Gathering Network
Requirements
Designing and Supporting Computer Networks – Chapter 2
Version 4.0 © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 1

Objectives
 Explain how the Cisco Lifecycle Services approach
enables organizations to prepare, plan, design,
implement, operate and optimize a network that
supports the introduction of new technologies.
 Describe sales activities and the role of the network
designer in the pre-sales process.
 Explain the process of creating a network design and
the information needed before the process can begin.
 Identify technical requirements and constraints of the
organization to determine the scope of the project.
 Explain design considerations for manageability.
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 2

Explain how the Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach Enables
Organizations to Design, Deploy, and Operate a Network
 Prepare Phase
 Plan Phase
 Design Phase
 Implement Phase
 Operate Phase
 Optimize Phase
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 3

Explain how the Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach Enables
Organizations to Design, Deploy, and Operate a Network
Prepare Phase:
 Define business goals
 Consider possible constraints
 Develop the strategy and solution
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 4

Explain how the Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach Enables
Organizations to Design, Deploy, and Operate a Network
Plan Phase:
 Perform site and operations assessment
 Identify necessary modifications
 Prepare the project plan
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 5

Explain how the Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach Enables
Organizations to Design, Deploy, and Operate a Network
Design Phase:
 Create plans that guide the installation
 Complete the design of the network
 Generate a final proposal
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 6

Explain how the Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach Enables
Organizations to Design, Deploy, and Operate a Network
Implement Phase:
 Build the network according to design specifications
 Perform testing
 Install the new solution
 Perform system-level acceptance testing
 Document results
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 7

Explain how the Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach Enables
Organizations to Design, Deploy, and Operate a Network
Operate Phase:
 Monitor the network
 Establish a baseline
 Define policies and
procedures
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 8

Explain how the Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach Enables
Organizations to Design, Deploy, and Operate a Network
Optimize Phase:
 Identify and resolve potential network problems
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Describe Sales Activities and the Role of the
Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process
Response document:
 Cover letter
 Executive summary
 Proposed solution and proposed cost
 Signature page
 Appendices
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 10

Describe Sales Activities and the Role of the
Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process
 Customer issues RFP or RFQ
 Pre-bid meeting or pre-submittal conference
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 11

Describe Sales Activities and the Role of the
Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process
Request for Proposal (RFP):
 Business goals
 Project scope
 Requirements for new network
 Preliminary schedule, milestones and deliverables
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 12

Describe Sales Activities and the Role of the
Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process
Request For Quote (RFQ):
 Organizational overview
 Required deliverables
 Assumptions/agreements
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 13

Describe Sales Activities and the Role of the
Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process
Account manager:
 Maintain continuing relationship between company and
customers
 Serve as primary contact
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Describe Sales Activities and the Role of the
Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process
Pre-sales systems engineer:
 Determine the need for upgrades or additions to
networks
 Determine technical requirements and feasibility
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 15

Describe Sales Activities and the Role of the
Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process
Network designer:
 Analyze customer goals and constraints
 Select technology and equipment to meet defined
network requirements
 Diagram placement and interconnection of devices
 Design and supervise testing
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 16

Describe Sales Activities and the Role of the
Network Designer in the Pre-Sales Process
Post-sales field engineer:
 Ensure network upgrade functions as designed
 Provide customer training and assistance
 Resolve technical problems
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 17

Explain the Process of Creating a Network Design
and the Information Needed
Interpersonal skills:
 Listening and accurately summarizing information
 Corresponding with clients
 Presenting technical material
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Explain the Process of Creating a Network Design
and the Information Needed
 Understand how network users interact with network
resources and services
 Identify all user groups
 Assess the impact of adding new user groups
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 19

Explain the Process of Creating a Network Design
and the Information Needed
Prioritize the business goals:
 Profitability
 Business growth and market share
 Customer satisfaction
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Identify Requirements and Constraints to
Determine the Scope of the Project
 Identify and document the technical requirements
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 21

Identify Requirements and Constraints to
Determine the Scope of the Project
 Identify the constraints that affect the network design,
including cost, schedule, and resource constraints
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Explain Design Considerations for
Manageability
Top-down design approach:
 Adapt the network to the needs of the organization
 Take the design from the perspective of the required
network solutions
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Explain Design Considerations for
Manageability
Typical network management architecture:
 Network Management System (NMS)
 Network Management Protocol
 Managed devices
 Management agents
 Management information
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 24

Explain Design Considerations for
Manageability
 Network monitoring tools can be used to page or send
email to on-call technicians
 Tools respond to network fault or when a predefined
threshold is met
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 25

Summary
 The six phases of the network lifecycle include prepare,
plan, design, implement, operate, and optimize.
 A project plan includes tasks, timelines, risks,
responsibilities, and resources required to complete a
network design project.
 Following the required format and schedule is critical to
submitting a successful proposal.
 All members of the networking contractor staff must
demonstrate effective interpersonal skills.
 Top-down network design strategies have the best
chance to succeed.
 A primary requirement for any network is the availability
of qualified support personnel.
© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 26

© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 27