Logical and Physical Network Design

Logical and Physical Network Design

Logical and physical network designs are critical components in the successful development and implementation of today's networks and allow for the proper planning and structuring bettering enhancing the concept associated with networks. In order to better understand how the two concepts of a logical design and physical design work hand-in-hand, let's first look at what the concepts entail.

A logical design is a concept, thought or theory as to how you wish your network topology to function, inclusive with Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. It is more of an intangible concept that is used normally when initially in the developmental stages of designing the network. Within these developmental stages, one wants to consider the makeup or design for which one wishes to take in the developmental structure and design.

The logical network is associated by logical connections. Logical networks are necessary because of the connectivity traffic jam in all-optical networks and the boundary on the distance of optical path. The features of logical networks consist of end systems communicate via virtual paths, alternative logical paths between end systems, and the topology of the logical network independent to the physical topology. There are many types of designs associated with logical or even physical designs and they are mesh, bus, ring, star, tree and hybrid as described by Wikipedia, 2006.

Before one can begin to design a logical network there are several questions that needs to be answered. In other words, you must gather data to ensure that you know all of the requirements of the logical network. You need to know who will be using the network and exactly what they need. This information can be provided from a current help-desk. The help-desk can provide a list with all issues that clients have experienced. Based on that list, if the list is reliable, you will have a better understanding on what the clients need. You will need to consider what types of services you will provide on the network. Based on the services that you will be providing will they be limited in scope? Also, will it involve configuring a firewall between Local Area Networks (LANs)? You will still have to configure a firewall to access the internet even if you have to configure a firewall between LANs. You will need to know if you will have to allow outside vendors access to your network. Another thing that you will need to know is will some of the clients be accessing the network from home by using a dial-in.

While again these standard concepts of designs can be utilized for logical or physical implementation, it is much better to consider the design in the developmental stages as in the developmental stages one takes into accord all facades of the project. This takes me to our next stage which is the physical design of networks. I like to consider the physical concepts associated with network designing as the tangible parts of the network. As well, when developing the "physical" design portion of the network, this concept allows you to be able to give some visualization towards the project. The physical concept work inclusively