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FIT2019 Network standards and specifications - Semester 2 , 2006 unit guide

Semester 2, 2006

Chief Examiner

Lecturers

Peninsula :

Outline

This unit introduces the idea of standards and the standardisation process within the networking and data communications area. It follows on from the core unit FIT1005 Networks and Data Commuications with a focus on the:

types of standards commonly found in information technology;
creation, application and maintenance of networking standards;
network protocol families, their interdependencies and sequence of development methods used to define and maintain standards;
composition and operation of the various national and international standards organisations;
review of some key networking protocol standards and implementation issues.

ASCED Discipline Group Classification: 020113 Networks and communications.

Objectives

Upon completion of this unit, students will:

have detailed understanding of families of network protocols and their interdependencies, and developed skills in their application
understand the historical development of key internet protocols
be familiar with the source documents and specifications used to define key internet protocols, and developed skills in their usage
be familiar with the common methods used to define and promulgate network protocols
be able to identify the national and international organisations whose roles involve the formation of standards in this area
be able to comprehend the notation used in network standard definitions including formal data and structure definition languages such as EBNF, ASN.1, SGML or XML, and developed skills in using this notation
have practical experience of methods used to capture and analyse network protocol packets

Prerequisites

Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed FIT1005 Networks and Data Communications or equivalent.

Unit relationships

FIT2019 is a core unit in the net-centric major of the Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems.

Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed FIT1005 Networks and Data Communications or equivalent.

Texts and software

Required text(s)

There are no required texts for this unit, but students are advised to read widely from the list of recommended titles shown below...

Textbook availability

Text books are available for short term load from the Monash University Library and for purchase from the Monash University Book Shops. Availability from other suppliers cannot be assured. The Bookshop orders a range of texts specifically for this and other units.

Software requirements

There is no software requirement for this unit.

Hardware requirements

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 computing labs. 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 computer time for email and online discussion groups.

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 FIT2019 are:

This Unit Information outlining the administrative information for the unit
The FIT2019 web site on MUSO, where lecture slides, weekly tutorial requirements, assignment specifications, sample solutions and supplementary material will be posted.
Web-based discussion groups that can be linked to from the FIT2019 unit Homepage

Unit website

http://muso.monash.edu.au/

Structure and organisation

Week	Topics	Key Dates
1	Introduction. Revision of Networks and Data Communications.	No Tutorial in Week 1
2	Network Packet Analysis. When protocols go wrong!	Web discussion list registration
3	Network protocols types of network protocol; Layered protocols
4	Data notation and standards: BNF,ASN,XDR,XML	Assessable Tute
5	State transitions and State machines: TFTP;HDLC;TCP
6	History of the Internet and evolution of standards. Types of standards found in IT.	Assessable Tute
7	Standards Organisations, their composition and operation. Network protocol standards.	Select project
8	Review key networking protocols and implementation issues. Data link protocol standards.
9	Network layer protocol standards	Assessable Tute
10	Transport layer protocol standards	Project review
Non teaching week
11	Application protocol standards
12	Application protocol standards (continued)	Project Assignment Due
13	Topic revision and Exam preparation

Timetable

The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+

Assessment

Assessment weighting

Assessment for the unit consists of 3 assessable tutorial exercises and one project assignment 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:

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 Faculty web site.

Your score for the unit will be calculated by:

Tute Exercises (as a mark out of 15) + (Project% x 25/100) + (Exam% x 60/100)

Assessment Requirements

Assessment	Due Date	Weighting
Assessable Tutorial Exercise 1	Week 5	5%
Assessable Tutorial Exercise 2	Week 7	5 %
Assessable Tutorial Exercise 3	Week 10	5 %
Project Assignment	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 FIT2019 unit web site Assignment page.

Assignment Submission

Assignments will be submitted using the MUSO assignment submission method on or before the due date, with the appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out and included. 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 prior permission (see the section below on extensions), 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 by eMail or in person, directly to the Lecturer for the unit, at least two days before the due date and using the application form available from the Faculty web site. You will be asked to provide original medical certificates in cases of illness, and you may be asked to provide other forms of documentation where necessary. A copy of the receipt form or other written permission for an extension must be attached to the front cover of 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.

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

Preferred method of contact is by eMail or web-based discussion forum for questions, but in addition to this, opportunities are provided for questions and discussion during and after lectures or tutorials. Also, more lengthy sessions with teaching staff are welcome during the times set aside for consultation (See the section onf consultation time, below).

Notices

Notices related to the unit during the semester will use the Announcement facility which is part of the MUSO web site for this unit. Please check this regularly! Failure to read the announcments is not regarded as grounds for special consideration.

Consultation Times

Times for Consultation are available weekly. These are posted on the timetables 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:

Mr Chris Freeman
Lecturer
Phone +61 3 990 44606
Fax +61 3 99044124

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.

Last updated: Jun 27, 2006