA0/0 |Connection to Audley Doctors Switch |

|FA1/0 |Connection to Audley Administrators Switch |

|S2/0 |Connection to Warmingham HQ Router |

Peover Router

|FA0/0 |Connection to Peover Doctors Switch |

|FA1/0 |Connection to Peover Administrators Switch |

|S2/0 |Connection to Warmingham HQ Router |

Warmingham Router

|FA0/0 |Connection to Servers Switch |

|S2/0 |Connection to Audley Router |

|S3/0 |Connection to Peover Router |

|S6/0 |Connection to Internet Service Provider |

Server Switch

|FA0/1 |Connection to Patient Records Server |

|FA1/1 |Connection to Healthcare Server |

|FA2/1 |Connection to Warmingham HQ Router |

3.4 Routing Network Statements

Audley Router

|Doctors |network 172.168.0.0 0.0.0.127 |

|Administrators |network 172.168.1.0 0.0.0.127 |

|Warmingham |network 172.168.2.32 0.0.0.3 |

Peover Router

|Doctors |network 172.168.0.128 0.0.0.127 |

|Administrators |network 172.168.1.128 0.0.0.127 |

|Warmingham |network 172.168.2.36 0.0.0.3 |

Warmingham Router

|Audley |network 172.168.2.32 0.0.0.3 |

|Peover |network 172.168.2.36 0.0.0.3 |

|Servers |network 172.168.2.0 0.0.0.31 |

|Internet |network 145.45.5.100 0.0.255.255 |

3.5 Host Table

|Warmingham |ip host Warmingham 172.168.2.34 172.168.2.38 172.168.2.30 |

|Audley |ip host Audley 172.168.0.126 172.168.1.126 172.168.2.33 |

|Peover |ip host Peover 172.168.0.254 172.168.1.254 172.168.2.37 |

|Patient Records |ip host PatientRecords 172.168.2.1 |

|Healthcare Server |ip host HealthcareServer 172.168.2.2 |

4. Cabling Diagram

5. Project Costs

Following sign off of the network proposals, equipment lists were drawn up of physical kit required to implement the network solution, bearing in mind the cost savings required of the NHS and the aim to provide long term value for money.

For Audley and Peover hospitals, 2 Cisco 1801 Integrated Routers were chosen as they were of a reasonable price, supported the EIGRP routing protocol, and had up to 8 fastethernet ports and 1 serial port for back connection to the Warmingham HQ. They also included load balancing, intrusion prevention and a nominal electrical footprint of only 50 watts. These routers are £519.13 each including VAT from networking retailer .

For the Warmingham HQ, a more powerful router was required with the capability of supporting 3 serial ports. The Cisco 2811 Integrated Router was recommended as it had 4 serial ports for connection to other routers and the Internet Service Provider, in-built firewall protection, a modular design that allowed for the IT department’s future expansion, and an integrated redundant power supply (RPS) connector to provide alternative power in the event of an outage incident. This is over double the price at £1126.30 including VAT, but a serious investment for an authority looking to future proof its technology.

Due to the number of hosts at each hospital site, a number of switches would be required to serve these. The Cisco Catalyst 2960-48TT is a 48-port switch that includes integrated security and advanced quality of service, and with 5 switches at each hospital location these would provide 240 ports for the 210 hosts to be connected. A further 48-port switch would be required for the patient records and healthcare servers, allowing for the future connection of up to 25 information kiosks. Each Catalyst 2960 switch is £1253.47 including VAT from , and 11 switches would be required across the network.

In total 420 host machines are required, 210 at each hospital site. The Isys EX systems were chosen from computer retailer Novatech, who are well known for excellent customer service, speed of response and competitive pricing. Including Intel Core 2 Duo processors, the Isys EX provides maximum performance within a modest budget, backed up by 4Gb memory, a 320Gb hard drive, DVD writer and an Nvidia Geforce graphics card. The machines also include a Gigabit Ethernet LAN connection if the authority management decide to take this route in the future. The machines are £389.85 each including VAT, leading to a total outlay of £163,737, but it is believed that by negotiating with a dedicated account manager at Novatech, further reductions in cost could be achieved.

A number of different cables are required to connect between routers and switches, the majority of which are to be sourced through . 3 Cisco router DTE serial cables (3 metres) are needed for connections from Audley, Peover and for the Warmingham connection to the Internet, at £20.70 each including VAT. Similarly, 2 router DCE serial cables are required for the Warmingham router’s connection back to Audley and Peover, these are £23.00 each. For connection to fastethernet ports, 7 Cat5e Ethernet patch cables are needed at £2.70 each including VAT.

Using the calculations from the network cabling diagram, the total approximate cabling distance is 115 metres. Network cabling retailer Cable Monkey sells 100 metre reels of Cat5e UTP solid cable for easy deployment, priced at £29.90 each. 2 of these reels would be required to cover the distance, and would allow enough cabling spare if problems were encountered on installation or for future expansion.

Both and Novatech do not charge for shipping deliveries on orders worth over £500, however Cable Monkey have a nominal charge of £6.00 for the cabling reel. This means that the total estimated project cost for the proposed network solution comes to £179,882.50.

6. Summary

By reconfiguring the Local Health Authority network and replacing the existing hubs with switches, the department have created a more scalable network that matches their current requirements, yet still having appropriate scope for expansion. Subnetting using VLSM has meant that IP addresses are more efficiently used, again providing enough spare addresses within each subnet without wasting addressing capacity. All connected host machines also now have access to the internet, patient records and to the healthcare information server.

Warmingham HQ now controls the IT network centrally according to their strategic plan, rather than IT technicians carrying out isolated changes on individual hospital sites. By using telnet, the IT department can remotely access each router within the network to make configuration changes, making further cost savings on technician travelling and callout charges.

These changes have made a positive impact on the efficiency of the staff at both Audley and Peover hospitals, allowing more doctors and nurses to have their own dedicated network-connected workstation and enabling faster access to records and information when it is required.

7. References

Cable Monkey: Cabling & Networking Solutions, 2009. Cat5e Solid UTP Cable [online]. Connectix Limited. Available from: [Accessed 23 March 2009].

: Your Network Resource, 2009. Cisco CISCO1801 (Cisco 1801 Integrated Services Router) [online]. . Available from: [Accessed 23 March 2009].

: Your Network Resource, 2009. Cisco CISCO2811 (Cisco 2811 Integrated Services Router) [online]. . Available from: [Accessed 23 March 2009].

: Your Network Resource, 2009. Cisco WS-C2960-48TT-L (Cisco Catalyst 2960-48TT switch – 48 ports) [online]. . Available from:

[Accessed 23 March 2009].

: Your Network Resource, 2009. OEM CAB-232FC (Cisco serial cable – 3m) [online]. . Available from:

[Accessed 23 March 2009].

: Your Network Resource, 2009. OEM CAB-530MT (Cisco router cable – 3m) [online]. . Available from:

[Accessed 23 March 2009].

: Your Network Resource, 2009. ProLabs CAB-5E-UTP-YELLOW-3M (Prolabs patch cable– 3m) [online]. . Available from: [Accessed 23 March 2009].

Novatech, 2009. Isys EX PC [online]. Novatech Ltd Computer Supplies. Available from: [Accessed 23 March 2009].

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The cabling diagram above shows the layout of Cat5e cable serving the doctor and administrator subnets, the position of host machines and the location of switches and the Audley router. The equipment has been sited within the storage area as this is away from public areas, can be made secure and has an outward facing door. It is also of sufficient size at 9 metres squared to contain the equipment racking comfortably.

The position also allows Ethernet cables to be run round the building in side panelling for each of the two sub networks. The exception is the stretch to the reception desk, where the cable will be run underneath the raised floor to reach this location. Working to scale on the above diagram, the total estimated network cabling distance is 115 metres, not including connections from RJ45 wall points to the PCs.

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