Monash University

Leader(s): Dr Suttisak Janpavongso (Caulfield); Mr Thomas O'Daniel (Malaysia); Dr Mohan Das (South Africa)

Offered

Not offered in 2009

Synopsis

The aim of this unit is to provide students with an opportunity to understand network modelling and performance evaluation, queuing theory, indicators of network performance, measuring network performance, and predicting network performance with what-if scenarios, layered structure of networks, technical and implementation details of major protocols in the TCP/IP protocols suite. The unit will review the structure of TCP/IP and the network interface layer, followed by a detailed exposition of the design principles and implementation aspects of protocols in the IP and TCP layers. Routing algorithms routing protocol (RIP, BGP, OSPF, IP, hierarchical etc) and IP network multicasting, congestion control and quality of services (TCP, leak buckets, RSVP) are discussed. This unit will also examine the major application protocols in the TCP/IP protocols suite (e.g. DNS, DHCP, SMTP, NNTP, etc). In addition, the wireless LAN technologies and protocols, 802.11x, are introduced with the aim of supporting mobile applications. The principles and methodologies for the design and deployment of intranets and extranets are also covered.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit students should have:

1. a detailed knowledge and understanding of all major protocols used in LAN & WAN and WLAN;
2. an understanding of major issues in implementing these protocols;
3. a detailed knowledge and understanding of network architectures including interaction with firewalls;
4. an awareness of the latest developments in TCP/IP (e.g. IPv6, IPSec, multicasting, VoIP, QoS, iSCSI);
5. the knowledge and skills to implement and manage TCP/IP services within wired and wireless LANs;
6. an understanding of the various measures of data network performance;

exposition of network performance evaluation tool, network packet analysers, and other performance measurement tools;

At the completion of this unit students should be able to:

7. use simulation packages to construct models of computer networks;
8. use models for performance analysis and prediction;
9. make recommendations for network performance improvement.

Students will gain practical skills in setting up TCP/IP connections and routing configurations for different environments. They will also gain experience in setting up LANs and WANs, and wireless LANs using standard protocols.

Assessment

Examination: 60%; Assignments: 40%.

Contact hours

4 x contact hrs/week

Prerequisites

FIT1005 or FIT2008 or BUS2062 or CPE1007 or CSE2004 or CSE2318 or CSE3318 or GCO3812

Prohibitions

CSE3821, CPE3004, CSE5807, FIT3030, FIT3024

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/units/fit3130