What Is Network Design?

There's much buzz around network design lately. While it's not the sexiest part of network implementation, it is an integral step in ensuring your network infrastructure performs as it should. Engineers and other IT professionals usually perform network design or network infrastructure planning. They work together to determine what kind of hardware and software will be needed for your network, how much bandwidth you'll need to support your users, and how much data storage space you'll need for files like photos and videos. Once these details have been determined, they can begin working on the actual implementation of the network infrastructure, including installing routers and switches in their respective locations throughout the office building(s). In the first stage of network design, the network engineer starts by assessing the current network infrastructure, scopes out its shortcomings and drafts up a list of requirements. Then, based on the needs, the engineer drafts a network diagram that will serve as a blueprint for the network implementation. At this stage, an architect designs the network and considers various factors, like how many users will use the web. What kind of users are they, how critical is the network, how many devices will be connected to it, how much network traffic is expected in the future, etc.? Usually, network engineers use network design frameworks to draft a network diagram. There are various network design frameworks like Cisco Network Design Proficiency Framework, Orange Book, etc. Network design involves planning a network infrastructure before you build it. It's like doing the blueprints for your house before you start building it. You must do more than slap some boards together and call that home. It would be best if you had a plan. The same is true for computer networks. You need to know how many computers you want to connect and what kind of networking will need equipment (like routers) will need equipment (like routers) to make that happen.