Course Title: Determine best-fit topology for a local network

Part A: Course Overview

Program: C5341 Diploma of Information Technology

Course Title: Determine best-fit topology for a local network

Portfolio: Vocational Education

Nominal Hours: 20

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.

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COSC7360C

City Campus

TAFE

650T Vocational Business Education

Face-to-Face or Internet

 Term1 2017,
Term2 2017,
Term1 2018,
Term2 2018,
Term1 2019

Course Contact: Val Christou

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5076

Course Contact Email: val.christou@rmit.edu.au



Course Description

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to determine the most appropriate way of networking computers to meet user needs and business requirements.

It applies to individuals in senior networking roles who are required to plan the most appropriate topology for a proposed network.

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None



National Competency Codes and Titles

National Element Code & Title:

ICTNWK516 Determine best-fit topology for a local network

Elements:

1. Determine user needs

2. Develop local area network specification

Learning Outcomes


Overview of Assessment

In order to achieve competency in this unit, you must provide:

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

  • analyse business or organisational needs
  • identify the most appropriate local area network (LAN), virtual private network (VPN) or wireless local area network (WLAN) topology
  • document recommendations. 

Knowledge Evidence

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, you must:        

  • summarise the typical network topologies for the following:
    • large and small LANs
    • wide area networks (WANs)
    • VPNs
    • virtual local area networks (VLANs)
    • WLANs
  • identify and describe the typical components of a local network, including:
    • adaptor cards
    • bridges
    • Ethernet hardware
    • gateways
    • hubs
    • routers
  • describe the software and programming requirements of a local network, including:
    • security protocols
    • transmission control protocol or internet protocol (TCP/IP)
  • describe the business consideration for establishing a local network including:
    • growth projections and capacity planning
    • costs and queuing constraints
    • high and low speed links
    • redundancy paths
    • response time and reliability requirements
    • scope of operation
    • traffic flow patterns
    • traffic load
    • application requirements of users
  • outline of installation requirements for local area networks:
    • cabling, particularly unshielded twisted pair (UTP), shielded twisted pair (STP) or optic fibre
    • characteristics and relative strengths and weaknesses of LAN network topologies
    • features and capabilities of current industry accepted hardware and software products
    • features of line sharing protocols.  

Assessment Conditions

Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance in conditions that are safe and replicate the workplace. Noise levels, production flow, interruptions and time variances must be typical of those experienced in the network industry, and include access to:

  • business requirements
  • equipment specifications
  • organisational and industry costing.

You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.

Feedback

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions.  You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed. Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.

You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning outcomes and final performance in the course.