Needs Analysis
To understand why the network is being built and what users and applications it will support
- To improve poor performance?
- To enable new applications?
- To upgrade, replace old equipment? or
- To standardize equipment (one type, one protocol, etc)
Goals differ depending on the network
- LAN and BN (everything owned by the organization)
- Design over capacity
- Little additional cost after the initial cost
- MAN/WAN (mostly rely on leased circuits)
- Design under capacity
- Lease additional circuits if necessary