Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit aims to study the fundamentals of telecommunication network protocols by having the Internet's software architecture as its primary focus. Reliable communication over an unreliable network layer, connection establishment and teardown, congestion and flow control, and multiplexing issues are covered. The functions of routers and routing algorithms and protocols for finding paths and interconnecting large number of heterogeneous networks are studied. Local area networks and protocols for sharing a multi-access channel are studied. Finally, protocols for network security, techniques for providing confidentiality, authentication, non-repudiation and message integrity are also studied.

Objectives

1. Understand the basic infrastructure and hardware achitecture of the Internet
2. understand the software architecture of the Internet and main protocols
3. understand the protocols used in contemporary Internet applications, and their purpose
4. understand the techniques and protocols for provision of security, authentication, non-repudiation and message integrity
5. understand the operation of Local Area Network (LAN) protocols
6. gain knowledge on the available networking tools to query parts of the Internet infrastructure including name servers, routers, individual hosts, and websites.
7. gain knowledge on comparative analysis of various networking protocols and their application
8. learn to write client and server applications using the Internet protocols

Assessment

Laboratory and assignment work 30%
Examination (3 hours): 70%. Student must achieve a mark of 45% in each component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve an overall pass grade.

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Arthur Lowery

Contact hours

2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory/practice classes and 7 hours private study per week

Prerequisites

ECE2041

Prohibitions

ECE4411, ECE5044, ECE5411, TEC3742