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Information Plan for Network Analysis Paper Purpose The purpose of the Network Analysis document is to determine which of two data communications methodologies best suit our organizations needs. We will evaluate and compare the Frame Relay method with the Virtual Private Network method. We will need to thoroughly analyze the two methods, and present the items involved in our analysis in a clear fashion. The conclusion of the document will present our choice of a protocol, along with the determining factors that led us to make this choice. Audience The audience for the product of our work will be the senior managers in each of the following technology areas: Network Engineering, Software Development, Data Center Operations, Data Security, Business Recovery Planning, Client Communications and Facilities Management. Some members of our audience have a broad technological background, but they cannot all be expected to have detailed knowledge of data communications. With this in mind, care should be taken to explain the specifics of our analysis without unnecessary use of technical jargon. Simple English-language definitions for each technical term used will need to be given. This will ensure that the less technically oriented readers will be able to understand both of the methods and our reasons for choosing one over the other. Goals Our goal is to provide a thorough explanation of our reasons for choosing one technology over the other. If we are successful the reader will come away with an understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of each method. We will also demonstrate that the method we have chosen is the best for our organization, under the current circumstances. Information Objectives The objectives of the information we will be covering in the paper are to address the specific issues surrounding the choice of a data communications network. We will need to cover such items as security, speed, reliability, cost, ease of installation and overall timeframes. While we will start with a list of items to be covered (addressed in the Information Specifications section of this document), it is reasonable to expect that more considerations will come to light during our research. Methodology We will organize the presentation of our data by presenting first a detailed exploration of each of the information objectives relative to a Frame Relay application, followed by the same considerations regarding the use of a Virtual Private Network application. It is

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important that we cover the identical topics in identical order in each of these sections. This way our audience can have an apples to apples comparison. Where appropriate we will use pictorial representations of the data we are presenting. These pictorial representations may include graphs, charts, network diagrams and similar constructs designed to clarify the understanding of our audience. Information Specifications We will analyze and present the following items: Overview A detailed discussion of how each methodology works will be given. Security We will investigate and identify the security design of each protocol. We will discuss whether this design meets both current industry standards, and our own standards for data security. Speed We will identify the factors that can limit the level of data throughput available with each method. We will need to determine whether the minimum possible speed under the worst conditions will be acceptable. Reliability We will examine the potential for failure, the points of failure, and the alternatives available when failure occurs. Cost We will compare the costs of connecting two existing large installations in our United States network for each type of technology. This comparison will take into account both initial and ongoing expenses. We will not include the payroll costs of our in-house personnel required to install and maintain the network in this comparison. Content Outline The final document we present will have the following form: I. Letter of Transmittal

II. III. IV. V.

Title Page Table of Contents List of Illustrations Executive Summary A. Statement of Purpose B. Definitions and Overview 1. Frame Relay 2. Virtual Private Network C. Summary Conclusion Reasons for New High Speed Network Installation A. Frame Relay 1. Overview 2. Security

VI. VII. Individual Methodologies Evaluated

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3. Speed 4. Reliability 5. Cost B. Virtual Private Network 1. Overview 2. Security 3. Speed 4. Reliability 5. Cost VIII. Head-to-head Comparison Results A. Overview B. Security C. Speed D. Reliability E. Cost IX. Conclusion X. References Information Verification We will use in-person interviews with personnel in our organization, articles from respected industry publications and vendor presentations as our sources. We must give appropriate weighting to these sources in our final evaluation. Vendors and in-house personnel can be expected to have subjective viewpoints because they have a vested interest in the outcome. We will conduct interviews with representatives from the technology areas listed in the Audience section of this document. The representative from each area may be either the senior manager, or a designee selected by the senior manager. We will focus in each interview on the communications technologies currently in place and the interviewees knowledge of the new technologies being evaluated. We will also discuss, in general terms, the impact of the introduction of a new communications technology on each interviewees area of responsibility. Any direct quotes from these interviews that we use in our final paper will be appropriately documented in the References section of the paper. Our industry research will be conducted through the use of recognized publications such as Information Week, Data Communications Magazine and Internet World. References for from any articles used will be appropriately documented in the paper. well-known and widelyCommunications, IEEE information or quotations References section of the

We may also use publications and presentations from known vendors in the field of data communications. Information from these sources will not be weighted as heavily as information from industry publications. This is due to the inherent bias in vendor literature favoring the vendors own products over those of their competitors. References for information or quotations from any vendor literature used will be appropriately documented in the References section of the paper.

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Project Organization and Review Process We will be organized into teams by subject matter. Each team will have responsibility for conducting interviews, performing industry source research and writing the analysis for an individual sub-topic for both technologies under consideration. The project leader will draft the Executive Summary and the Conclusion. All sections will be reviewed by every member of the reviewing team as they become available, but no later than the scheduled review date listed in the Schedule of Milestones section of this document. Each team will be assigned sections for which it is responsible. Any sections listed in the outline that are not shown in the assignment table are considered global sections. These global sections will not be assigned to specific teams, but can be edited by each team at all times. Each team is expected to contribute to the global sections so that its product specific work is properly reflected. The assignments for the project are given in the table below. Frame Virtual Private Frame Relay Virtual Private Relay Network Network Research and Authoring Review and Source Verification Speed Reliability Reliability Speed Reliability Speed Speed Cost Security Cost Overview Security Cost Security Security Overview Overview Overview Cost Reliability Head to Head Comparison Research and Authoring Review and Source Verification Speed Reliability Reliability Overview Security Cost Cost Security Overview Speed

Team I Team II Team III Team IV Project Leader Team I Team II Team III Team IV Project Leader

Figure 1.1 - Project Assignments

Schedule of Milestones We have a commitment to deliver this paper in ten weeks. We are going to have to adhere very rigidly to the defined schedule to meet this goal. Week 1 We will identify the interviewees and develop an interview schedule. We will begin writing the Executive Summary Statement of Purpose and Reasons for New High Speed Network Installation global sections. If time permits, we will begin researching articles in industry publications Week 2

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We will conduct interviews with all of the individuals we identified in Week 1. The notes from each interview should be transcribed and made available in the project database. We will continue research in industry publications, and each team should designate a member make to introductory calls to vendors. Week 3 Each team should begin writing a first draft of their assigned product specific section. We will schedule vendor presentations for the following week, with representatives from each team attending. Week 4 Each team will submit a draft of its assigned product specific section for review by the end of Week 4. Vendor presentations will be conducted this week, with representatives from each team attending. The project leader will complete the product specific Overview sections this week using the teams submissions as a basis. Week 5 Each team should complete its assigned review section by the end of this week. Entries should be made in the Table of Contents, Schedule of Illustrations, Executive Summary - Definitions and Overview and References sections which correspond to the work completed. Each team should insure that the Executive Summary Statement of Purpose and Reasons for New High Speed Network Installation are complete and accurate. The project leader will perform a final review of these completed sections. Week 6 We will begin our Head to Head Comparison sections this week. We will also begin the Executive Summary Conclusion and the overall Conclusion. Week 7 Each team will submit a draft of the assigned Head to Head Comparison section for review by the end of Week 7. The project leader will complete the Head to Head Comparison - Overview section this week using the teams submissions as a basis. Week 8 Each team should complete its assigned Head to Head Comparison review section by the end of this week. Entries should be made in the Table of Contents, Schedule of Illustrations, Executive Summary - Definitions and Overview and References sections which correspond to the work completed. The Project Leader will perform a final review of these completed sections. Week 9 The Executive Summary Conclusion and the overall Conclusion will be completed this week. Each team will verify the Table of Contents, Letter of Transmittal, Title Page, List of Illustrations and References sections. Any final edits

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must be completed by the end of this week. Each section as it is completed will be locked in the project database and no further edits will be allowed. Week 10 We will conduct a thorough review of the entire document. Any corrections that are necessary will have to be entered by the Project Leader. We will submit the document to be copied, bound and distributed on Wednesday of Week 10 to ensure its delivery to each senior manager listed in the Audience section on the following Monday.