Chapter 2: Network Infrastructure and Documentation

MSA (Master Service Agreement)

A contract that defines the terms of future contracts between parties, such as payment terms or arbitration arrangements.

Software Patch

A correction, improvement, or enhancement to software. It corrects a bug, closes a vulnerability, or adds minor enhancements to only part of the software.

VoIP PBX (private branch exchange)

A dedicated telephone switch or a virtual switching device that connects and manages calls within a private organization, and manages call connections that exit the network through a VoIP gateway.

Wiring Schematic

A graphical representation of a network's wired infrastructure. — It shows every wire necessary to interconnect network devices and the locations of those wires.

SLA (Service Level Agreement)

A legally binding contract or part of a contract that defines, in plain language and in measurable terms, the aspects of a service provided to a customer. Specific details might include contract duration, guaranteed uptime, problem management, performance benchmarks, and termination options.

Upgrade

A major change to a software package that enhances functionality and features of the software, while also correcting bugs and vulnerabilities.

Structured Cabling

A method for uniform, enterprise-wide, multivendor cabling systems specified by the TIA/EIA 568 Commercial Building Wiring Standard. Describes the best way to install networking media to maximize performance and minimize upkeep. Based on a hierarchical design and assumes a network is set up in a star topology.

Fiber distribution panel

A patch panel for fiber optic cabling.

Baseline

A snapshot of the performance statistics of the network or devices. Used as a logical basis for future comparison. Enables you to effectively monitor the performance of your system to determine when changes negatively impact performance or when systems need upgrading or replacing.

VoIP Endpoints

An end user device or application that gives the user access to VoIP services on a network.

Horizontal Cabling

Cabling that connects the equipment room to the work areas. — Maximum allowable distance for horizontal cabling is 100m. — Includes 90m to connect to network device in the data room to a data jack on the wall in the work area, plus a maximum of 10m to connect the wall jack to a workstation. —

MDF (main distribution frame/facility)

Centralized point of interconnection for an organization's LAN or WAN (also called MC or main cross connect). Can refer either to the racks holding the network equipment or the room that houses both the racks and the equipment. Only one per campus.

VoIP Gateway

Converts signals from a campus's analog phone equipment into IP data that can travel over a phone company's analog telephone lines.

SOW (Statement of Work)

Documents in detail the work that must be completed for a particular project, and includes specifics such as tasks, deliverables, standards, payment schedule, and work timeline.

MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)

Documents the intentions of two or more parties to enter into a binding agreement, or contract, and is sometimes used between an informal handshake and the legally binding signatures on contracts. Not usually a legally binding document.

Rack Width

Equipment racks come in a standard 19 inch frame, meaning that the front is 19 inches wide. 23 inches are also common.

plenum cable

Fire resistant and non-toxic; it must be used when wiring above ceiling tiles or below the subflooring. PVC cable cannot be used to wire above ceilings because it is toxic when burned.

MLA (Master License Agreement)

Grants a license from a creator, developer, or producer, such as a software producer, to a third party for the purpose of marketing, sublicensing, or distributing the product to consumers as a stand-alone product or as part of another product.

Network Diagrams

Graphical representations of a networks devices and connections. — May show physical layout, logical topology, IP address reserves, names of major network devices, and types of transmission media. — Implemented with programs such as Draw.io

Risk Analysis

Identify risks associated with the change. Explain why the risks you identify are worth taking, and present a plan for mitigating risks and avoiding problems.

Collapsed Backbone

Using cabling to directly join each departmental network's main hub or router using backbone cabling to a central hub, switch, or router in a star topology. PROS — Easier to manage because they bring all the switching and routing equipment into a single room. — Have better traffic flow. — Offer better performance because of the reduced number of hops that traffic must make when passing between departmental LANs. CONS: — Bad for connecting building LANs across a campus network because of the increased distances and cabling costs.

Inventory Management

Refers to the monitoring and maintaining of all the assets that make up a network. The first step in this is to list all the components on the network which include: — Hardware: Configuration files, model number, serial number, location on the network, and technical support contact. — Software: Version number, vendor, licensing, technical support contact.

Distributed Backbone

Refers to using cabling to join different departmental networks in a bus topology or mesh topology. This cabling connects the hubs, switches, or routers of each network into a single whole. PROS: Greater degree of fault tolerance

RFP (Request for Proposal)

Request to vendors to submit a proposal for a product or service your company wants to purchase. Includes: — Why your company requires the product or service. — How the product or service will be used. — How and when the proposals will be evaluated. — A list of items a vendor should include in it's proposal (i.e. a detailed description of it's product or service, technical support, user training, and initial and ongoing costs)

Entrance Facility

Where a telecommunications service provider accepts responsibility for the external connection. It contains a service providers equipment, such as cabling and protective boxes. The location where an incoming network, such as the Internet, connects with the school or corporate network. For larger networks, this might be an equipment room or data closet. For small networks, it might be equipment and cabling mounted to the side of a building.

backbone cabling

The cables or wireless links that provide interconnection between the entrance facility and MDF, and between the MDF and IDFs. — The part of a network that ties different departmental networks into a single whole. — It carries the bulk of the network traffic. Should have the highest bandwidth of any cabling in your network — Often composed of fiber optic cable.

Demarc (demarcation point)

The device that marks where a telecommunications service provider's network ends and the organization's network begins.

Documentation

— Keep in a centrally accessible location. — Must include locations, installation dates, lengths, and grades of installed cable. — Label everything. — Use color-coded cables for different purposes and record the color schemes in your records. — Keep records updated.

Rack Height

Measured in rack units (RU or U) with the industry standard being 42U tall — about 6 feet. Half racks are 18U — 22U tall.

Backout Plan

Present a plan for returning affected systems to their original state if your proposed change to a hardware or software implementation fails.

66 Blocks

Primarily used for telephone connections.

IDF (intermediate distribution frame)

Provides an intermediate connection between the MDF and end-user equipment on each floor and in each building. — Can refer either to the racks holding the network equipment or the room that houses both the racks and the equipment. — Can be many connecting internal portions of the network. — TIA/EIA standard specifies at least one IDF per floor (large organizations may have several data rooms or closets per floor).

System of Life Cycle

The process of designing, implementing, and maintaining an entire network. — The removal and disposal of outdated assets, and the addition of compatible, updated devices.

Network Mapping

The process of discovering, monitoring, and identifying the devices on a network. Programs such an Nmap and Zenmap.

Rollback

The process of reverting to a previous version of a software after attempting to patch or upgrade it.

bend radius

The radius of the maximum arc into which you can loop a cable without impairing data transmission.

110 Block

The type of punchdown block used on data networks. More suitable for data connections. Be careful not to untwist twisted pair cables more than one half inch before inserting them.

VoIP Phone (Voice Over IP)

The use of any network (either public or private) to carry voice signals using TCP/IP protocols.

Rack Diagram

These drawings show the devices stacked in a rack system and are typically drawn to scale. — Helpful when planning rack installation. — Invaluable for tracking and troubleshooting equipment installed in a rack. — Give you a visual overview of a network.