documenting network and security requirements for a data center network upgrade

[Alex Keller <alkeller () SFSU EDU>]

hello folks,

our systems team is in the process of  re-architecting the networking
infrastructure and security capabilities in our modest datacenter (4
racks including SAN, highly virtualized under ESX). the networking team
has asked us to construct a list of requirements that will inform the
design process, but we haven't been provided a lot of guidance. based
upon our research on how to properly document high level project
requirements we have developed an outline as such:

Introduction
Historical summary
Purpose of this document
Project objective
Scope
Client & stakeholders
Assumptions and other relevant facts
Functional requirements
Quality and performance requirements
Security requirements
Summary of requirements
Figures
Questions
References
Appendix

we see this requirements discovery and documentation as the first step
within a structured process for the project:

Identify Needs and Goals
Logical Design
Physical Design
Testing and Optimizing the Design

(roughly lifted from the Cisco book "Top-Down Network Design")

i am wondering if anybody on the list can provide advice, examples, or
further resources that can help us to create an informed requirements
document as the first step in such a project. any assistance would be
greatly appreciated. perhaps someone would be willing to share such a
completed document with me off-list?

sincerely,
alex keller

-- 
Alex Keller
Systems Administrator
Academic Technology, San Francisco State University
Office: Burk Hall 153 Phone: (415)338-6117 Email: alkeller () sfsu edu