Case Study:
In this comprehensive case study, students will delve into the workings of establishing a robust and reliable National Broadband Network (NBN) connection at a two-story home, enabling seamless work-from-home capabilities for a software developer employed by a software development company for the Australian Stock Exchange. The primary objective is to design a network infrastructure that caters to the employee`s specific work requirements, identifies potential performance and security issues.
The study will encompass various aspects, ranging from selecting the ideal NBN service provider to setting up both a cabled Local Area Network (LAN) for the primary computer (Working PC) and a secure Wi-Fi connection for all other portable devices within the household. Given the house`s structure with 5 bedrooms and two living rooms on both floors, so the students must decide optimal placement of the Wi-Fi router (s) to ensure adequate coverage to the house, ensuring employee`s office room is located on the 2nd floor.
There are five people living in the house, including the employee, with two individuals requiring more internet as they are students. Note that their online activities will be crucial in estimating the overall network load and bandwidth.
Considering the employee`s role as a developer and he is involved in mission-critical applications. He uses VPN to connect to the office, therefore, students will need to determine the minimum connection speed required to handle the demands of this critical connection. For security reasons, no printer is allowed in the setup, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
Task 1: Selecting an NBN Service Provider:
Students should do detailed research to evaluate and choose the most suitable NBN service provider for the work-from-home setup. It’s your duty to analyze different plans, considering factors such as download/upload speeds, data allowances, contract terms, and customer reviews, to make an informed decision. The student should provide the facts for above mentioned points when they mention their selected NBN connection.
Task 2: Drawing the Network Diagram:
A fundamental aspect of this case study involves the creation of a comprehensive network diagram. The diagram should illustrate the entire network setup, starting from the NBN connection point to the internal network within the home. Students will meticulously depict the placement and connections of essential networking components, such as the NBN modem, router, switches, cabling, and wireless access points. For this task you can use professional network design tools, including Cisco packet tracer, draw.io, etc.
Task 3: Analyzing Security Threats and Ensuring Network Reliability:
Security is a critical aspect of any home network. You should conduct a thorough security analysis to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities. They will learn to implement robust security measures, such as setting up a firewall, enabling WPA3 encryption, updating router firmware, and avoiding default passwords to improve the reliability of the network.
