EECB423

DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING

Research Paper on

Functional Computer Networking

At:

Tenaga Nasional

Headquarters - Bangsar

BY:

Nasrul Hadi Bin MahmadEE 01746

Bakhtiar Ariff Bin BaharudinEE 01234

Mohd. Yazid Bin AhmadEE 01251

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. H.S. Ong

Table of Content

  1. Introduction. ……………………………………………………………4
  1. Network Background. ……………………………………………5
  1. Philosophy of Backbone design and Network Infrastructure. …….6
  1. Network Infrastructure…………………………………………………7
  2. Network Application. …………………………………………….7
  3. Network Topologies……………………………………………..7
  4. Current Network Capacity, Expansion and Scalability. ..…8
  5. Routers. …………………………………………………….8
  6. Switches. ……………………………………………………9
  7. Hub. ………………………………………………………….10
  8. NIC cards. …………………………………………………10
  9. Vendor. ……………………………………………………………11
  10. Communication medium. ………………………………………11
  11. Fiber Optic cabling system. ………………………………11
  12. UTP Cabling. ………………………………………………13
  1. Local Area Network (LAN). …………………………………………14
  2. LAN Overview. …………………………………………………..14
  3. Structured Cabling System. ……………………………………15
  4. LAN – HQ Campus ATM Network. …………………………….15
  1. Hardware and Software Details. ……………………………………19
  2. Cisco 7000 router. ………………………………………………19
  3. Netbuilder II Router. …………………………………………….19
  4. CoreBuilder 7000HD (CB 7000) ATM Switch. ……………….19
  5. SuperStack® II Switch 3000 Switch. …………………………21
  6. Transcend® End-to-End Network and Device Management Solutions. ………………………………………………………… 22
  1. Wide Area Network (WAN). ……………………………………………19
  2. WAN Introduction…………………………………………………24
  3. WAN Network Structure…………………………………………24
  4. WAN Fiber Optic Connection…………………………………..26
  1. Technologies/Systems. ……………………………………………….29
  2. Customer Information Billing System (CIBS). ………………29
  3. File Database Management System (FDBMS). ……………33
  4. Financial Management Information System (FMIS). ………33
  1. Managing The Network. ………………………………………………34
  2. Tools. ……………………………………………………………34
  3. Traffic Monitoring and Congestion Avoidance. ……………34
  4. Preventive Maintenance and records ………………………34
  5. Disaster and Recovery Planning Procedures. ………………34
  1. Request for Proposal (RFP), Tendering and Solution Provider Selecting. ……………………………………………………………… 35
  1. Future Developments. …………………………………………………36
  1. Our Comments. …………………………………………………………41
  2. Comments on This Network. ………………………………….41
  3. Problems Faced When Doing This Research Paper. ……42
  4. Build a Network. ………………………………………………42
  1. Summary and Conclusion……………………………………………43
  2. References. ……………………………………………………………44
  3. Glossary. ………………………………………………………………45
  4. Appendix. ……………………………………………………………….

1.Introduction.

This research paper is a requirement for EECB 423 that is Data Communication and Networking, an elective course in UNITEN. In this research, we are required to work in a group of three students to have a research on real-life functional computer network. “It was designed to drive the student to focus a particular network and to contemplate on the existing network philosophy and to understand the reason for specific technologies or configurations was chosen as the network solution. Computer network is always designed to ease information flow. To understand how this was achieved in a particular location is really a big footstep toward understanding of the intricate of computer network design and analysis.[1]” At the end we are required to submit this full report of 30 pages minimum. Since this is a research paper, we have to do some research. We have to make a site visit, interview appropriate personnel, collect the network diagram and relevant information on the site, and do catalog and web searching. This fulfilled the requirement of so-called research.

This research paper is about computer networking on Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) mainly in its headquarters situated in Bangsar. As we all know, TNB is Malaysia’s well-known electricity supplier. It is a big company with many branches and subsidiaries where computer networking is very important. In fact, TNB has its own network communication system, i.e. without depending on other communication service provider like Celcom and Telekom Malaysia. TNB has its own communication subsidiary that is TNB IT Sdn. Bhd., launch on September 2000, to handle things that are related to computer networking and information technology. “The use of IT to pursue the company’s goal of quality and as an important tool in business is top on the agenda” [2].

This research paper will discuss the local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) technology used as well as the computer systems used etc. Other than that, we will discuss about the philosophy of the network and backbone design, managing the network, and request for proposal (RFP), tendering and Solution provider selecting. At the end we include our comments on the network and the problems faced. In brief, TNB uses fiber optic communication for WAN, connecting every branches and the headquarters. The computer systems used are computer Customer Information Billing System (CIBS), File Database Management System (FDBMS), and Financial Management Information System (FMIS).

Special thanks to those that has been involved in this research paper especially to our lecturer Dr. H.S. Ong. Not forgiven to TNB and TNB IT staffs, En. Azrul, En. Syufree, En Faizul and En Murad. Thank you for your cooperation.

2.Network Background.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad headquarter is situated at Jalan Bangsar. There are 6 main buildings in the area. There are main headquarter building, NLDC building, generation building, transmission building, FMIS building, and EIS buildings. The main HQ buildings is where the main offices situated. These main offices act as the administrator for the subsidiary companies. NLDC building is where the IT people lives. In fact, TNB IT Sdn. Bhd. is located there at 4th floor. The generation building and transmission building are the buildings where the two subsidiaries' main offices are located. They are TNB Generations Sdn. Bhd. and TNB Transmission Sdn. Bhd. Their top management executives offices situated there. FMIS stands for financial management Information system-FMIS is a computer system used by TNB to control the financial things. Please refer to the section 7.3 of this paper for more details. The FMIS building was initially built only to support the FMIS system management and as servers farm for the system. But, currently, because of the expand of capacity, FMIS buildings also accommodate the other offices. The EIS building occupied by the top management of TNB. The Chief of Executives (CEO) and other 'big' person's offices situated here.

Figure 2.1

HQ Bangsar Network - Virtual LAN

All the 6 buildings are connected to the same LAN. This LAN connection is called virtual LAN. There are two main switches as the network backbone located in the NLDC building. The switches are connected to each building to smaller switch - each building have the switch / switches. The connections are using multimode fiber optic. For more details of LAN please refer to the LAN section.

The current network LAN was designed and built in 1996. The main network structure and design was built by the 3COM. That why in the LAN backbone, the design are using mostly 3COM product - starts from backbone switches, router and to the smaller switches and hubs.

3.Philosophy of Backbone design and Network Infrastructure.

The philosophy behind the backbone and network infrastructure is the first thing to think of before a particular network infrastructure can be set up. The Bangsar Headquarter is the center of all the electronic data arriving from branches and subsidiaries from all over Malaysia, and also, of course, from all over the world.For this reason, the network design must satisfy certain criteria or philosophy. This includes reliability, simplicity, speed, security and lastly the cost.

Reliability. In simple words reliability means something that can be trusted of dependable. In network design, a reliable network means less corrupt, efficient data transfer, low data lost, less damage and efficient database management. TNB deals with millions of customers throughout Malaysia. Some of them are large power consumers (LPC). When it comes to LPC, a reliable system is important because they really use electricity very lot. Some of them uses electricity power up to several millions Ringgit a month. For example, UNITEN’s electric bill is nearly one million Ringgits a month[3]. Please refer to section 7.1 of CIBS system on how the data is managed starts from small computer by the meter reader, database management, to the computer where the payment is made.

Simplicity. From the dictionary, the word simple linguistically means easy to understand, not difficult and without anything added (pure). In network design, simplicity is needed for easy maintenance and future upgrades.

Speed. In any network design, speed is the requirement. “Today, everybody is rushing and speed is crucial. Without speed, means we will left behind”[4]. Speed is needed to save time and this will surely improve productivity.

Security. Here security is defined as a protection against illegal data entry or damage made by hackers or the insiders. Using Firewall is one solution for this. For illegal data entry, the network have personal password so that only certain database can be modified by a person, corresponding to his job scope.

Cost. The last aspect is cost. Cost is important for a company like TNB. To make it easier and cheap TNB have launch its own subsidiary, TNB IT Sdn. Bhd. TNB IT deals with all the IT things in the TNB including the design and the maintenance of the computer network. Other than that, TNB also make its own communication medium using fiber optic. The fiber optic connected the headquarters to the branches all over peninsular Malaysia. So, TNB don’t have to pay to communication service provider like Telekom Malaysia and Celcom anymore.

4.Network Infrastructure.

4.1.Network Application.

The application of the network here are purely on data only. This is because the size and the speed of the network are not sufficient for other application such as voice and video network. As we know, the voice application such as the VoIP uses real-time method that needs high bandwidth, speed and synchronization.

4.2.Network Topologies.

As in system networks, four basic optical networks prevail: bus, star, ring, and collapsed backbone. All of these connections have their own capability that could differentiate it.

We could say that the network here uses the STAR connection as their network topology. This network was drive by the ATM Q3 system, which support about 2000 notes. A star topology features a single internetworking hub providing access from Internet works into the backbone and access to each other only through the core route. Figure illustrates a packet-switched star topology for a regional Internet work.

In the Star topology, it uses a central computer that communicates with other devices in the network. Control is centralized; if a device wants to communicate, it does so only through the central computer. The computer, in turn, routes the data to its destination. Centralization provides focal points for responsibility, advantages over a star topology. The lack of central control makes adding new devices easy because no device needs to be aware of others. In addition, the failure of the central computer brings down the entire network.

Star topologies often involve a single mainframe computer that services many terminals and secondary storage devices. With appropriate terminal emulation software, PCs can communicate with the main frame. Data Transfer between terminals or between terminals and the storage devices occur only through the main computer.

The advantages of a star approach are simplified management and minimized tariff costs. Stars are attractive because they minimize the number of DLCIs required and result in a low-cost solution. However, a star topology presents some inherent bandwidth limitations. Consider an environment where a backbone router is attached to a Frame Relay cloud at 256 Kbps, while the remote sites are attached at 56 Kbps. Such a topology will throttle traffic coming off the backbone intended for the remote sites. A strict star topology does not offer the fault tolerance needed for many internetworking situations. If the link from the hub router to a specific leaf router is lost, all connectivity to the leaf router is lost.

One more thing, the disadvantages are significant. First, the core router represents a single point of failure. Second, the core router limits overall performance for access to backbone resources because it is a single pipe through which all traffic intended for the backbone (or for the other regional routers) must pass. Third, this topology is not scalable.

Adding more arms with separated nodes, and their connecting cables can expand the star connection. As long as cableways are available and the central device has enough capacity, expansion is straightforward. Moreover, it is possible for units to be added while the network is up and running.

In a star layout, if the central node is especially at risk of destruction, one option is to duplicate only the star node. It is usually not necessary to duplicate the outlying nodes, because other portions of the system can continue to operate if one node fails. Even duplicating only the star node can be expensive. This is because the central node is very powerful or complex. As with duplicate cables, the duplicate central node should be located some distance from the first, which also increases costs. Thus, for most industrial applications where operations must be preserved in the face of anticipated cable damage, a ring network cabled in a self-healing configuration usually provides the reliability needed at the most moderate cost.

4.3.Current Network Capacity, Expansion and Scalability.

This section will give s a clear view of the current network capacity view by each network devices that they used.

4.3.1.Routers

The CISCO 7000 router was use to connect to the WAN. Routers work in a manner similar to switches and bridges in that they filter out network traffic. Rather than doing so by packet addresses they filter by specific protocol. Routers were born out of the necessity for dividing networks logically instead of physically. An IP router can divide a network into various subnets so that only traffic destined for particular IP addresses can pass between segments. Routers recalculate the checksum, and rewrite the MAC header of every packet. The price paid for this type of intelligent forwarding and filtering is usually calculated in terms of latency, or the delay that a packet experiences inside the router. Such filtering takes more time than that exercised in a switch or bridge, which only looks at the Ethernet address, but in more complex networks network efficiency is improved. An additional benefit of routers is their automatic filtering of broadcasts, but overall they are complicated to setup.

A router translates information from one network to another; it is similar to a super intelligent bridge. Routers select the best path to route a message, based on the destination address and origin. The router can direct traffic to prevent head-on collisions, and is smart enough to know when to direct traffic along back roads and shortcuts.

While bridges know the addresses of all computers on each side of the network, routers know the addresses of computers, bridges, and other routers on the network. Routers can even "listen" to the entire network to determine which sections are busiest -- they can then redirect data around those sections until they clear up. Routers can:

  • Direct signal traffic efficiently
  • Route messages between any two protocols
  • Route messages between line bus star and star- wire ring topologies

Route messages across fiber optic.

4.3.2.Switches

The normal switch that they use are normally has 12 or 24 port. However not all of these port are currently used where by an average of 6 ports are used to connect to the hubs.

Each of these Ethernet switches is assigned to each floor within certain building in the HQ to connect to PC and Hub. LAN switches can link four, six, ten or more networks together, and have two basic architectures: cut-through and store-and-forward. In the past, cut-through switches were faster because they examined the packet destination address only before forwarding it on to its destination segment. A store-and-forward switch, on the other hand, accepts and analyzes the entire packet before forwarding it to its destination.

There are two reasons for switches being included in network designs. First, a switch breaks one network into many small networks so the distance and repeater limitations are restarted. Second, this same segmentation isolates traffic and reduces collisions relieving network congestion. It is very easy to identify the need for distance and repeater extension, and to understand this benefit of switching. But the second benefit, relieving network congestion, is hard to identify and harder to understand the degree by which switches will help performance. Since all switches add small latency delays to packet processing, deploying switches unnecessarily can actually slow down network performance. So the next section pertains to the factors affecting the impact of switching to congested networks.

Both cut-through and store-and-forward switches separate a network into collision domains, allowing network design rules to be extended. Each of the segments attached to an Ethernet switch has a full 100 Mbps of bandwidth shared by fewer users, which results in better performance (as opposed to hubs that only allow bandwidth sharing from a single Ethernet). Newer switches today offer high-speed links, either FDDI, Fast Ethernet or ATM. These are used to link switches together or give added bandwidth to high-traffic servers. A network composed of a number of switches linked together via uplinks is termed a "collapsed backbone" network. The switch then is connected to a hub. Normally, a single switch will be connected to a total number of 6 hubs.

As we mentioned above, a single switch are normally used in the network connection are refer to a certain floor. Normally, each of this floors have a wiring closet and 300 nodes, which consists of server, printer, PC and etc. All of this is connected in a star connection. Detailed networks for a floor are shown in figure below.