Planning the Physical Network

Planning the Physical Network

Planning the physical network requires that you first answer the question, "What network media and topology configuration would best suit the needs of my users?" A review of the MAC (Medium Access Control) level and application-level performance information about the products you are considering will help you determine the appropriate choice of media for your environment. In your review, consider the size (number of stations) of your network. Your network size will influence the media type and topology you choose for your network. If your network requires different types of media, determine whether you have the correct equipment for integrating the various media types.

The subsections that follow will help you answer this list of planning questions:

What will my physical network look like?
Do I have a map of my network?
Will I need a repeater, bridge, router, or gateway?
Will this network configuration meet my users' needs?
Where are my performance bottlenecks? Can I reduce or avoid them?

Repeaters, Bridges, Routers, and Gateways
Performance Planning
Wide Area Networks