Introduction
Due to the complex nature of the contemporary organizations, it is necessary that a computer network be put up in place to ease internal in addition to external operations of an entity. Before the advent of this kind of a network, organizations used some crude means of communication and this created difficulties in coordination. Dunbar & Murray (2004) describe networking as a practice where at least two computers or other computing devices are linked together in an effort towards sharing data. He further asserts that computer hardware as well as software plays a significant role in networking.
Usually, the classification or categorization of networks largely depends on three things which includes; organizational and physical extent in addition to the purpose of networking. The extent to which the different types of networking are used differs significantly with each other. Moreover, the trust level and access rights associated with each of them will differ. Among the most common classification of networks include; Personal area network, Local Area Network and Campus Area Network.
Campus Area Network is the most ideal for a medical campus. As such, it is identified as a computer network constituted of Local Area Networks, which are interconnected, not only within a specific but a limited area as well. In such a network, all the equipments used in the network such as routers as well as the media for transmission, are entirely owned by the campus. In a medical campus, the network links several buildings owned by the campus. These buildings include faculties, the library and the residence halls within the medical campus (Dunbar & Murray, 2004).
This article represents a proposal of a network acquisition as well as an implementation plan for a medical campus environment. This proposal is aimed at helping the top management of the campus to build a network structure that will be able to serve the several needs of the faculties, staff, students and a potential health care clinic.
Personnel and student assessment of needs
In a medical campus, personnel need networking as much as students do. The needs of these groups are diversified.
Personnel needs
File sharing
There is a need to share information among the faculties and staff and this eases the hustle of going around gathering the required information from the source.
Communication and Coordination
To facilitate working together, people within an entity need to know what another person is doing. Therefore, in a medical campus the faculty and the staff need to share files, efficiently share ideas in addition to viewing other people’s work.
The faculties and the staff need proper and quick communication. Further, they need a medium which allows storing the communication for future use.
Organization
Meetings are essential part of any organization and as such, in the medical campus, networking is needed since it will ease the process of notifying them through the notice board.
Students Access of information
Students require networking to access academic information, which is helpful in their studies.
Submission of Assignments
The students also require networking so that they can submit their assignments and term papers to the lecturers.
Technical assessment of needs
In this medical campus, there are several faculties and a considerable number of staffs working under those faculties. Due to this, it is not possible to get files from a specific computer since it is not economical and it will result to a massive wastage of time. The staff need to access the same file from anywhere within the campus (Teare & Paquet, 2006).
Communication and coordination can be only realized through networking. Files need to be shared and since networking incorporates the use of emails, communication becomes easier. The campus will be able to grow further due to sharing of ideas through the communication aspect. In the same context, the faculty need to be timely informed on the students grades and thus, communication is necessary as it facilitates this.
With regard to organization aspect, the use of scheduling software is beneficial as it facilitates the arrangement of meetings without necessarily checking the schedules of the staff in a constant manner. In addition to this, in the library, there is a need for organization and networking will be ideal since the process of finding academic resource materials will become simplified (Tumblr, 2011).
Constraints
There are several constraints associated with networking. Foremost, the power as well as a spectrum of the medical campus is relatively low and this implies that the bandwidth will be low relative to the wire-line.
Another constraint involved is latency. The network structure will involve many connections due to the various areas to be served and this implies that routing will be complicated giving rise to latency.
In addition to this constraint, reliability will vary widely in addition to failing differently from the internet. To elaborate this further, the further the area being served, the lower the signal experienced and therefore, the speed will be lower.
Opportunities
The fact that the bandwidth will be low relative to the wire-line; it should not be assumed to be a drawback to the campus networking. Indeed it should be taken as an opportunity for the medical campus because, according to Teare & Paquet (2006), the higher the bandwidth, the higher the cost. Therefore, even though the bandwidth will be low, the campus will not have to forego a heavy financial outlay in networking.
Network security
Tumblr (2011) states that there are several security requirements associated with network. The type of network to be put in place in the medical campus will consider the following security requirements.
Confidentiality
Tumblr (2011) asserts that one of those requirements is confidentiality. The medical campus network will be structured in such a way that disclosure to persons not authorized will be prevented.
Integrity
The medical campus network structure will also encompass integrity where data consistency will be maintained.
Non-repudiation
In addition to the two security requirements, the network will also be attributable to being non-repudiator. As such, when a person initiates a communication, he will not be able to deny it afterwards.
Authentication
It will be structured in such a way that the originator of the data or even the communication initiator’s identity will be assured.
Access control
Third [parties, that is, any person who is not a member of the campus will not be able to access the network.
Proposed network structure for the medical campus
The most ideal structure of the proposed network is a Campus Area Network. A similar technology supported by the necessary hardware will be used in every building within the medical campus. The same infrastructure of hardware will be implemented in every strategic building. Local Area Network will be the main tool. The hardware to be used will include switches, hubs, routers as well as switches (Tumblr, 2011).
Benefits and costs of network construction
Cost
Since the power as well as a spectrum of the medical campus is relatively low, the setting up of the network will not involve a lot of financial outlay. Only the costs involved with buying of devices such as hardware in addition to installation costs will be incurred.
Benefits of Campus Area Network
Cost effective
Campus Area Network is known to entail cost effectiveness not only on its set up but also in maintenance.
Wireless and cabled
Campus Area Network is not entirely cabled. Instead, it also supports wireless connection and therefore, as long as you are within the specified area, that is the medical campus; your personal computer will be connected.
Multidepartment access
In Campus Area Network, departments are connected ant as such, each department can access the other department and this facilitates sharing of ideas.
Another benefit is that Campus Area Network usually entails a single shared transfer rate of transfer.
Why Campus Area Network model is the best fit
According to the findings of many research studies, Campus Area Network infrastructure is considered to be the most effective for universities. To support this, the benefits align with what a university would desire. For instance, if an entity implements this network infrastructure, it will experience the benefit of multidepartment access and as such, it is the core activity for any university.
Conclusion
From these assertions, it is evident that Campus Area Network is the most ideal network infrastructure for a University due to its significant benefits to the campus. A Campus such as above, that is a medical campus, should install this network to facilitate the internal activities of the University.
References
Dunbar W. B., & Murray, R. M. (2004). Receding Horizon Control of Multi-Vehicle Formations: A Distributed Implementation. Networking Decision and Control, 2 (1), 7-16.
Teare, D., & Paquet. C. (2006). Campus network design fundamentals. London, UK: Pearson Education.
Tumblr. (2011). Telecommunication Network Retrieved from. Web.