CSC3413 Network Design and Analysis
| Semester 2, 2012 External Toowoomba | |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Sciences |
| School or Department : | Maths and Computing |
| Version produced : | 30 December 2013 |
Staffing
Examiner: Ron Addie
Moderator: Yan Li
Other requisites
Recommended pre-requisite: CSC3407
Rationale
One of the main areas of work in the expanding field of Information Technology is network planning and administration. One of the tasks a network administrator must undertake from time to time is the installation or major upgrade of a network. Networks in large and even moderate companies nowadays are likely to span more than one site and to include telephony as well as TCP traffic. Security is also a great concern for network administrators, especially when their traffic is exposed to the internet. This course will provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge, and the experience, to be able to analyse their networks and to design their new and upgraded networks using the latest technology.
Synopsis
This course will provide the student with the following subjects: queueing theory; performance of communication networks including measurement, modelling and analysis of network performance including reliability, packet loss, throughput and delay, and security; network architecture including layering of networks; network design including dimensioning (deciding how fast/many of the links switches, routers and servers there should be), routing design (where traffic should go), topological design (where to put new links) and security (authentication, VLAN's, firewalls). In addition, students will tackle a series of example problems of network analysis and design of increasing complexity.
Objectives
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- estimate the performance of a link;
- measure the traffic levels and the performance on a network;
- analyse a network from the point of view of delay, congestion and reliability;
- select an appropriate architecture for a new network;
- install the necessary routing information in the key routers and switches in a network;
- select an appropriate architecture for a new network;
- make sensible choices of hardware, network topology, link capacities and router capacities in a new network.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Queueing theory | 10.00 |
| 2. | Measurement | 15.00 |
| 3. | Performance Analysis | 20.00 |
| 4. | Network architecture | 10.00 |
| 5. | Network design | 20.00 |
| 6. | Security design | 15.00 |
| 7. | Planning | 10.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from USQ's Online Bookshop (unless otherwise stated). (https://bookshop.usq.edu.au/bookweb/subject.cgi?year=2012&sem=02&subject1=CSC3413)
Please contact us for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://bookshop.usq.edu.au/contact/)
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Introductory Book 2012, Course CSC3413 Introduction to Network Design and Analysis, USQ Distance and e-Learning Centre, Toowoomba.
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Study Book 2011, Course CSC3413 Introduction to Network Design and Analysis, USQ Distance and e-Learning Centre, Toowoomba.
Reference materials
Student workload requirements
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessments | 20.00 |
| Examinations | 2.00 |
| Private Study | 145.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSIGNMENT 1 | 100 | 10 | 30 Jul 2012 | |
| ASSIGNMENT 2 | 100 | 10 | 13 Aug 2012 | |
| ASSIGNMENT 3 | 100 | 10 | 03 Sep 2012 | |
| ASSIGNMENT 4 | 100 | 10 | 01 Oct 2012 | |
| ASSIGNMENT 5 | 100 | 10 | 15 Oct 2012 | |
| 2 HOUR REST EXAMINATION | 50 | 50 | End S2 | (see note 1) |
NOTES
- Examination dates will be available during the Semester. Please refer to the examination timetable when published.
Important assessment information
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Attendance requirements:
There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assessment item. -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted. -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course. -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course. -
Examination information:
The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are: writing materials
(non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination); calculators; One A4 sheet, written or typed on one or both sides with any material the student wishes to have. Students whose first language is not English, may, take an appropriate unmarked non-electronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary) into the examination. Dictionaries with any handwritten notes will not be permitted. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Any deferred or supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period. -
University Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene University policies and practices. These policies can be found at http://policy.usq.edu.au.
Assessment notes
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Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. If requested, students will be required to provide a copy of assignments submitted for assessment purposes. Such copies should be despatched to USQ within 24 hours of receipt of a request being made.
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The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner.
Other requirements
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Students will be granted a deferred examination only if they perform satisfactorily in all other assessment items.