Course Catalogue

Module Code and Title:       CSC206          Data Communications II

Programme:                          BCA

Credit Value:                         12

Module Tutor:                       

General Objective: This module covers the advanced portion of networking concepts, including configuring, building, cross-connecting and maintaining a network. The module teaches students to have a deeper insight into underlying TCP/IP concepts and can help them get a start in networking and network administrator as a career. The module also covers the concepts of sub-netting and super-netting of networks. Students will gain hands-on experiences in designing different types of networks: LAN, MAN, VLAN, and WLAN; and visualize functioning using packet tracer simulation software.

Learning Outcomes – On completion of the module, learners will be able to:

  1. Design basic LAN, VLAN, WAN networks.
  2. Design practical subnets and supernets.
  3. Apply different routing and congestion control algorithms in networking.
  4. Implement static and dynamic routing techniques over a network.
  5. Configure the components required for inter-networking.
  6. Configure a DNS server for WAN/MAN connectivity.
  7. Discuss the need for IP security and the security standard, IPsec.

 

Learning and Teaching Approach:

Approach

Hours per week

Total credit hours

Lecture & discussions

3

45

Lab Practical

3

45

Independent study

2

30

Total

120

 

Assessment Approach:

A. Individual Assignments: Portion of Final Mark: 15%

Students should submit two assignments of 1000 words relate to IPv6 and different network layers to obtain this 15%.40% will be awarded for explanation of purpose, 40% for content and 20% for illustrating its applications

B. Case Study: Portion of Final Mark: 10%

Students will be given to study different types of network and will be asked to setup those networks in lab. Each student will complete a case study of 300 words in the class and they will solve that case inside the classroom. Students will analyse the case, come up with a proper solutions and give their own views and opinions. 40% will be awarded for solving the problem, 40% for analysing the problem and 20% for the overall report

C. Lab Practical Exam: Portion of Final Mark: 30%

Two lab examinations will be taken throughout the semester. Students will be asked to setup different types of network (VLAN, subnetting, DHCP configuration etc.) using packet tracer software. Student will be given 1 hour 30 minutes to design the network. 35% will be awarded sub tasks completed, 35% Techniques used for each sub task, 10% for timing and 30% for output.

D. Class Test: Portion of Final Mark: 10%

This is a written test conducted within the class for duration of 30-40 minutes. There will two such tests, one before midterm comprising of topics from the beginning to the quarter point of the subject matter and the other after the midterm comprising of topics from after the midterm to quarter pointer after midterm. Each of these tests require the students to answer/solve 3-4 questions/problems.

E. Midterm Exam: Portion of Final Mark: 15%

This a college wide examination conducted at the half-way into the semester. This examination is conducted for 1 hour and 30 Minutes and it includes all topics till the half-way point in the subject matter.

Areas of assignments

Quantity

Weighting

A. Individual Assignment

2

15%

B. Case Study

1

10%

C. Lab Practical Exam

2

30%

D. Class Test

2

10%

E. Midterm Exam

1

15%

Total Continuous Assessment (CA)

 

60%

Semester-end Examination (SE)

 

40%

 

Prerequisites: CSC103

Subject Matter:

  1. The Network Layer
    • Network Layer Design Issues
      • Store-and-Forward Packet Switching
      • Services Provided to the Transport Layer
      • Implementation of Connectionless Service
      • Implementation of Connection- Oriented Service
    • Routing Algorithm
      • The Optimality Principle
      • Shortest Path Routing
      • Flooding
      • Distance Vector Routing
    • Congestion Control Algorithms
      • General Principles of Congestion Control
      • Congestion Prevention Policies
      • Congestion Control in Virtual-Circuit Subnets
    • Internetworking
      • How Networks Can Be Connected
      • Concatenated Virtual Circuits
      • Connectionless Internetworking
    • The Network Layer In The Internet
      • The IP Protocol
      • IP Addresses
      • Internet Control Protocols
  1. The Transport Layer
    • The Transport Service
      • Services Provided to the Upper Layers
    • Elements Of Transport Protocol
      • Addressing
      • Connection Establishment
      • Connection Release
      • Flow Control and Buffering
    • The Internet Transport Protocols: UDP
      • Introduction to UDP
      • Remote Procedure Call
      • The Real- Time Transport Protocol
    • The Internet Transport Protocols: TCP
      • Introduction to TCP
      • The TCP Service Model
      • The TCP Protocol
      • The TCP Segment Header
      • TCP Connection Establishment
      • TCP Connection Release
      • Modelling TCP Connection Management
  1. The Application Layer
    • DNS - The Domain Name System
      • The DNS Name Space
    • DHCP
      • Basic Principles
      • Typical use cases and configurations
    • Electronic mail
      • Message Formats
      • Message Transfer
    • The World Wide Web
      • Architectural Overview
      • Static Web Documents
      • HTTP- The Hyper Text Transfer Protocol
      • Subnets
      • HTTPS (Secure HTTP)
  1. IPv6
    • IPv6 notation
    • IPv6 address planning
    • IPv6 address structure
    • Types of addresses
    • Autoconfiguration
    • Main IPv6 protocols
    • DNS and IPv6
    • Implementing new networking software and devices to support IPv6
    • IPv6 Security
    • IPv6 Routing
  2. Practical Components
    • Review of basic LAN network design
    • Design mesh network
    • Design a hub based star network
    • Design switch based star network
    • Design subnetting using classful IPs; importance of the ‘classful’ concept in the historical development of data communications and its current redundancy.
    • Design subnetting using classless IPs
    • Implement static routing within MAN/WAN
    • Implement dynamic routing (RIP) within MAN/WAN
    • Setup VLAN (Virtual local area network)
    • Setup WLAN (Wireless local area network)
    • creating hotspots for Wifi and securing hotspots
    • Implementation of NAT (network address of translation) in a private network
    • Configure DHCP server
    • Activate IPv6 protocol stack at the PCs and understand basic IPv6 concepts.
    • Transition mechanisms - IPv6
    • Familiarise with IPv6 in IPv4 static tunnels
    • Configuring frame relay in WAN
    • Network diagnostics using packet tracking
    • NAGIOS Network Monitoring Software

Reading List

  1. Essential Reading:
    • Forouzan, B.A. (2012). Data Communications and Networking. 5th Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi.
    • Comer, D.E.(2013). Internetworking with TCP/IP Principles, Protocols and Architectures. 6th Edition. Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi.
    • Godbole, A. (2011). Data Communications and Networks -2nd Edition (2nd ed.). McGraw Hill Education (India) Private Limited.
    • Vine, M. (2015). Data Communications and Networking: Volume II. Clanrye International.
  2. Additional Reading:
    • Andrew S. Tanenbaum, 2013, Computer Networks, 5th Edition. Pearson Education, Delhi.
    • Chellis,J., Perkins,C., Strebe,M. (1998). MCSE: Networking Essentials. BPB Publication, New Delhi.
    • B & Mahony,D. (1995). Local Area Networks and their applications. Prentice Hall of India.
    • Sveum, M. (1999). Data Communications: An Overview (1st ed.). Prentice Hall.

Date: May 30, 2015
Royal Thimphu College