Course Title: Create scripts for networking

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2014

Course Code: COSC6103C

Course Title: Create scripts for networking

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4299 - Certificate IV in Information Technology Networking

Course Contact: Geoff Moss

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4852

Course Contact Email: geoff.moss@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 60

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

NiI

Course Description

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to undertake scripted programming tasks for networking related activities.

This course explores Linux and *nix through the command line, Bash scripting and Ubuntu. You will learn to work at the *nix command line, and transfer this knowledge to writing basic scripts.

Topics include
• Basic scripts, the development of writing scripts from the terminal to the script
• System security – separate user and root accounts, escalation of privileges, root via sudo su, sudo command, configuring the sudo’ers file with visudo.
• Standard permissions with owner and groups, read write and execute file permissions.
• File permissions: chmod, chown, chgrp, ls –al.
• File types, binary and text files, library files, symlinks. Compare with Windows dlls and shortcuts.
• Bash programming language, control structures. Functions, passing arguments from the command line, loops, if then, else and case statements, program return error code. Built in variables and PATH. The bash interpreter. Local variables and basic data types and manipulations with strings. Functions.
• Command line utilities relevant to networking. ps, netstat, ifconfig, ping, tail -f, htop
• *nix language in a Bash shell–mkdir, rm, cd, pushd, popd, pwd, ls, cp, mv -i, man, whoami, pipes, output redirection, echo, cat, grep, xterm &, pattern matching, “.” and “..” directories, ~, hidden files beginning with a period “.”, command line arguments, command line in scripts
• Scheduler through crontab with relative and absolute paths, logs, log files and logging messages
• vi editor skills
• *nix updates and software installation using # apt-get. In Ubuntu configuring the proxy server for apt-get update.
 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

ICANWK409A Create scripts for networking

Element:

Create code

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Select appropriate scripting language
2.2 Demonstrate understanding and application of basic language syntax rules and best practices
2.3 Select and use language data types, operators and expressions to create clear and concise code
2.4 Use techniques of selection, iteration and sequence to control script execution flow
2.5 Use techniques for sequential file input and output to retrieve and store information
2.6 Obtain and use user input to affect the operation of the script
2.7 Apply internal document principles to created code
2.8 Follow organisational guidelines for developing maintainable code when creating scripts
2.9 Adhere to coding standards when creating scripts

Element:

Develop algorithms to represent solutions to a given problem

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Consult with client and key stakeholders to identify the problem and associated script requirements
1.2 Employ abbreviated software development cycle to script creation
1.3 Develop an algorithm to solve the problem and meet client requirements
1.4 Develop an algorithm which takes account of expected possible situations
1.5 Develop an algorithm which is guaranteed to end
1.6 Demonstrate use of structure, sequence, selection and iteration

Element:

Document Script

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Create technical-level documentation
5.2 Create user-level documentation

Element:

Test and debug code

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Engineer, document and conduct simple tests to confirm code meets design specification
4.2 Identify areas that are not covered or are covered incorrectly in the script
4.3 Take action to ensure that code complies with security policy
4.4 Take action to ensure that code operates with proper permissions
4.5 Use script debugging techniques suitable for use with scripting language to detect and resolve errors of syntactical, logical and design origin

Element:

Use operating system tools

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Use searching and sorting tools to select information from the logging output of operating system (OS)
3.2 Implement controls to ensure that where significant events occur, script creates and maintains a log of operations via operating system logging mechanism
3.3 Register and run scripts with OS scheduling facility

Learning Outcomes


Develope scripted programming abilities.  Develope skills in BASH. 

This course contributes to the development of the following capabilities:
• Develop shell scripts
• Using Linux at the command line
• Monitor processes by command line tools and the GUI.
• Identify and manage standard permissions
• Write a basic menu program
• Modify and testing your code
• Documenting code


Details of Learning Activities

A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.

The collaborative classroom based activities will include theory sessions, practical lab sessions, tutorial sessions, and out-of-class research and homework.

We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.


Teaching Schedule

The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete the course. This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Week Commencing Topics
 
Week 1-3 *nix and vi basics. Hello world program in Bash
 
Week 4-12 Variables, datatypes, control structures, functions and loops
Week 13-14 Logs, root user escalation, logging system messages, pattern matching
Week15 Scripting
Week 16-17 Schedule scripts with crontab
Week 18-19 Escalation with visudo, disabling automatic root access
Week 20 Menu application


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

www.rmit.edu.au/teaching/technology/blackboard


Overview of Assessment

Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent. Skill based assessment.

A range of assessment methods are used to assess practical skills and knowledge, for example
• direct questioning combined with a review of portfolios of evidence
• review of authenticated documents from the workplace or training environment
• demonstration of techniques
 


Assessment Tasks

You are required to complete all assessments. You must successfully complete all assessments to be deemed competent in this unit.

Assessment 1: Prac Scripting 1

Assessment 2: Prac Scripting 2

Assessment 3: Prac Scripting 3

Assessment 4: Prac Scripting 4 
 


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Marking Guide (competency):

Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ‘competency based training’ (CBT).

So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention.

You need to demonstrate you are competent in each element of the unit of competency you are studying.

You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you whether you are competent or not and how well you are performing. Once competent in all elements of the unit you receive a competency grading.
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview