Project: Network Design Steps Over the next 6 weeks, you will design a network for a small business. You may choose from the following four businesses. Media Magic is a media design firm located in

Project: Network Design Steps

Over the next 6 weeks, you will design a network for a small business. You may choose from the following four businesses.

1. Media Magic is a media design firm located in Kansas City, MO. Fifteen employees work to create advertising graphics, develop web page branding, and create fliers and other advertising materials. In addition to artists/designers, there are also web developers and a customer relations team. The company is moving to a new office space. You have been asked to design a network for the firm’s new office. 
2. Fixin Folks is a chiropractic, physical therapy, and wellness facility located in Spokane, WA. The team consists of three doctors, two physical therapists, four massage therapists, and four office administrators. Currently, they have three computers all in the front office area. One stores patient contact information and supports appointment scheduling. The other two are for general use and are commonly used for insurance filing, financial records, e-mail communications, and word processing. Patient medical records are maintained in paper form. Fixin Folks has asked you to help design a network that will allow them to move to paperless records with information entered on tablets when interacting with patients and will allow them to do scheduling, insurance filing, and other tasks from any computer. 
3. Kids Korner is a preschool in Provo, UT. The owner wants to provide computer accessibility and training to every child aged 2 years or older. She has purchased two computers for every classroom as well as a set of 20 tablets that move between classrooms. In addition, there are two computers in the front office with a student records database and basic office software. She has asked you to design a network that will allow the children to be connected. However, she has shared concerns about protecting the private records and controlling the children’s Internet access for safety. 
4. Star Smoothie in Summerville, SC specializes in smoothies but also sells light breakfast and lunch items as well as coffee, tea, and soda. The owner noticed that many customers bring their computers so they can work while enjoying a smoothie and wants to support these customers by offering wireless Internet access. A recent customer survey also indicated that many customers loved the smoothies but were frustrated by the long lines and wait times. One of the employees suggested that an order-ahead app would allow customers to choose and pay for a smoothie from their phones, allowing them to simply stop in at the specified time to pick up their orders. The owner wants to integrate support for making and fulfilling such orders. Currently, the shop can only support credit card purchases and telephone ordering. The owner has asked you to design a network that will allow customer Internet access, support the order-ahead concept, and allow employees to transfer inventory; finances; and other physical records to electronic systems.

Whether you choose to design a network for Media Magic, Fixin Folks, Kids Korner, or Star Smoothie, your process will be the same. During Weeks 1 and 2, you will conduct a needs analysis to generate a set of design requirements. During Weeks 3 and 4, you will design and diagram the network. During Weeks 5 and 6, you will create a short presentation to explain the design to the business stakeholders. Throughout this time, you will be share your work with colleagues in class and provide one another feedback and additional ideas.    

Each project deliverable is described in the appropriate week. The Project consists of the following deliverables:    

• Week 1: Network design steps. Submit a 1- to 2-page summary of the steps involved in network design.