The unit will provide students with fundamentals and theoretical foundations of Network Administration as well as practical skills needed to plan, provide and manage networks, by presentation of the following topics:
Introduction to Network Administration. Scope, Goals, Philosophy and Standards .
IT System Components and Network Structures, Technology and Protocols.
System Administration: Host computer and User management.
Network Administration methods and Standards. Managing devices using SNMP, RMON , WBEM and JMX.
Management issues: Planning, Implementation, Fault diagnosis and Performance.
Network Simulation as a management tool.
Network Documentation.
Network Security and Administration.
Provision and Management of common network and application services, such as name, database and web servers.
Objectives
This unit will develop student knowledge of the tools and techniques for Network Administration. On completion of this unit, the student should:
have an understanding of the role of a network administrator
have basic knowledge and experience in configuration and management of network infrastucture protocols used in internets (such as ARP, ICMP, BOOTP, DHCP, DNS, LDAP etc)
have basic knowledge of network application protocols and data structures used for system and network management (such as ASN.1, SNMP, SMI/MIB, RMON, DMTF/DMI, WBEM and WMI)
understand factors involved in and be able to manage the security, reliability and performance of computer networks
be able to independently research topics and resolve problems associated with network management
be able to understand and use a range of hardware and software tools for network administration
be able to install, configure and manage network application services such as name, database and web servers.
Prerequisites
Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed FIT1005 Networks and Data Communications, or equivalent.
Unit relationships
FIT2018 is a core unit in the net-centric major of the Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems degree.
Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed FIT1005 Networks and Data Communications or equivalent.
You may not study this unit and CSE3153 Network Administration or CPE3012 Network Administration in your degree.
Texts and software
Required text(s)
There are no Required texts for this unit, however please see the Recommended Reading section below.
Textbook availability
Text books are available for loan from the Monash University library and for purchase from the Monash University Book Shops. Availability from other suppliers cannot be assured. The Bookshop orders texts in specifically for this unit. You are advised to purchase your text book early.
Software requirements
Software is provided as part of the setup in the Peninsula School of IT Network Laboratory. Much of the software used in this unit is publicly available using Open-Source licenses and may be downloaded from various sources via the internet. Because most of the exercises for this unit require low-level access to hardware and software, administrator or root user privileges are required, so the standard FIT PC labs are not used.
Software may be:
downloaded from the resources page on the unit web site
Hardware requirements
Hardware is provived for use during tutorials and projects in the Peninsula School of IT network laboratory.
Students studying off-campus are required to have the minimum system configuration specified by the Faculty as a condition of accepting admission, and regular Internet access. On-campus students, and those studying at supported study locations may use the facilities available in the Peninsula School of IT network laboratory.
Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to 8 hours per week for reading and private study, including time for the use of a computer to access web-based discussion groups.
Recommended reading
Burgess, M.. Principles of Network and System Administration (2E), Wiley, 2004, ISBN 0470868074.
Burke, J.R., Network Management Concepts and Practice: a Hands-on Approach, Pearson, 2004, ISBN 0130329509.
Subramanian, M.. Network Management: Principles and Practice, Addison Wesley, 2000, ISBN 0201357429.
Stallings, W., SNMP, SNMPv2, SNMPv3 and RMON I and II (3E), Addison Wesley, 1998, ISBN 0201485346.
Stallings, W., Data and Computer Communications (7E), Prentice Hall, 2004, ISBN 0131006819.
Hunt, C., TCP/IP Network Administration (3E), OReilly, 2002, ISBN 0596002971.
Library access
You may need to access the Monash library either personally to be able to satisfactorily complete the subject. Be sure to obtain a copy of the Library Guide, and if necessary, the instructions for remote access from the library website.
Study resources
Study resources for FIT2018 are:
This Unit Information outlining the administrative information for the unit
The FIT2018 web site on MUSO, where lecture slides, weekly tutorial requirements, assignment specifications, sample solutions and supplementary resources and other material will be posted
Web-based discussion groups that can be accessed from the FIT2018 unit web site.
The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+
Assessment
Assessment weighting
Assessment for the unit consists of 2 assignments with a weighting of 40% and an examination with a weighting of 60%. Read this section VERY carefully.
Assessment Policy
To pass this unit you must:
In order to pass a unit, a student must gain all of the following:
at least 40% of the examination component: ie. the final examination and any tests performed under exam conditions, taken as a whole
at least 40% of the assignment component: ie. the assignments and any other other assessment tasks (such as presentations) taken as a whole
at least 50% of the total marks for the unit.
For more details on the 40% Rule and many other things that students are expect to know about, visit the Student Resources section of the Peninsula School of IT web site.
Your score for the unit will be calculated by:
(A1% * 15/100) + (A2% * 25/100) + (Exam% * 60/100) where: A1 is the result for the Research report, A2 is the result for the Network administration project
Assessment Requirements
Assessment
Due Date
Weighting
Research report
4pm Friday in week 7
15%
Network administration project
4pm Friday in week 12
25 %
The exam is 3 hours long and is closed book.
Exam period (S2/06) starts on 23/10/06
60 %
Assignment specifications will be made available On the FIT2018 unit web site assignment page.
Assignment Submission
Assignments will be submitted by paper submission to the collection box on level 4 of the G building at Peninsula campus on or before the due date and time, with the appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out and attached. Do not email submissions. The due date is the date by which the submission must be received.
Extensions and late submissions
Late submission of assignments
Assignments received after the due date, without previously arranged extension (see 14.8 Extensions, below...) will not be assessed and may be given a mark of Zero.
This policy is strict because comments or guidance will be given on assignments as they are returned, and sample solutions may also be published and distributed, after assignment marking or with the returned assignment.
Extensions
It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions.
Requests for extensions must be made in writing before the due date, using the appropriate application form. You will be asked to forward original medical certificates in cases of illness, and may be asked to provide other forms of documentation where necessary. A copy of the receipt form or other written communication giving permission for an extension must then be attached to the assignment submission.
Grading of assessment
Assignments, and the unit, will be marked and allocated a grade according to the following scale:
Grade
Percentage/description
HD High Distinction -
very high levels of achievement, demonstrated knowledge and understanding, skills in application and high standards of work encompassing all aspects of the tasks.
In the 80+% range of marks for the assignment.
D Distinction -
high levels of achievement, but not of the same standards. May have a weakness in one particular aspect, or overall standards may not be quite as high.
In the 70-79% range.
C Credit -
sound pass displaying good knowledge or application skills, but some weaknesses in the quality, range or demonstration of understanding.
In the 60-69% range.
P Pass
acceptable standard, showing an adequate basic knowledge, understanding or skills, but with definite limitations on the extent of such understanding or application. Some parts may be incomplete.
In the 50-59% range.
N Not satisfactory
failure to meet the basic requirements of the assessment.
Below 50%.
Assignment return
We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt. Uncollected submissions will be retained by the Lecturer until the end of the following semester, after which unclaimed material will be discarded.
Feedback
Feedback to you
You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This feedback may be provided through your participation in tutorials and class discussions, as well as through your assignment submissions. It may come in the form of individual advice, marks and comments, or it may be provided as comment or reflection targeted at the group. It may be provided through personal interactions, such as interviews and on-line forums, or through other mechanisms such as on-line self-tests and publication of grade distributions.
Feedback from you
You will be asked to provide feedback to the Faculty through a Unit Evaluation survey at the end of the semester. You may also be asked to complete surveys to help teaching staff improve the unit and unit delivery. Your input to such surveys is very important to the faculty and the teaching staff in maintaining relevant and high quality learning experiences for our students.
And if you are having problems
It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem with your study. The semester is short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.
Plagiarism and cheating
Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Faculty regulations that apply to students detected cheating as these will be applied in all detected cases.
In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work.
When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer.
Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.
Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.
Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.
Communication
Communication methods
The preferred method of communication with staff is by eMail and web-based discussion groups, but opportunities are provided for more direct interaction during and after lectures and tutorials or during consultation times as outlines in section 18.3 below.
Notices
Notices related to the unit during the semester will be placed on the CPE2018_Notices mailing list in the FIT2018 unit web site. Check this regularly. Failure to read the CPE2018_Notices web-based discussion list is not regarded as grounds for special consideration.
Consultation Times
Times for consultation are included in timetables posted outside staff offices.
If direct communication with your unit adviser/lecturer or tutor outside of consultation periods is needed you may contact the lecturer and/or tutors at:
All email communication to you from your lecturer will occur through your Monash student email address. Please ensure that you read it regularly, or forward your email to your main address. Also check that your contact information registered with the University is up to date in My.Monash.
Additional information
Demonstration of Practical work
To ensure that students fully understand the workings of any practical work submitted for assessment, some emphasis is given to an oral presentation, which is part of the individual student demonstration of each program or project. Students will be expected to show a detailed understanding of the operations described and structure of the practical work, and be able to answer questions related to the design and function of the practical work or project.
