Task 8 Network Design Guide
This guide helps you build a clear, assessable high value domestic network design using a real floorplan and UniFi Design Center evidence.
Step 1: Select A Suitable Property
Choose a house listing from realestate.com.au that includes a clear floorplan.
Choose a property that has enough network design complexity, such as:
- multiple bedrooms
- study or home office
- theatre, games room or large living area
- garage or workshop
- outdoor entertaining area
- multiple storeys
- security camera or smart home opportunities
Avoid tiny or unclear floorplans because they make the network design too shallow.
Step 2: Analyse The Requirements
Do not start by placing access points. Start by reading the floorplan like a client brief.
Ask:
- Where will people work, study, stream or game?
- Where are fixed devices likely to need ethernet?
- Which spaces need strong Wi-Fi?
- Which outdoor areas need coverage?
- Which smart home, IoT or camera devices need network access?
- Which devices should be separated from the main private network?
- Where would the internet service likely enter the house?
- Where could a central network cabinet or rack be located?
Step 3: Identify The Network Type
The home needs a local area network (LAN) because devices inside the property need to share local network access.
The home also needs a wide area network (WAN) connection because the LAN connects to an internet service provider.
A personal area network (PAN) may apply to very short-range personal devices, such as a phone connected to earbuds or a smartwatch. Do not describe the whole house network as a PAN.
Step 4: Choose The Topology
Use a star topology for the main domestic LAN. In a star topology, wired devices connect back to a central point, usually a switch or PoE switch. Wireless access points also connect back to the LAN.
Why this suits the scenario:
- it is common in modern homes
- it supports reliable ethernet runs to key rooms
- it allows central management and troubleshooting
- it supports PoE access points and cameras
- one cable fault usually affects one device or area, not the whole LAN
Step 5: Place The Main Hardware
| Hardware | Function in this design |
|---|---|
| Modem or ONT | Connects the home to the internet service provider connection. |
| Gateway/router | Directs traffic between the home LAN and the internet/WAN. |
| Firewall function | Controls allowed and blocked traffic to protect the network. |
| Switch or PoE switch | Connects wired LAN devices and may provide power to access points or cameras. |
| Wireless access point | Provides Wi-Fi coverage to rooms and outdoor spaces. |
| NIC | Allows a device to connect to the network using wired or wireless hardware. |
| Bridge or mesh link | Connects a network segment where cabling is not available; use only if justified. |
Use this build order when placing and explaining hardware:
| Build order | Place or explain | Why it is needed | Evidence to include |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Internet/WAN entry | Shows the external provider network before the home LAN. | WAN or ISP entry label, or a written assumption. |
| 2 | Modem or ONT | Connects the property to the internet service. | Label in topology or UniFi evidence. |
| 3 | Gateway/router/firewall | Routes between LAN and WAN and filters traffic. | Topology path and security reason. |
| 4 | Switch or PoE switch | Central point for wired star topology. | Switch label and branches to APs/devices. |
| 5 | Ethernet/PoE links | Reliable wired backhaul and fixed-device connections. | Ethernet/PoE labels or hardware/media table. |
| 6 | Wireless access points | Wi-Fi access to the wired LAN. | Device placement and heatmap screenshots. |
| 7 | Wired fixed devices | Shows suitable media selection for high-demand devices. | Device list and written justification. |
| 8 | Guest/IoT/camera/home office networks | Shows security and segmentation decisions. | Security/topology explanation. |
| 9 | Optional bridge/mesh/cellular/satellite | Solves a specific limitation only where needed. | Limitation plus reason for the optional link. |
Step 6: Select Transmission Media
| Medium | Suitable use | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Twisted pair ethernet | Access points, cameras, home office, TV/media, gaming console, printer, NAS and switch links | Reliable, common and suitable for fixed high-demand devices. |
| Wireless | Phones, tablets, laptops and guest devices | Supports mobile devices and flexible use across the house. |
| Fibre optic | ISP connection or high-speed link if supplied or justified | High bandwidth and long-distance performance. Often appears as the provider connection rather than internal home cabling. |
| Cellular | Backup internet option | Useful for high availability if the primary internet fails. |
| Satellite | Rural or remote properties with limited fixed internet options | Use only if the selected property location or scenario makes it reasonable. |
Step 7: Use UniFi Design Center Evidence
Your UniFi evidence should show:
- the floorplan imported or recreated
- access point placement
- coverage or heatmap evidence
- important wired device locations
- network core location
- device list or export evidence where possible
- screenshot evidence that supports your choices
The UniFi floorplan is not enough by itself. You also need to explain the logical network structure.
Step 8: Add Network Segmentation
For a high value domestic network, a single flat Wi-Fi network is usually weak.
Consider:
- family/private network
- guest network
- IoT or smart home network
- camera/security network
- home office network
Explain why separation helps. For example, guest devices should not access private computers, NAS devices, cameras or smart home management interfaces.
Step 9: Add Protocols
Email uses communication protocols:
- SMTP sends outgoing email.
- IMAP lets users access and sync mailbox folders across devices.
- POP3 downloads email to a device and is less suitable if users need email across multiple devices.
For a home office user, IMAP is usually more suitable than POP3 because the user may access email from a laptop, phone and web browser.
Step 10: Add Security And Malware Responses
The design should include:
- strong authentication for network administration and Wi-Fi access
- separate guest and IoT access where suitable
- encryption for Wi-Fi and cloud services
- firewall rules or isolation between networks
- anti-malware protection, updates and safe-use practices
Link the protection to real risks such as cameras, smart locks, home office files, personal data, payment information and guest devices.
Step 11: Justify The Design
A strong justification follows this pattern:
I recommend [design choice] because [technical reason]. This suits the selected property because [floorplan, user, device, reliability or security link].
Example:
I recommend using ceiling-mounted wireless access points connected by twisted pair ethernet to a PoE switch because this gives reliable backhaul and central power. This suits the selected property because the living area, bedrooms and outdoor entertaining area need strong Wi-Fi coverage without relying on a weak single router in one corner of the house.