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The aim of this unit is to provide an understanding of the basic principles of data communications, the technological infrastructure underlying networks and their role in computer information systems. Topics: basic concepts, the components of data communications, hardware, software and network architecture, data communications standards, technologies and data communications systems planning, design and implementation.
On completion of this unit, you will:
Below is a brief overview of the topics covered in the lectures:
|
Topic |
Week |
Topic Content |
1 |
1 |
Intro to Data Communications: hardware, software, OSI & TCP/IP reference models, Layers |
2 |
2,3 |
The Physical Layer: Data comm. Theory, Transmission Media, transmission providers, ISDN, ATM, bandwidth |
3 |
4,5 |
The Data link Layer: design issues, error detection, data link protocols |
4 |
6,7 |
The Medium Access Sub-Layer: MA protocols ALOHA, CSMA/CD, High Speed LANs |
5 |
8,9 |
The Network Layer: design issues, routing algorithms. Congestion issues, internetworking, the IP protocol ATM network layer |
6 |
10,11 |
The Transport Layer: Transport protocols, TCP, UDP, ATM protocols, performance issues. |
7 |
12,13 |
The Application Layer: security, domain names, SNMP, mail, news & internet client server |
The tutorials will reinforce the material covered in the lectures, and provide students with the opportunity to look at practical implementations of the concepts given in the lectures. Most tutorials will involve exercises using computing facilities. Although the tutorial exercises are not assessed, they are invaluable to your understanding of the course material.
All tutorial sessions are 2 hours, but only the first hour will be supervised by a tutor. So please make sure you make it to the first hour at least for your tutorials. Tutorial exercises will be put here as the semester progresses.
External Students: No on-campus attendance is required. However, you are welcome to attend as many of the on-campus lectures and tutorials as you wish. Please contact the Unit Coordinator or the Programme Secretary for details about the timetable and venues.
Internal students are expected to attend three hours of lectures and one 2-hour practice session each week..
Cleo is the Teaching and Learning Centre's host for student access to the University's facilities and Internet services, such as email. Internal and external students may apply to the TLC to obtain an account on Cleo. Please contact Dr Roger Atkinson, Senior Lecturer in Educational Technologies, (08) 9360 6840, for further information. Additional information for non-metropolitan students can be obtained from the External Studies homepage here.
Students should be aware of the implications of different dates if they choose to withdraw from the unit.
| Enrolment - end of Week 3: | Does not show on academic record. |
| Week 4 - end of Week 7: | W1 but does not affect academic progress. |
| Week 8 - end of Week 10: | W2 and counts against academic progress. |
| After Week 10: | Fail. |
| After end of August: | Incurs HECS liability. |
Computer Networks by Andrew Tanenbaum
3rd edition (1996) Prentice-Hall
- This textbook is
available in the main library, in the Closed Reserved section.
It is also available for purchasing in the University Bookshop. The
book is quite detailed and will be an invaluable reference book beyond this unit.
Initially, it can get very tedious reading it, especially
for students with no prior experience in computer networking (which I assume
the majority of you to be). Use the lecture notes as guide when refering to
the textbook. Don't be discouraged when there are sections you do not understand.
Consult your tutor, or the unit coordinator if you need help.
All material for this unit will be available on-line at the address http://www.it.murdoch.edu.au/~hiew/b227.
The material available on this web-site includes:
The laboratory used for B227 is in the ECL Building Rm 2.050, and is available during normal opening hours for this building. Arrangements to use alternative laboratories outside these hours can be made by seeing the Secretary, ECL Building, Room 2.049. You will need your Student identity card and a special pass to use the laboratory.
For access to the building during week-ends, contact the security guard at the Chancellery Building. Check times when the laboratory is reserved for formal practice classes during weekday mornings and afternoons.
External students will have to arrange their own access to a computer. A CDROM containing the required software will be sent to you in the first weeks of the semester. You are required to have access to the Internet so that you can get to the on-line unit materials.
Access to a computer and software can be arranged in several ways:
Buy your own. You will need a Pentium personal computer, with the following minimum configurations and accessories:
| Processor: | at least Pentium 100 |
| Main Memory (RAM): | at least 16Mb |
| Hard Disk: | at least 200Mb |
| Floppy Disk: | 1.44Mb 3.5inch |
| CD-ROM drive | at least 2x speed |
| Modem |
Most retail systems today would include much higher specifications that the above. Purchase a system appropriate for you other needs, but ensure that you have at least the above minimum requirement for this unit.
If you use your own equipment, you will need to have Internet access as well. You can arrange this with the Teaching and Learning Centre (see Electronic Communication above), or through your own Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Use your employer's facilities or the computing laboratories of regional colleges: You will need to make your own arrangements for access to these facilities.
Use the on-campus facilities at Murdoch. Refer to the information given above for internal students. Check with the Unit Coordinator about details of the laboratory to use and getting a Pass to the Labs.
Your tutor will be the person you primarily consult with questions in this unit. You can consult them during your tutorial sessions on anything you need clarifications for.
The unit coordinator will be available after every lecture to answer any questions you may have. Of course, you can still approach him at other time regarding matters which are urgent. Unfortunately, with an enrolment of close to 250, he may not be able to devote as much individual attention to each student outside of lecture times as appropriate. The unit coordinator's consultation times are posted on his door in S&C 2.4.
The assessments for this unit is divided into the following:
| Assessment | % mark | Week due | Date |
| Assignment 1 | 10% | End of of Week 5 | Friday, 24th March 2000 |
| Assignment 2 | 10% | End of of Week 9 | Friday, 28th April 2000 |
| Project | 25% | End of of Week 12 | Friday, 26th May 2000 |
| Final Examination | 55% |
Be sure to keep a copy of all assignments submitted for assessment in case they get lost.
To pass the unit, the student must submit all assignments and the project, as well as sit the final exam. Therefore, even if you haven't completed an assignment or the project by the due date, submit what you have it to give yourself a chance. You have NO chance of passing if you fail to submit any single one of the assignments.
In order to achieve a particular letter grade you must attain certain minimum percentage scores in each of
The minimum nominal percentage scores for the overall work and for the practical and supervised assessment components are set out in the following table. Note that marks, for example, may be scaled to ensure equity of marking by different staff, and across assignments of different difficulty.
| Notional Letter Scores | Grade | Minimum Percentage |
| HD | High Distinction | 80-100 |
| D | Distinction | 70-80 |
| C | Credit | 60-70 |
| P | Pass | 50-60 |
| UP | Ungraded Pass | 50-100 |
| CP | Conceded Pass * | |
| S | Supplementary Assessment * | |
| N | Fail | Below 50 |
* A Unit Coordinator may recommend to the School's Board of Examiners that a CP or S be awarded. The Board of Examiners will then determine the final grade to be awarded.
If you wish to be graded on a pass/fail basis, you must apply to the Unit Coordinator before the end of Week 4 of the semester in which this unit begins.
Appeals against the final grade must be submitted in writing to the Dean, Division of BITL, according to the procedures given in Degree Regulation 49.
The University regards most seriously any acts of dishonesty relating to assessment. (Please refer to the section in the Murdoch University Handbook & Calendar entitled: Dishonesty in Assessment.) These include: plagiarism, collusion, re-submission of previously marked work in different units, examination misconduct, and theft of other student's work. Dishonesty in assessment, depending on the seriousness of the case, can lead to a requirement to undertake additional work, failure in a course or in a part of it, suspension from the University or even permanent expulsion from the University.
Plagiarism constitutes using the work of another without indicating by referencing (and by quotation marks when exact phrases or passages are borrowed) that the ideas expressed are not one's own. Students can use the ideas and information from other authors, but this use must be acknowledged.
Resubmission of previously marked work is not acceptable practice if it is not acknowledged.
Unauthorised collaboration ("collusion") constitutes joint effort between students, or students and others, in preparing material submitted for assessment, except where this has been approved by the Unit Coordinator. Students are encouraged to discuss matters covered in units, but when writing an assignment, computer program, laboratory report or other piece of assessed work, the recording and treatment of data and the expression of ideas and argument must be the student's own.
The University is committed to the use of non-discriminatory language in all forms of communication. Students and staff should avoid the use of discriminatory language in units and in all other activities within the University. This applies to both oral and written communication.
Discriminatory language is that which refers in abusive terms to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or nationality, ethnic or language background, physical or mental ability, or political or religious views, or which stereotypes groups in an adverse manner that is not supported by evidence. This is not meant to preclude or inhibit legitimate academic debate on any issue; however the language used in such debate should be non-discriminatory and sensitive to these matters.
For further details about assessment, see the current University Handbook, in particular Degree Regulations 40 - 51.
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Document author: H.L. Hiew,
Unit Coordinator
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