Also, whenever possible, the locations of these requirements are placed on the corresponding requirements map. The requirements map is shown in Figure 2.16. 2.9 Conclusions The requirements analysis process is about identifying, collecting, and evaluating requirements for the network. System requirements can be separated into components, where the choice of components is based on your environment and what you want to accomplish with the network architecture and design. In this chapter we considered components based on users, applications, devices, and networks. This is a starting point for grouping requirements. As you develop your own process for requirements analysis, you should determine how you would group requirements. Exercises 95 Requirements form the foundation upon which you develop the network architecture and design. Experience shows that the more effort you put into developing a good set of requirements and understanding the system that will be supported by this network, the better your network architecture and design will be. By separating system requirements into components, the set of requirements becomes more workable. As we apply the processes, principles, and guidelines of the next chapter to each of these components, you will begin to see how understanding each component helps you to build a picture of the overall system. Having covered the concepts of requirements analysis, we are now ready to discuss the requirements analysis process. As you work through the next chapter, keep in mind the set of requirements we have identified here for each component of the system, and how they can be combined into a requirements specification and requirements map. 2.10 Exercises 1. Why is requirements analysis important to network architecture and design? Give three reasons. 2. Categorize each of the following requirements as core, feature, or informational. a. Network must support Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet interfaces for all devices on the network. b. Network backbone should be upgradable in capacity to 10 Gb within two years of deployment. c. Finance department requires firewall protection to the server. d. Existing network consists of 10BaseT Ethernet and FDDI segments. e. Network personnel would like to be able to bill users for network service. f. Network core must not generate or terminate any user traffic. g. Network must support digital video traffic from remote video cameras, and may additionally support sound from these cameras. 3. Categorize each of the following requirements as user, application, device, or network. a. Database servers must run brand XYZ software. b. Teleconferencing requires at least 350 Kb capacity. c. Users must be able to submit print jobs of up to 25MB in size. d. Each access network should be able to service 200 corporate users. 96 CHAPTER 2 Requirements Analysis: Concepts 4. Give an example of a requirement as it flows from user to application to device to network.