Integrative Network Design Project Essay

Kudler Fine Foods was first founded by Kathy Kudler in La Jolla, California. It has expanded to two more locations, Del Mar, California, and Encinitas, California. The stores are generally spaced, about 8,000 sq ft, and have imported and domestic foods, including Fresh Bakery & Pastries, Fresh Produce, Fresh Meat & Seafood, Condiments & Packaged foods as well as Cheese and other dairy products. Kudler wants to see their company grow by upgrading their communications systems and making it wireless. The wireless technology upgrade will allow the company to have a better way of communicating between the stores as well as to the employees and customers . Network Overview With only three stores, their company is structured with only a few departments: Administration, consisting of Finance & Accounting, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, Operations, and Information Technology. With only three locations, Kudler does not need an extensive organization. They currently have a Bus Topology implemented that does not allow the stores to communicate with each other. The networks are separate and if a network server goes down, there are not any backups or securities set up. The ability to communicate wirelessly will give Kudler some mobility and will allow the locations to be centralized. The La Jolla and Del Mar locations each have a Novel 4.11 Server for POS as well as a UPS-Standalone tower, a bublejet printer, and a 56k modem. Their six computers are hooked up to a 10.1.50.0 Ethernet Network and all systems use the Ethernet Network to hook on to the Internet. The Encinitas location has a Novell 4.11 Server for POS as well. Their location is a bit smaller with only three computers. Their network includes a 56k modem and Internet. A major part of the upgrade will consist of sales kiosks to have new computers with wireless networking capability. They will also include anti-virus software to protect client information from being attacked by viruses or worms. These new kiosks will also all communications to happen at a faster rate between the checkout stands to the inventory system. Employees will be able to check inventory and prices in real time. The rollout of the new system will need to happen in a series of phases. The first phase must be the layout of the rollout. Meetings will have to take place between the owners and the designer to make sure the standards are being met. The second phase will be the installation  of the network. The third phase will consist of testing the system and the security as well as training all employees and owners on the system. The third phase is extremely important in order for guidelines and rules to be established from the beginning. Once it has been tested and ready for implantation, the new system will go out in the fourth phase. The fourth phase will also include removing the old system. System maintenance will be included to ensure that the system runs smoothly.