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2010/1 Module Catalogue
 Module Code: COMM007 Module Title: NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES
Module Provider: Computing Short Name: CSM05
Level: M Module Co-ordinator: CRUICKSHANK HS Dr (Elec Eng)
Number of credits: 15 Number of ECTS credits: 7.5
 
Module Availability
Autumn Semester
Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment
Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)
2 hour unseen exam
75%

Coursework: Networking related assignment
25%
Qualifying Condition(s) 

A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module.

Module Overview
Computer networking is a central technology for the MSc in Internet Computing. The Internet is built up from many millions of connected computers, which employ a range of networking equipment, and these must all operate together and be dynamically reconfigured. This module explores the characteristics of these devices and then shows how communication protocols can provide the static and mobile communication services that we all use today. 
Prerequisites/Co-requisites
None.
Module Aims

The aim of the module is to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the protocols, services and standards used in the design of computer networks and internetworks so that they have a critical awareness of the basic operation of the Internet, including TCP/IP with particular focus on routing protocols and applications.


Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
  • Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the benefits of layered protocols in the context of various local area network architectures, TCP/IP protocol family and Internet applications.
  • Apply gained theoretical knowledge to be able to design heterogeneous local area networks and Inter-networks.
  • Critically assess dynamic and distributed routing protocols for the Internet and identify the main factors affecting their performance
  • Show critical awareness of the role of the transport layer and the mechanisms used to support connection management and congestion control in TCP and its related applications.

Develop and demonstrate basic research skills in the areas of TCP/IP for IP neworking, muticasting, security and Quality of Service.
Module Content
Introduction: background; network types and topologies; the OSI model; the TCP/IP model; digital communication fundamentals [2 hours]
 
Local Area Networks: framing and error control; Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet; Token Bus and Token Ring; FDDI; LAN interconnection; virtual LANs [3 hours]
 
Wireless LANs and Bluetooth: architectures and protocols [1 hour]
 
Internetworking: introduction; circuit switching and packet switching; IP routing, addressing and subnetting; routers; Address Resolution Protocol (ARP); Internet Protocol (IP); Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) [3 hours]
 
Network routing: fundamentals (centralised, distributed and isolated routing; static and dynamic routing); source routing; flooding; distance vector (Bellman-Ford, RIP) and link state (Dijkstra, OSPF) routing algorithms and protocols [3 hours]
 
Transport layer protocols: the role of the transport layer in TCP/IP; connection management; transmission and congestion control with sliding windows; detailed view of The Transport Control Protocol (TCP), User datagram Protocol and Realtime Transport Protocol (RTP). [3 hours]
 
The TCP/IP application layer protocols:, Telnet, FTP, DNS SMTP; SNMP; HTTP; WWW, VoIP, SIP and H323 architecture [3 hours]
 
Advanced Network Applications: Overlay networks; principle of Peer-to-peer (P2P) communications; P2P applications (Gnutella, Napster, Chord, Skype etc.), Grid Computing [3 hours]
Network security architecture; Security basics, Internet security architecture, IPsec, Transport layer security (TLS), multicast security and secure web services. [3 hours]
 
IP Multicast: principles and applications [1 hour]
 
Mobile IP: principles and routing [1 hour]
 
IP Quality of service: traffic categories; Integrated Services; Differentiated Services [1 hour]
Methods of Teaching/Learning
30 one-hour lectures in weeks 1-10, to include

demonstrations and problem-solving sessions.
Selected Texts/Journals
Essential reading
 
Tanenbaum, A.S. Computer Networks, 4th ed, Prentice-Hall 2003, ISBN 0-13-038488-7
 
Recommended reading
 
Forouzan, B.A. Data Communications and Networking, 4th ed, McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-118160-1
 
W. Stallings, "Data and computer communications", 6th Ed 2000 or 7th Ed 2004, Prentice-Hall
 
Supplementary reading
 
None
Last Updated

Sep 2009