Factors Involved in Network Planning

After you have completed your hardware plan, you are ready to begin network planning, from the software perspective.

As part of the planning process you must:

1. Obtain a network number and, if applicable, register your network domain with the InterNIC.

2. Devise an IP addressing scheme for your hosts, after you receive your IP network number.

3. Create a list containing the IP addresses and host names of all machines that make up your network, which you can use as you build network databases.

4. Determine which name service to use on your network: NIS, NIS+, DNS, or the network databases in the local /etc directory.

5. Establish administrative subdivisions, if appropriate for your network.

6. Determine if your network is large enough to require routers, and, if appropriate, create a network topology that supports them.

7. Set up subnets, if appropriate for your network.

The remainder of Chapter 3, Planning Your Network, explains how to plan your network with these factors in mind.