ICTTEN6206A - Produce an ICT network architecture design

ICTTEN6206A
Produce an ICT network architecture design

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to compile, and evaluate the business specifications from a client and produce a set of architecture design solutions that will cater for present and future forecast demands.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.

Application

Officers in field work who to carry out design and implementation of technical solutions of ICT networks apply the skills and knowledge in this unit for a practical solution in network design. They would be employed by telecommunications and IT networking provisioning companies specialising in integrating the converging and emerging technologies of ICT networks.

Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
1. Prepare to produce ICT architecture design	1.1. Obtain business specifications and business requirements for the client from appropriate person 1.2. Review specifications and requirements to identify the type of ICT network and network specifications required 1.3. Consult with key stakeholders to identify their requirements 1.4. Assess business problems, opportunities and objectives and confirm details with appropriate person
2. Produce the preliminary ICT network architecture design	2.1. Ascertain technical requirements, including hardware, software and network elements according to specifications 2.2. Select software solutions to suit business platform 2.3. Develop preliminary physical network diagrams as a preface to architecture blueprint 2.4. Produce a document on the possible impact of the network design on the business requirements
3. Evaluate preliminary design and likely performance using forecast demands	3.1. Predict forecast traffic demands and the impact on network design from current and future demand requirements 3.2. Benchmark the design using expected performance parameters 3.3. Review the design based on identification of the likely performance profile (best/worst) 3.4. Determine costs involved with a range of supplier products 3.5. Produce an evaluation report on predicted performance and costs of the network architecture design addressing the business specifications and recommendations
4. Finalise network design and obtain approval	4.1. Review the benchmarks and requirements and final design proposed 4.2. Determine the support and training requirements needed 4.3. Obtain the latest technical specifications and pricing by contacting possible vendors 4.4. Document the network design and present documentation to appropriate person for approval 4.5. Obtain sign off on final business solution

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to liaise with internal and external personnel on technical, operational and business related matters

literacy skills to read and interpret technical documentation and write reports, design solutions and recommendations

numeracy skills to interpret business requirements and specifications and evaluate possible technical design scenarios for optimum solution

planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work

problem solving and contingency management skills to adapt varied business procedures to requirements

research skills to interrogate vendor databases and websites to implement different solutions to meet client business specifications

technical skills to:

evaluate and make further recommendations for optimum solution

produce technical designs

Required knowledge

broad technical knowledge of technologies:

Access Networks

Core Networks

ICT network topologies

mobile cellular networks

network protocols and operating systems

optical networks and principles

radio frequency (RF) technologies and principles

radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware and software

business processes

client business domain, business function and organisation

compatibility issues and resolution procedures

configuration of internet protocol (IP) networks

customer and business liaison

desktop applications and operating systems

documenting technical specifications

linkage between processes

security protocols, standards and data encryption

Evidence Required


The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	Evidence of the ability to: adapt technologies to specified technical solutions use site design software and hardware evaluate client specifications against accepted industry practices produce technical designs from business specifications analyse feedback from client and make adjustment to the proposal produce information that can be shared between businesses apply design concepts to business solutions produce technical reports make recommendations and offer optimum design solutions.
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Assessment must ensure: sites providing: client functional requirements business specifications database software simulation software organisational guidelines network or computer layout site design software and hardware information on a range of ICT business solutions.
Method of assessment	A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: review of evaluation report prepared by the candidate on predicted performance and costs of the network architecture design outlining the business specifications and recommendations oral or written questioning on required knowledge and skills evaluation of research methodologies and the final proposal prepared by the candidate outlining solutions and recommendations.
Guidance information for assessment	Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: ICTOPN6128A Design a dense wavelength division multiplexing systems ICTRFN6171A Produce and evaluate architecture designs for WiMAX networks ICTTEN6169A Produce and evaluate architecture designs for convergent cellular mobile networks. Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues. Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required. Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed. In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

Range Statement


The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Business specifications may include:	budget allocation budget costs estimate current system functionality future plan growth forecast technical requirements timeline user problem statement.
Business requirements may include:	business application business plan existing system mission statement nature of the business network or people in the organisation.
Client may include:	external organisations ICT company individuals internal departments internal employees service industry.
Appropriate person may include:	authorised business representative client ICT network administrator ICT network manager ICT support manager small or medium enterprise (SME) customer small office home office (SOHO) customer supervisor.
ICT network may include:	Access Network broadband network Core network customer network internet intranet multimedia radio RFID security switching telecommunications transmission voice, video and data.
Stakeholders may include:	development team project team sponsor user.
Technical requirements may refer to:	bandwidth hardware problems network growth network security network traffic congestions new technologies power usage software problems transmission dropouts upgrades.
Hardware may include:	cabling network cellular phone network internet protocol TV (IPTV) IT network elements: gateway local area network (LAN) switch router server wireless network multimedia optical network radio network RFID equipment switching equipment transmission equipment voice and data equipment.
Software may include:	commercial customised software in-house network management operating system packaged patches vendor propriety.
Network elements may include:	add-drop multiplexer antenna base station dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) unit encoder IT network elements: gateway LAN switch router server wireless network laser module optical unit protocol analyser receiver RF unit RFID unit splitter transmitter.
Architecture may include but is not limited to:	carrier network architecture: Access billing broadband broadcasting Core data optical wireless configuration: large memory model requests per second small memory model database software: Informix Ingres, DB2 Microsoft SQL server mSQL MySQL Oracle SQL server Sybase operating system: Linux Mac OS Novell NetWare Windows.
Impact may refer to:	fewer downtimes improved efficiency improved response times increased return on investment lower operational costs more 'user friendly' network.
Performance parameters may include:	attenuation bandwidth bit error rate (BER) congestion data security distortion dropouts interference latency packet loss phase jitter polarisation quality of service - QoS transmission data rate.
Documentation may include:	audit trails client training and satisfaction reports costing details design report evaluation report and recommendations implementation plan international standards International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards Australian standards naming standards version control.

Sectors

Unit sector

Telecommunications

Competency Field

Telecommunications networks engineering

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.

Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor