GROUP WORK ASSIGNMENT II – UCI 102 (13th March 2024)
a. Imagine you are an IT consultant working with a small but rapidly growing e-commerce startup
named TechTrend. The company currently operates with a basic network setup, but as it expands its
operations, there's a need for a more robust and efficient network infrastructure. TechTrend relies
heavily on its online platform, inventory management system, and customer databases. The CEO
has approached you to propose a network topology that not only supports the current needs of the
company but also anticipates future growth and potential challenges. Consider the following aspects:
i. E-commerce Platform: TechTrend's success relies on its e-commerce website, which
experiences frequent traffic spikes during promotions and sales events. Design a network
topology that ensures high availability and optimal performance for the online platform.
ii. Inventory Management: The company maintains a real-time inventory management
system to track product availability. Propose a network design that facilitates seamless
communication between the e-commerce platform and the inventory system, ensuring
accurate and up-to-date information for customers.
iii. Remote Work: With the recent shift towards remote work, some employees work from
home. Design a network topology that supports secure remote access to the company's
systems, balancing accessibility with robust security measures.
iv. Data Security: TechTrend handles sensitive customer information, including personal and
financial data. Develop a network topology that incorporates encryption, access controls,
and monitoring mechanisms to safeguard customer data and prevent unauthorized access.
v. Future Expansion: The company has ambitious growth plans. Design a scalable network
topology that can easily accommodate additional servers, devices, and increased network
traffic as TechTrend expands its product offerings and customer base.
In your response, outline the key components of the network topology you recommend for
TechTrend, explaining how each element addresses the specific needs outlined above and
contributes to the overall efficiency and security of the company's network infrastructure
b. In a small company, the network administrator is tasked with upgrading the network hardware to
accommodate the growing number of employees and the increasing demand for faster and more
reliable connectivity. The company currently uses a basic router and a few unmanaged switches.
The administrator needs to design and implement a new network infrastructure that can support the
company's expansion.As the network administrator, how would you approach the upgrade of
network hardware in this scenario? Consider factors such as scalability, performance, security, and
cost-effectiveness in your response. Additionally, outline the specific network hardware
components you would recommend, their configuration, and any potential challenges you might
anticipate during the implementation process.
c. You are the lead network architect for a healthcare organization that is undergoing a digital
transformation to enhance patient care and streamline internal operations. The current network
infrastructure lacks the necessary structure and efficiency to support the influx of medical data,
remote patient monitoring, and real-time collaboration between healthcare professionals.
Recognizing the importance of a robust and standardized network framework, the organization has
tasked you with implementing the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model to improve network
functionality and communication. As the lead architect, outline your plan for incorporating the
OSI model into the existing network infrastructure. Discuss how each layer of the OSI model –
from the physical layer to the application layer – will be applied to address the organization's
specific needs. Consider factors such as data integrity, interoperability, and security in your design.
Furthermore, describe the testing procedures and protocols you would employ to ensure a seamless
integration of the OSI model, minimizing disruptions to critical healthcare services. In addition,
explain how this implementation aligns with the organization's goals of providing secure and
efficient healthcare services in the digital age.
d. Imagine you are the IT director for a large manufacturing company that relies heavily on real-time
communication between different production departments. Currently, the company experiences
challenges with its communication infrastructure, leading to delays, misunderstandings, and
inefficiencies in the production process. To address these issues, you are tasked with optimizing
the communication network. In this context, detail your plan for implementing simplex, half-
duplex, and full-duplex communication modes within the organization. Consider the specific needs
of each department, such as the need for instant updates in the assembly line, the importance of
clear two-way communication between design and production teams, and the necessity for real-
time feedback from quality control. Elaborate on how each communication mode (simplex, half-
duplex, and full-duplex) would be applied to meet the unique requirements of different
departments, enhancing overall efficiency and collaboration. Additionally, discuss any potential
challenges in implementing these communication modes and the strategies you would employ to
address them while ensuring minimal disruption to the manufacturing processes.
NOTE
This is a group assignment. You can check your group on the attached excel document
Answer all the questions
The assignment should be hand written and submitted in hard copy
The first page should have the group number and the details of the group members.
Use APA Citation and referencing method (I will not mark any work without references)
Submit your work on 19th March 2024 before 11:00AM. I will not receive any work
submitted after 11:00AM
