Not all data is equal. A good design prioritizes time-sensitive traffic—like Voice over IP (VoIP) or video conferencing—over standard web browsing to ensure clear communication. 3. Security by Design
High availability is non-negotiable. Designers use dual-homing (connecting a switch to two upstream devices) and protocols like STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) or LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) to ensure that if one cable or switch fails, the network stays live. network design
The "driveways." This is where end-user devices (PCs, printers, Wi-Fi APs) connect. It focuses on port security and providing power (PoE) to devices. 2. Core Principles: Performance and Reliability Not all data is equal