Course Title: Integrate new systems and equipment into the telecommunications network

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2010

Course Code: EEET6722C

Course Title: Integrate new systems and equipment into the telecommunications network

School: 130T Vocational Engineering

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6080 - Advanced Diploma of Telecommunications Engineering

Course Contact: Program Manager

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4468

Course Contact Email: engineering-tafe@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Mohammad Hassan
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254700
Course Contact Email: mohammad.hassan@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 150

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

There are no pre-requisites for this course

Course Description

This unit may apply to switching, transmission and radio (both fixed and mobile) network and the various transmission paths i.e. cable, optic fibre, radio, microwave and satellite. This unit applies to computer systems including Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs). Equivalent Units Commissioning and integration of telecommunications equipment can occur simultaneously. Commissioning is covered in Unit ICTTC059C Commission telecommunications network equipment


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

ICTTC060C Integrate new systems and equipment into the telecommunications network

Element:

1. Organise planned outages if necessary

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Integration plan is developed and documented
1.2 Affected systems, traffic and customers are identified
1.3 Outage duration is determined
1.4 Outage times are negotiated with appropriate groups
1.5 Existence of contingency plans is checked
1.6 Contingency plans are developed in the event that such a plan does not already exist
1.7 Emergency communications are provided if appropriate
1.8 A detailed list is prepared of all the areas impacted and the likely affect of such impact
1.9 Alarm management centre is notified of action planned
1.10 Authority to proceed is obtained from the relevant control centre
1.11 Customers affected by the outage are notified, both as to time and likely duration

Element:

2. Provide alternate transmission path if possible

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Alternative transmission paths available are examined
2.2 Alternative paths are discussed with appropriate control centre/design group
2.3 Time and duration of integration activity is planned
2.4 Approval to planned action is obtained from relevant authority
2.5 Alternative transmission paths are implemented
2.6 Relevant bearers are identified and tested

Element:

3. Implement integration

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Near and distant ends and all intermediate points are jumpered as per specification
3.2 Operational software is loaded in accordance with specification
3.3 Network ports are connected in accordance with specification
3.4 Signalling/network synchronisation links are connected in accordance with instructions and standards
3.5 Data bases are updated in accordance with both manufacturers specification and enterprise policy
3.6 All trunks and lines/interfaces are enabled in accordance with specification
3.7 Success of the integration is assessed and contingency plans are implemented where appropriate
3.8 Work is conducted in a manner which is safe to self, fellow workers and the public at large
3.9 Alarms are analysed for fault conditions in conjunction with network management centre
3.10 Detected faults are located, rectified within capability or escalated in accordance with enterprise

Element:

4. Test integration

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Tests are undertaken by simulating network traffic
4.2 Specific measurements are undertaken as described in the equipment manuals
4.3 Tests calls in and out of the new switch are organised with distant parties
4.4 All test results are analysed to ensure that the parameters established have all been met
4.5 Problems identified during testing phase are analysed and action taken to correct or escalation procedures activated

Element:

5. Complete administrative tasks

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Project completion is notified to relevant authorities
5.2 All tools and test equipment are cleaned, adjusted and stored in an accessible location
5.3 Test results are recorded and stored in accordance with enterprise requirements
5.4 Work documentation is completed and returned to the appropriate area as dictated by enterprise policy
5.5 Transporting of tools and test equipment in suitable protective casing is organised where appropriate
5.6 Equipment labelling is checked and amended as required
5.7 New alarms are activated and old alarms are deactivated


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

In this unit you will learn industry recognized skills in designing, implementing and managing a local and wide area network.
Classroom activities:
Lectures:
to introduce the important concepts.
• Attending lectures will make it much easier for you to understand the central concepts of the course
• You will feel more comfortable and you will learn more if you read the relevant material before you attend the lectures
Tutorials: to enable you to ask questions and to clarify unresolved issues
• Review the material and prepare your questions before you come to class.
• There will be an overview of course content with a focus on the material students find difficult
• If something is unclear or if you find yourself falling behind please ask for help immediately
• You may be given worksheets to complete during the tutorial
Reflective Lab Journal: You will perform the exercise and write it up in a reflective lab journal.
The reflective journal will be an Online Blog created in the Learning Hub.
A reflective lab journal is a means to reflect on your learning (and learning experiences) in different ways. They are used to:
• record the development of your ideas and insights and / or those of a group in a given context and can include concepts, ideas and main points from experience and theory
• reflect upon the subject content and personal experiences as a means to increase your understanding
• analyse your own learning in and for self development.
They are used to explore situations from a personal perspective, but generally within the context of learning from your experiences. They are used to reflect on, in and for action. Common questions arising from ’reflection’ are:
• What happened? (Reflecting on actions)
• Why did it happen? (Reflecting in actions)
• What can be learnt from this for future actions? (Reflecting for actions)
The write up will be a record of your actions as they are performed and your corresponding observations.
The write up must be performed in the class as you perform the exercise, not at a later date.
o Write ups not in the Blog will not be marked.
o Write ups which are not done concurrently with the performance of the exercise will not be marked.
In general the detail of the write up must be sufficient for you to be able to comfortably perform the practical exercise a year or more lately directly from the reflective lab journal
Any difficult or tricky points should be especially noted in the reflective journal for future reference.
The neatness, completeness and the presentation of the reflective journal must be of a quality such that you would be prepared to show it to a future employer as an example of your work.
Work simulated activities: you will progressively implement a networking scenario as you would be expected to do in industry.
• You will be expected to work on a networking scenario progressively as you learn the material required for you to be able to do so.
• Leaving the work to a late stage and then rushing to complete it is bad industrial practice. It will be strongly discouraged and marked down heavily. You will be expected to meet progressive milestones in the completion of this activity.
Occupational Health and Safety:
• Conduct in lecture theatres, classrooms and laboratories will be of a standard required by OH&S legislation as applied to industry.
• You must behave in such a way as not to place the health and safety of yourself or anyone else at risk
• Covered shoes must be worn in all labs
• Thongs and sandals must not be worn in any lab
Preparation for the Work place:
All skills and knowledge in this course are oriented towards current industry practices and technologies. An essential industry expectation is that you are responsible for your behaviour and actions. When you are in employment you will be expected to attend work on time on a regular basis, perform you work on time to an accepted standard and be responsible for what you do. Industry will expect you to comprehend and follow both verbal and written instructions. All industry expectations will be applied to you in this course.
You will be expected to:
• Observe all Occupational Health and Safety requirements
• You must behave in such a way as not to place the health and safety of yourself or anyone else at risk
• Prepare for classes
• Attend all classes regularly and on time
• Use your class time in a productive and responsible way
• Finish your work on time to an accepted standard
• Pay attention to, comprehend and follow both verbal and written instructions.
• It is your personal responsibility to be aware of course requirements and timelines
• Please ask if something is not clear
The Preparation for the Workplace component will be an essential part of the assessment for this course. It will be included in the assessment of the practical and work simulated activities.
Activities Outside of Class:
It is expected that students allocate at least 60% of course hours for reading, independent study, project research, design, implementation, testing and problem solving activities.


Teaching Schedule

This is a whole year course of 36 weeks  In first semester6 hours/  week and in second semester4 hours/week.

First Semester

2 Hour Lab =
0.5 Hour (Catch Up Lab) +
1.5 Hour (New Lab: Odd Number)

4 Hour Lab =
1 Hour (Online Exam Tutorial + Lab Explanation) +
1.5 Hour (Online Exam+ PT Activity) +
1.5 Hour (Lab: Even Number)

2 Hour Lecture =
0.5 Hour (Lecture Revision) +
1.5 Hour (New Lecture) 

Week 1
Course Outline, Assessment Criteria, LAN Design (CCNA 3- Chapter 1)
Lab Task 1- Review of Concepts from CCNA 2.
Lab Task 2- Basic Switch Configuration.
Week 2
Basic Switch Concepts & Configuration (CCNA 3- Chapter 2)
Online Exam CCNA3Chapter– 1.
Lab Task 3- Managing Switch Operating System and Configuration Files.
Lab Task 4 - Basic VLAN Configuration.
Week 3
VLANs (CCNA 3- Chapter 3)
Online Exam CCNA3Chapter–2.
Lab Task 5- Basic VTP Configuration.
Lab Task 6- Basic Spanning Tree Protocol.
Week 4
VTP (CCNA 3- Chapter 4)
Online Exam CCNA3Chapter– 3.
Lab Task 7- Basic Inter-VLAN Routing.
Lab Task 8- Basic Wireless Configuration.
Week 5
STP (CCNA 3- Chapter 5)
Online Exam CCNA3Chapter– 4.
Make up Online Exam CCNA3Chapter 1– 3.
Lab Task – Revision LAB 1-8
Week 6
Inter-VLAN Routing (CCNA 3- Chapter 6)
Online Exam CCNA3Chapter– 5.
1st Lab Test (20%)
Week 7
Basic Wireless Concepts & Configuration (CCNA 3- Chapter 7)
Online Exam CCNA3Chapter– 6 

Term Break

Week 8
Introduction to WANs (CCNA 4- Chapter 1)
Online Exam CCNA3Chapter– 7
Make up Online Exam CCNA3Chapter 1– 7.
Case Study-CCNA3
Week 9
PPP (CCNA 4- Chapter 2)
Final CCNA 3 Online Exam: 15%
Case Study-CCNA3
Week 10
Frame Relay (CCNA 4- Chapter 3)
Final CCNA 3 Repeat Online Exam: 15%
Online Exam CCNA4Chapter– 1
Lab Task 9- Basic PPP Configuration.
Lab Task 10- Basic Frame Relay Configuration.
Week 11
Network Security (CCNA 4- Chapter 4)
Online Exam CCNA4Chapter– 2
Lab Task 11- Basic Security Configuration.
Lab Task 12- Basic Access Control List Configuration.
Week 12
ACLs (CCNA 4- Chapter 5)
Online Exam CCNA4Chapter– 3
Lab Task 13- Basic DHCP Configuration.
Lab Task 14- Basic NAT Configuration.
Week 13
Teleworkers Services (CCNA 4- Chapter 6)
Online Exam CCNA4Chapter– 4
Make up Online Exam CCNA2Chapter 6– 7.
Lab Task – Revision LAB 9-14
Week 14
IP Addressing Services (CCNA 4- Chapter 7)
Online Exam CCNA4Chapter– 5 & 6
Make up Online Exam CCNA4Chapter 1– 4.
Case Study-CCNA4
Week 15
Network Troubleshooting (CCNA 4- Chapter 8) ,
Online Exam CCNA4Chapter– 7
Case Study-CCNA4
Week 16 
Online Exam CCNA4Chapter– 8
Make up Online Exam CCNA4Chapter 1– 8.
2nd Lab Test (20%)
Week 17

Final CCNA 4 Online Exam: 15%
2nd Lab Test Repeat (20%)
Week 18
Final CCNA 4 Repeat Online Exam: 15%
Written Final Exam-30% (Optional)
Case study (10%)

Semester Break

Second Semester

Week 1: Introduction to PSTN , Organise planned outages
Lab 1 DHCP
Week 2: Introduction to VoIP , alternate transmission path
Lab 2 Inter-VLAN Routing
Week 3: Calculating Bandwidth Requirements , integration plan
Lab 3 CME on a Router and Soft IP Phones on PC
Week 4: Assessing Network’s VoIP Readiness
Lab 4 Cisco VoIP Phone 7960
Week 5: Understanding Call Plan
Lab 5 Two-Router Wildcard Dial Peer , Test integration
Week 6: Configuring Voice Ports
Lab 6 CME Router with Analog Phone, Cisco IP Phone & CIPC
Week 7: Matching Inbound-Outbound Dial Peers & Hunt Groups
Lab 7 Plug & Play UC 500, Music on Hold & Configuring CCA
Week 8: Protocol, Signalling and Call Control , integration administrative tasks
Lab 8 Configuring Unified Messaging
Week 9: Introduction to H.323
Lab 9 Reset UC 520 to factory default
Week 10: QoS of VoIP
Lab 10 Configuring AutoQoS
Week 11: VoIP Security
Lab 11 Business Schedule and Auto Attendant
Week 12: Understanding Video over IP
Lab 12 Advanced Features
Week 13: Introduction to Digital Media Service
Lab 13 Multicast Multimedia Streaming using VLC
Week 14: Review
Configuring a Basic Call Centre Application on the UC500
Week 15-16: Revision

Week17: Lab exam
Week 18: Written Final Exam


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

• LAN Switching and Wireless, CCNA Exploration Companion Guide, Cisco Press, ISBN 1587132079, February 2008.
• Accessing the WAN, CCNA Exploration Companion Guide, Cisco Press, ISBN 1587132052, February 2008.
• Authorized self-study guide: Cisco Voice over IP (CVoice)/ Kevin Wallace, 3e, Cisco Press
• The Essential Guide to Telecommunications/ Annabel Z. Dodd, Fourth Edition, Prentice Hall.


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Laboratory Exercises will be conducted and assessed throughout the year.

Assignments and an On-line exam are required for assessment

There will be a project conducted as part of a team (pairs)


Assessment Tasks

The assessment for this course is a combination of assessable laboratory experiments via reflective journal, two practical tests, two case studies and final assessment.

You will be assessed progressively during the course. In the FIRST SEMESTER The assessments consist of:

Reflective lab Journal - 20%
Laboratory reports, completing all the activities/practice sheets and submitting a reflective lab journal.
Each lab must be completed and reflective laboratory journals are a compulsory part of the assessment to successfully complete the course.
The first Feedback from the teacher about student’s Reflective Journal will be available in Week 5 on Learning HUB and then second feedback will appear on Week 13. The final feedback is based on all the labs.

Laboratory Test – 30%
There would two Laboratory Tests. Each is worth of 15%.

Case Study- 10%

Final Assessment- 40%
The students are expected to do CCNA 2 online exams and their marks will be extracted from the online exams as below-
- Online CCNA 3&4 Chapter Exam - 10%
- Online CCNA 3&4 Final Exam - 30%
Otherwise, students need to sit for a consolidated internal written exam of 40%.

(The laboratory activities are a compulsory part of the assessment to successfully complete the course.)


In order to pass the course, you are required to obtain at least 50% in the final examination and at least 50% in the combination of laboratory tests, laboratory exercises and case study. 
 


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview