Course Title: Determine best-fit topology for a wide area network
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2017
Course Code: COSC7361C
Course Title: Determine best-fit topology for a wide area network
School: 650T Vocational Business Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5341 - Diploma of Information Technology
Course Contact: Val Christou
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5076
Course Contact Email: val.christou@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Radhu Punchnathan radhu@rmit.edu.au
Michael Edwards Michael.edwards@rmit.edu.au
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.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify the best way computers and local area networks (LANs) can be connected to make a wide area network (WAN).
It applies to individuals with excellent planning and information and communications technology (ICT) skills in networking areas who are required to research and recommend the most appropriate topology for a WAN.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
ICTNWK517 Determine best-fit topology for a wide area network |
Element: |
1. Identify WAN needs |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Identify the different LAN, wireless local area network (WLAN) or virtual private network (VPN) segments of the proposed WAN |
Element: |
2. Create WAN specification |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Determine resource requirements for each LAN, WLAN or VPN segment on the basis of functional analysis |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.
The self-paced activities will be delivered thought various technology platforms and include your contribution to wikis and discussion threads, reflective journals, quizzes and interactive sessions.
The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated/real workplace environment.
We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.
Teaching Schedule
This course is co-delivered & co-assessed holistically along with ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) Determine best-fit topology for a local network
The Teaching Schedule for this course is as follows:
Induction Session
Prior to training commencement a program level induction session will be conducted that comprises the following:
• Program overview and requirements
• MyRMIT/Blackboard
• Overview of assessment requirements
• Pre-Training Review including:
o Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfers
o Assessment of current skills and knowledge
• Competency/Grading Criteria
• Plagiarism
• Appeals
• Extensions
• Feedback
• Privacy
• Submission requirements
• Resubmission policy
• Where to get support
• Student responsibilities
Course Delivery:
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| Week | Week Commencing | Topics | Assessment | Competencies Delivered |
| 1 | 6th Feb 2017 |
Introduction to the Course including: • Course requirements • Course support documents • Course Blackboard access • Accuracy of enrolment • Assessment requirements/Cover Sheets • Reminder re Plagiarism • Reminder re Appeals • Extensions/Resubmissions • Feedback in this course • Reminder re submission requirements • Getting help Introduction to LAN – Typical components used, Introduction to Packet Tracer |
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ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
| 2 | 13th Feb 2017 | IP addressing of networks TCP/IP, Troubleshooting techniques (ipconfig, ping etc.), Creating a basic LAN. |
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ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
| 3 | 20th Feb 2017 | More on IP addressing , Creating a basic WLAN Switch configuration and VLAN’s |
ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
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| 4 | 27th Feb 2017 | Virtual Machines, Installing operating systems, configuring a LAN, troubleshoot and document |
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ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
| 5 | 6th Mar 2017 | Configuring a LAN, WLAN, troubleshoot and document |
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ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
| 6 | 13th Mar 2017 |
Assessment 1 – Configuring a LAN and WLAN as per business needs. |
Assessment 1 | ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
| 7 | 20th Mar 2017 |
Resits, Introduction to WAN’s | ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
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| 8 | 27th Mar 2017 | Routing protocols IP, IPX, AppleTalk. Router operations, double data rate (DDR), RIP, EIGRP, OSPF | ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
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| 9 | 3rd April 2017 |
Configuring a WAN, troubleshoot and document. Configuring router to be a DHCP. Assessment 3 - Project stage 1 due. |
Assessment 3 - Project Stage 1 due | ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
| 10 | 10th April 2017 | Configuring a WAN, troubleshoot and document |
ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
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| Mid-Semester Break (Thursday 13th Apr to Wednesday 19th Apr 2017 inclusive) | ||||
| 11 | 24th April 2017 |
Assessment 2 – Configuring a LAN/WLAN into a WAN as per business needs and constraints. | Assessment 2 | ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
| 12 | 1st May 2017 | Resits, ACL’s, NAT | ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
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| 13 | 8th May 2016 | VPN’s, business considerations - growth projections, capacity planning, High and low speed links, redundancy paths. | ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
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| 14 | 15th May 2017 | Response time and reliability requirements, Scope of operations, traffic flow patterns, traffic load and working on projects. |
ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
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| 15 | 22nd May 2017 | Project stage 2 due |
Assessment 3 - Project Stage 2 due |
ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
| 16 | 29thMay 2017 | Feedback and review |
ICTNWK516A (COSC7360C) ICTNWK517A (COSC7361C) |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
In order to achieve competency in this unit, you must provide:
Performance Evidence
Evidence of the ability to:
- consider budget constraints and business needs
- identify the configuration for connecting a local area network (LAN), wireless local area network (WLAN) or virtual private network (VPN) into a wide area network (WAN)
- document the configuration.
Knowledge Evidence
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, you must:
summarise the typical network topologies for the following networks:
- large and small LANs
- WANs
- VPNs
- virtual local area networks (VLANs)
- WLANs
identify and describe the typical components and technologies required for a WAN, including:
- concepts and types of modems
- internet protocol (IP) addressing
- packet switching
- routed or routable protocols, including IP, IPX and AppleTalk
- router operations, including double data rate (DDR)
- routing protocols, including routing information protocol (RIP), enhanced interior gateway routing protocol (EIGRP) and open shortest path first (OSPF)
- transmission control protocols or internet protocols (TCPs/IPs)
- relationship of asynchronous and synchronous communication
- use of microwave and satellite communication in networking
describe the business consideration for establishing a WAN, including:
- constraints and costs
- features of telecommunications infrastructure, including the difference between digital and analogue networks
- growth projections and capacity planning
- high or low speed links
- protocols
- redundancy paths
- response time and reliability requirements
- scope of operation
- security
- traffic flow patterns
- traffic load
- users and the applications expected.
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:
- design documents relating to LANs to be incorporated into the WAN
- equipment specifications
- vendor product catalogues and costs.
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.
Assessment Tasks
Please note that the two units ICTNWK516 - Determine best-fit topology for a local network and ICTNWK517 - Determine best-fit topology for a wide area network are co-delivered and co-assessed holistically.
Assessment Tasks
You are required to complete 3 Assessments. You must successfully complete all 3 assessments to be deemed competent in this unit.
Assessment 1: (Weeks 6)
Assessment 1 is an in class task where you determine user needs and develop a local area network specification based on the business requirements.
The tasks that need to be done are made up of 2 parts as follows:
- Part 1: This is a packet tracer activity. You will be asked to configure a wireless router with IP addresses, secure it with a SSID, a password, and connect wired and wireless devices to the router.
- Part 2: This is an activity in the lab where you will create a virtual machine, install an operating system on them, and connect the virtual machines to the switch allocated to you using Ethernet cables. The switches will be connected to a wireless router/modem which will assign an IP address to the virtual machines. You will need to configure your virtual machines so an IP address is automatically assigned. You will need to install the printer in the lab and test connectivity.
Assessment 2: (Weeks 11)
Assessment 2 is an in class task where you will identify WAN needs and create WAN specifications.
The tasks that need to be done are made up of 2 parts as follows:
- Part 1: An online multiple answer quiz to test the underlying principles and knowledge learnt so far.
- Part 2: This is a practical activity in the lab where you will create WAN specifications using a combination of network devices like routers, switches and modems in the lab.
Assessment 3: (Week 9 & 15)
In assessment 3 you will submit a project report in two stages, one in week 9 and the final one in week 15.
Stage 1 is an individual task where you will submit a report on:
- Create and summarise a typical network topology used
- Identify and describe the typical components of a local network
- Describe the software and programming requirements of a local network
Stage 2 is a group project where you will submit a report:
- Describing the business consideration for establishing a local network
- Outline of installation requirements for local area networks:
- Create and summarise the typical network topologies for WAN
- Identify and describe the typical components and technologies required for a WAN
- Describe the business consideration for establishing a WAN.
Assessment Matrix
The Assessment Matrix that maps all assessments to the critical aspects of evidence, skills, knowledge and elements is available from the teacher.
Other Information
Submission Requirements
You should:
• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date.
• Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
• When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of each assessment task is available on blackboard.
• Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.
Late Submission Procedures
You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.
If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf
Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration. Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf
Resubmissions (VET Programs):
If you are found to be unsuccessful in a Course Assessment Task you will be allowed one resubmission only. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. The highest grade you will receive if your resubmission is successful is “CAG”.
If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.
Adjustments to Assessment
In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website:
More Information: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31
Marking Guide (Competency):
You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying.
You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.
Marking Guide (Grading)
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit and you will achieve one of the following grades:
Final Grades table:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview