Book excerpt: A systems analysis approach to enterprise network design Master techniques for checking the health of an existing network to develop a baseline for measuring performance of a new network design Explore solutions for meeting QoS requirements, including ATM traffic management, IETF controlled-load and guaranteed services, IP multicast, and advanced switching, queuing, and routing algorithms Develop network designs that provide the high bandwidth and low delay required for real-time applications such as multimedia, distance learning, and videoconferencing Identify the advantages and disadvantages of various switching and routing protocols, including transparent bridging, Inter-Switch Link (ISL), IEEE 802.1Q, IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF, and BGP4 Effectively incorporate new technologies into enterprise network designs, including VPNs, wireless networking, and IP Telephony Top-Down Network Design, Second Edition, is a practical and comprehensive guide to designing enterprise networks that are reliable, secure, and manageable. Using illustrations and real-world examples, it teaches a systematic method for network design that can be applied to campus LANs, remote-access networks, WAN links, and large-scale internetworks. You will learn to analyze business and technical requirements, examine traffic flow and QoS requirements, and select protocols and technologies based on performance goals. You will also develop an understanding of network performance factors such as network utilization, throughput, accuracy, efficiency, delay, and jitter. Several charts and job aids will help you apply a top-down approach to network design. This Second Edition has been revised to include new and updated material on wireless networks, virtual private networks (VPNs), network security, network redundancy, modularity in network designs, dynamic addressing for IPv4 and IPv6, new network design and management tools, Ethernet scalability options (including 10-Gbps Ethernet, Metro Ethernet, and Long-Reach Ethernet), and networks that carry voice and data traffic. Top-Down Network Design, Second Edition, has a companion website at http://www.topdownbook.com, which includes updates to the book, links to white papers, and supplemental information about design resources. This book is part of the Networking Technology Series from Cisco Press¿ which offers networking professionals valuable information for constructing efficient networks, understanding new technologies, and building successful careers.