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Networking Considerations

There are a lot of things about computer network that come into play.

• Simplicity
• Reliability
• Scalability
• Cost – Time

Simplicity

Simplicity holds significant importance. As exemplified by the United States Navy, the acronym KISS, which stands for “Keep it simple, stupid!”, has gained worldwide recognition in the context of networking designs and systems. Often, network designs tend to become unnecessarily complex and lack future-proofing.

Maintaining a simple design facilitates enhanced reliability, scalability, and reduced overall costs, which directly correlate with efficiency over time.

Reliability

Reliability is paramount in the realm of computer networking. This importance was underscored during the Dotcom Bubble between 1995 and 2001. Given the heavy reliance on the internet during the 2020s, designing local and global infrastructures demands more thoughtful considerations than ever before.

Irrespective of the implementation—be it multi-branched businesses, residential setups, small enterprises, educational institutions, or religious organizations—all instances require a high degree of reliability and availability.

Scalability

In the realm of technology, the challenge of scalability is ever-present. Scalability involves providing services with high availability rates, such as social media, telecommunications, and the internet at large.

Every facet of technology must be future-proofed to accommodate scalability. Social media platforms, for instance, must be designed to serve millions of users per second, transmitting billions of digital bytes across the internet.

In the software sphere, writing efficient and meticulous code is essential to avoid accumulating technical debt—a term that can also be applied to computer networking.

Technical Debt: Technical debt refers to the burden or unavoidable cost of potential problems in the future. This concept spans all aspects of the software world: Simplicity, Reliability, Scalability, and the overall Cost (Time).

Cost – Time

Numerous factors in the networking realm can incur costs.

• Equipment
• Maintenance
• Software Licensing
• Labor

It is prudent to execute tasks correctly from the outset to forestall costs from resurfacing down the road, which could subsequently impact the other categories that necessitate consideration.

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Story: Church Setup

I recently did a install at a local church in my hometown. Here is the story behind it along with some visual to demonstrate the need and the end result.

Needs

This church had a few needs

• Enhanced Streaming Capability: A need was faster internet connectivity to facilitate seamless live streaming of services on platforms like Facebook, with potential expansion to other channels.
• Economizing Internet Costs: Seeking to streamline, the goal was to minimize the financial burden of internet services.
• Internet Line Consolidation: A challenge was the amalgamation of three separate internet lines into a singular cohesive connection.
• Comprehensive Wireless Coverage: Providing ubiquitous wireless internet access across all three buildings on the premises was essential.
• Congregation Security: Ensuring the safety and security of all members within the church community was a paramount consideration.
• Guest Accessibility: Enabling guests to access the internet without the hassle of passwords was a convenience the church aimed to offer.

This was just the tip of the iceberg, with a plethora of additional needs that underscored the significance of the project.

Main Building – Sanctuary – Old Setup

The primary building posed unique challenges due to its sprawling layout. The existing setup involved a cable internet connection that entered through the storage closet on the lower floor. This connection was subsequently funneled into a Modem/Router combination device. This arrangement was anticipated to cater to the diverse needs of a multi-story church sanctuary, children’s wing, and various media equipment.

The accompanying diagram illustrates the intricacies of the previous setup, notably relying on a technology called double NATing. While an attempt was made to make it functional, its limitations became evident as it fell short of meeting the comprehensive requirements of the church.

Gym Building – Old Setup

Meanwhile, the gymnasium building presented its own set of connectivity obstacles. With another cable internet connection entering on the upper floor, the connection was routed to a Modem/Router combo. The expectation was to provide internet coverage across two floors, encompassing the expansive gym area and enclosed educational classrooms.

The diagram serves as a visual representation of the gym’s previous setup. However, as history showed, this configuration couldn’t effectively cater to the church’s needs and aspirations, failing to deliver the necessary services.

Office Building – Old Setup

Similar to the gym, the office building grappled with subpar connectivity. The office, vital for the church’s administrative operations, experienced frequent disruptions and outages due to the inconsistent performance of its cable internet connection (Suddenlink Communications, Altice USA, which are both now known as Optimum). The Modem/Router combo, linked directly to the cable line, strived to serve the demands of the office’s activities.

Through the diagram, one can discern the resemblance between the office and gym setups. Yet again, despite the similarities, the setup was marred by constant interruptions, impeding the church staff’s efficiency.

How to Meet the Needs?

The task at hand demanded meticulous consideration of various factors: cost, time, and feasibility. We embarked on brainstorming sessions, aiming to conceptualize solutions that would be effective, efficient, and practical.

Connectivity Solution

After numerous deliberations, a plan involved procuring a 1 Gbps down and 500 Mbps up fiber internet connection to serve as the backbone of the network. This robust connection would enter the central hub of the main building, thus forming the cornerstone of the new infrastructure.

Wired Access Points for Main Building

The aspect of this plan was the strategic placement of wired access points, utilizing Cat 6 and Cat 7 cables within the main building. These access points would work in tandem to broadcast a reliable and high-speed wireless network throughout the premises.

Wireless Point-to-Point Linkages

In order to bridge the connectivity gap between the office and gym buildings, we engineered point-to-point (P2P) wireless linkages. These wireless connections acted as virtual bridges, facilitating seamless data transmission. This approach efficiently extended the network’s reach, enabling both the office and gym buildings to operate as cohesive entities.

As seen in the diagram, the intricacies of the network have been vastly streamlined, fostering a robust, reliable, and user-friendly setup. The combination of wired access points, P2P linkages, and strategically placed switches has ushered in an era of enhanced connectivity that aligns perfectly with the church’s needs.

In the office building, simplicity was key. We implemented a straightforward setup where a P2P link was established, drawing internet connectivity directly from the main building. This solution granted the office uninterrupted access to the internet and the resources it required for its administrative functions.

Similar to the office, the gym building underwent a network transformation. The P2P link, originating from the main building, was directly integrated into a switch. This switch, in turn, powered the access points meticulously placed throughout the gym building. This ensured comprehensive and seamless coverage, eliminating any dead spots and guaranteeing connectivity for all devices.

Changes

Reminder of the needs:

• Enhanced Streaming Capability: A need was faster internet connectivity to facilitate seamless live streaming of services on platforms like Facebook, with potential expansion to other channels.
• Economizing Internet Costs: Seeking to streamline, the goal was to minimize the financial burden of internet services.
• Internet Line Consolidation: A challenge was the amalgamation of three separate internet lines into a singular cohesive connection.
• Comprehensive Wireless Coverage: Providing ubiquitous wireless internet access across all three buildings on the premises was essential.
• Congregation Security: Ensuring the safety and security of all members within the church community was a paramount consideration.
• Guest Accessibility: Enabling guests to access the internet without the hassle of passwords was a convenience the church aimed to offer.

Having implemented a series of upgrades and enhancements, the networking infrastructure has undergone a massive upgrade. The outcome has exceeded expectations, addressing the varied needs. Now boasting an upgraded setup, the results speak for themselves:

Within any part of the buildings, a remarkable achievement now unfolds. An impressive 500+ Mbps down and 350+ Mbps up are attainable via WiFi—a leap that not only meets but surpasses the project’s original aspirations. This level of connectivity encompasses every building and every corner, enabling congregants and guests alike to enjoy a seamless and high-speed online experience.

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Review

In Review, we met and covered all of the needs of the church. We kept in mind all of the networking design goals: Simplicity, Reliability, Scalability, and overall the Cost.

Now the Church does not have their live streams fail, they do not have service interruptions and they do not have to pay for 3 internet connections.

Overall this is a massive improvement and a win for the Church.