FIT3024 Internetworking and wireless communications - Semester 2 , 2006 unit guide

Semester 2, 2006

Chief Examiner

Chandana Watagodakumbura

Lecturers

Peninsula : Chandana Watagodakumbura

Outline

ASCED Discipline Group Classification: 020113 Networks and communications.

The aim of this unit is to provide students with an opportunity to understand thoroughly the technical and implementation details of major protocols in the TCP/IP protocols suite. Such a detailed understanding is a prerequisite for students to design and implement networking applications. The unit will review the structure of TCP/IP and the network interface layer. This will be followed by a detailed exposition of the design principles and implementation aspects of protocols in the IP and TCP layers. Routing algorithms and routing protocol (shortest path, IP, hierarchical), congestion control and quality of services (leaky buckets, RSVP, IntServ, DiffServ) are discussed. The unit will also examine some of the major application protocols in the TCP/IP protocols suite (eg. DNS, VoIP, etc). In addition, the Wireless technologies and protocols are introduced with the aim of supporting mobile applications.

Objectives

Knowledge and Understanding

At the completion of this subject students should have:

  • a detailed knowledge and understanding of all major protocols in TCP/IP and wireless networking;
  • an understanding of major issues in designing and implementing those protocols;
  • an awareness of the latest developments in TCP/IP (e.g. IPv6, multicasting, VoIP, QoS, InteServ, DiffServ);
  • the knowledge and skills to implement and manage TCP/IP services within wired and wireless networkss.

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

Prerequisites

Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed

FIT1005 Networking and Data Communications or BUS2062 or CSE2004 or CSE2318 or CSE3318 or GCO3812 or CPE1007, or equivalent. You should have knowledge of basic datacommunications principles and the standard LAN and WAN technologies.

Unit relationships

FIT3024 is a elective unit in the Netcentric Computing major of the Bachelor of Information Technology degree

It is a prerequisite that, before attempting this unit, you must have satisfactorily completed

FIT1005 Networking and Data Communications or BUS2062 or CSE2004 or CSE2318 or CSE3318 or GCO3812 or CPE1007, or equivalent. You should have knowledge of basic datacommunications principles and the standard LAN and WAN technologies.

You may not study this unit and CSE3821 Internet Architectures and Protocols, (Unit translation: CPE3004 Internetworking) in your degree.

 

Texts and software

Required text(s)

Recommended Reading:

  • Stallings, W, Computer Networking with Internet protocols and Technology, Pearsons 2004.
  • Textbook availability

    Text books are available 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

    There is no software requirement

    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 6 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

    Recommended reading

    Recommended Reading:

  • Comer, D & Stevens, D, Internetworking with TCP/IP Volume 1, Principles, Protocols, and Architectures, (4rd edition), Prentice-Hall, 2000.
  • Comer, D & Stevens, D, Internetworking with TCP/IP Volume 2, Design, Implementation, and Internals, (3rd edition), Prentice-Hall, 1999.
  • Halsall, F, Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems, Addison-Wesley, (4th edition), Addition Wesley 1996.
  • Halsall, F, Computer Networks and the Internet: with internet and multimedia applications, Addison-Wesley, (4th edition), Addition Wesley 2005.
  • Schiller, J, Mobile Communications, Addison-Wesley, 2000.
  • Williams Stalling Wireless Communications and Networking, ISBN: 0131863169, 2nd Ed, Prentice Hall, 2002.
  • 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 FIT3024 are:

    Study resources will be available through MUSO

    Unit website

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

    Structure and organisation

    Week Topics References/Readings
    1 Modern Internet Applications Chapter 4, Stallings
    2 Congestion and Performance Over The Internet Chapter 5, Stallings
    3 Transport Protocols Chapter 6, Stallings
    4 TCP Traffic Control (1) Chapter 7, Stallings
    5 TCP Traffic Control (2) Chapter 7, Stallings
    6 Internet Protocols(1) Chapter 8, Stallings
    7 Internet Protocols (2) Chapter 8, Stallings
    8 Integrated and Differentiated Services Chapter 9, Stallings
    9 Protocols for QoS Support Chapter 10, Stallings
    10 Interior Routing Protocols Chapter 11, Stallings
    Non teaching week
    11 Exterior Routing Protocols Chapter 12, Stallings
    12 Wireless Comunications Chapter 13, Stallings
    13 Revision

    Timetable

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

    Assessment

    Assessment weighting

    Assignments are worth 40% of the total marks

    Assignment I 10%

    Assignment II 15%

    Assignment III 15%

    Assessment Policy

    To pass this unit you must:

    Students must obtain minimum of 40% for both assignment and examination components and 50% overall marks

    Your score for the unit will be calculated by:

    Total Mark = 0.4 of assignment mark % + 0.6 of examination mark %

    Assessment Requirements

    Assessment Due Date Weighting
    Assignment I Friday 5pm, Week 5 10%
    Assignment II Friday 5pm, Week 9 15 %
    Assignment III Friday 5pm, Week 12 15 %
    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 http://muso.monash.edu.au.

    Assignment Submission

    Assignments will be submitted by electronic submission through MUSO. The appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out should be submitted in hard copy.

    Extensions and late submissions

    Late submission of assignments

    Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty based on the date of submission

    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 emailing to the unit lecturer at least two days before the due date. 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 email or other written communication of an extension must 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.

    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 communication method is email. Students can drop-in and consult the lecturer/tutor in his office, during the time he is vailable in the room.

    Notices

    Notices related to the unit during the semester will be placed on the Notices Newsgroup in the Unit Website. Check this regularly. Failure to read the Notices newsgroup is not regarded as grounds for special consideration.

    Consultation Times

    Students can drop-in and consult the lecturer/tutor in his office, during the time he is available in the room (G4.20- peninsula campus).

    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:

    Dr Chandana Watagodakumbura
    Lecturer
    Phone +61 3 990 44195
    Fax +61 3 9904 4124

    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: Jul 24, 2006