is an in-depth process designed to ensure that your network is cost effective, user friendly, and ready for expansion. This involves conducting an in-depth assessment of your organization’s workflows, use patterns, current technologies, and future ambitions.
Network architecture involves selecting appropriate hardware and software – including routers, switches, servers, firewalls and more – as well as understanding its fundamental principles to better support your business operations. This blog can help you better comprehend this aspect of network design and how it affects it.
Layers of the OSI model
The OSI model deconstructs network communication into seven abstraction layers that each represent an aspect of its process. A successful network design and architecture should integrate each layer’s functions into its overall architecture for maximum effect.
The lowest layer oversees the physical components that transmit data between network devices. This includes electrical and optical connectors, pin layout, cabling and radio frequencies; additionally this layer determines how raw data will be represented via voltage levels or light pulses on chosen medium and also sets its bit rate for transmission.
This layer enables direct data transfers between directly connected devices. It identifies and encapsulates network layer protocols for transmission over a data link, managing error checking and frame synchronization between them as well as translating IP addresses for systems with different bit lengths, segmenting data into smaller packets for transmission over that data link and providing error checking and frame synchronization between them.
This layer establishes a session between communicating entities and sets limits on response wait time. It handles flow control and error checking capabilities, regulates transmission rates, requests retransmission of incomplete data transmissions and requests retransmission when appropriate. Furthermore, this layer encrypts and decrypts its contents to ensure security of its content.
Topologies
Topologies determine how data moves between network devices, as well as its scalability and adaptability to change. Their design should take into account business requirements, redundancy needs and performance needs; additionally, it must adapt quickly to changes in business environments, compliance standards, security controls or technologies.
As the initial step of creating a network architecture, the initial step should be identifying all hardware components that compose it. Next, network diagramming software should be used to sketch device placements and connective lines separating devices – producing an easy-to-read diagram with consideration given to future upgrades and modifications.
A fully meshed network is one where each node has direct connectivity to every other node, costing more to set up but offering greater reliability than its alternative designs. A ring network, like bus topology but using single wire for each machine, may be less costly but does not provide as much redundancy.
Logical topologies provide a more flexible means of designing networks as they can be changed without altering physical connections. This is possible since logical network topologies rely on packet header fields which can be altered using various configuration settings.
Routing
An organization’s network architecture must support its business requirements as they change, adapting to compliance regulations and standards that change over time as well as technology developments. Adopting a top-down approach that takes into account physical structures such as physical structure, power distribution and cable management will help build an scalable infrastructure.
An effective network design should include hierarchical principles that enable efficient hardware optimization and data flow management, leading to reliable, scalable, and secure networks. Routing is one of the primary aspects of network design – redirecting packets between hardware points using network devices like routers, switches and gateways so as to find their fastest route to their destinations as quickly as possible.
Data packets travel from their source node to the nearest router by embedding its IP address in its header, whereupon that router consults its routing table to select an optimal route; they do this using various metrics, such as cost and delay. Recursion continues until they reach their final destination.
Security
Network architecture is a critical element of any IT infrastructure, providing seamless data flow, optimal performance and increased security. The purpose of network architecture is to design a system that supports business goals while remaining adaptable enough to adapt with changing technologies and business environments.
To help your organization meet its goals, it’s essential that it has an in-depth knowledge of four fundamental elements of network architecture – fault tolerance, scalability, quality of service and security – of network design. By following hierarchical and modular principles when designing your network architecture you will create more efficient and reliable systems.
Network architecture takes many different forms, but most generally falls under either of two models: peer-to-peer or client/server. Peer-to-peer networks allow devices on the network to share resources more efficiently for improved efficiency and lower ownership costs; files stored on one device may be accessible by all other connected devices and printers are visible across users on all networks.
Client/Server models are more centralized, delegating responsibilities to servers with greater ability to handle higher bandwidth applications and offer superior security. This type of deployment works particularly well in networks that require high-performance computing (HPC) where its processing power helps accelerate workload.
