Corporate Network
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
Corporate network
A typical corporate network has the following characteristics:
Many LAN segments with a backbone (for example, one segment on each floor or wing of several buildings).
More than one network protocol.
Areas configured with Open Shortest Path First (OSPF).
Dial-up connections for users who connect from home or while traveling.
Leased-line connections to branch offices.
Demand-dial connections to branch offices.
Internet connections.
The following illustration shows an example of a corporate network.
.gif "Corporate network")
A corporate network typically uses different types of network media. The different office segments can use 10-megabit-per-second (Mbps) Ethernet or token ring networks, but the backbone network that is used to connect to the different networks and host servers is usually made up of 100-Mbps Ethernet or Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI). Connections to external networks (the Internet) are over leased lines or packet-switched services such as Frame Relay. Connections to branch offices are over either switched media (ISDN or analog modems), dedicated media (leased lines or Frame Relay), or the Internet.
You can also use a tunneling protocol to connect the branch offices to the corporate network over the Internet, as shown by Router 10 and Network G. For more information on this type of configuration, see Branch Office over the Internet.
This corporate network scenario depicts branch office connections that use switched, demand-dial links and dedicated links, as shown in the following table.
Network media for the corporate network
| Router | Role | Medium |
|---|---|---|
Router 1 |
Connects to the backbone |
One Ethernet (100 Mbps) or FDDI adapter |
Connects to Network C |
One Ethernet (10 Mbps) or token ring adapter |
|
Router 2 |
Connects to Network A |
One Ethernet (10 Mbps) or token ring adapter |
Connects to Network C |
One Ethernet (10 Mbps) or token ring adapter |
|
Router 3 |
Connects to Network B |
One Ethernet (10 Mbps) or token ring adapter |
Connects Network C |
One Ethernet (10 Mbps) or token ring adapter |
|
Router 4 |
Connects to the backbone |
One Ethernet (100 Mbps) or FDDI adapter |
Connects to Network D |
One Ethernet (10 Mbps) or token ring adapter |
|
Router 5 |
Connects to the backbone |
One Ethernet (100 Mbps) or FDDI adapter |
Connects to Router 6 |
One or more ISDN adapters and/or analog modems |
|
Connects to Router 7 |
One Frame Relay adapter |
|
Router 6 |
Connects to Router 5 |
One or more ISDN adapters and/or analog modems |
Connects to Network F |
One Ethernet (10 Mbps) or token ring adapter |
|
Router 7 |
Connects to Router 5 |
One Frame Relay adapter |
Connects to Network E |
One Ethernet (10 Mbps) or token ring adapter |
|
Router 8 |
Connects to the backbone |
One Ethernet (100 Mbps) or FDDI adapter |
Connects to dial-up networking clients |
Analog modems and/or ISDN adapters |
|
Router 9 |
Connects to the backbone |
One Ethernet (100 Mbps) or FDDI adapter |
Connects to the Internet |
One leased line (56K/T1) or Frame Relay adapter |
|
Router 10 |
Connects to Network G |
One Ethernet (100 Mbps) or FDDI adapter |
Connects to the Internet |
One leased line (56K/T1) or Frame Relay adapter |
This section covers:
Notes
The example companies, organizations, products, people and events depicted herein are fictitious. No association with any real company, organization, product, person or event is intended or should be inferred.
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is not available on Windows XP 64-bit Edition (Itanium) and the 64-bit versions of the Windows Server 2003 family.