Prescription: NE600 Networks

Aim of Module	To enable students to describe and use ISO OSI Layer’s 1 and 2 protocols to facilitate serial data communications over telecommunications networks.
Credits	7
Student Learning hours	70
Content Revised	2002
Prescription Expiry Date	Nov 2007

Level and Assessment Schedule
Topics	Highest Skill Level	Suggested Assessment Percentage
1 Telecommunications Networks	C	25
2 Terminal Networks	A	25
3 Physical Layer Protocols	A	25
4 Line Control	A	25
		100

LEARNING OUTCOMES The Student Will
C	1	Describe the various telecommunication networks and the services offered for digital communications
A	2	Describe and use a range of available facilities for supporting local and remote terminal networks
A	3	Describe and use a serial asynchronous data interface
A	4	Describe and use asynchronous and synchronous line control (OSI Layer 2) protocols

CONTENT

1	Telecommunications Networks

>	A description of telecommunication networks and the services offered for digital communications will include:
	-Telecommunications providers
	-Leased lines and facilities
	-Value Added Networks
	-Public data networks including:
	-packet switched (PSN)
	-The Internet
	-ADSL offerings; e.g. Jet Stream and Tempest
	-Any others considered current and appropriate
	-Telephone networks including:
	- telephone networks (PSTN)
	- Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
	- problems associated with the transmission of digital signals including A/D and D/A conversion
	- direct dialled connection (dial-up)
	- private permanent connection (leased line)
	-direct connection between sites

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2	Terminal Networks

>	A description of a range of facilities for supporting local and remote terminal networks and the use of these facilities will include:
	-Terminal connections, both local and remote and:
	-Multiplexers, including frequency division multiplexers (FDM's), time division multiplexers (TDM's), and statistical multiplexers (STATMUX's)
	-Data concentrators
	-Message switches
	-Front end Processors
	-ISPs and their function

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3	Physical Layer Protocols

>	A description of a range of available facilities for supporting local and remote terminal networks and the use of these facilities will include:
	-the main signals used in EIA232 and V24, including (as a minimum) TXD, RXD, RTS/CTS, RTS, DTR, DSR, GND, and RLSD/CD and their operation when communicating via a modem
	-transmission delays incurred including:
	- modem turnaround
	- modem delay
	- reaction time
	- propagation delay
	-comparison of modulation techniques
	-illustrating timings for a typical transmission sequence
	-demonstrating the problems and providing the solutions for connecting EIA232/V24 devices, including:
	-connecting and using null modem cables
	-using a break-out box (or similar) to connect devices, including terminals and printers, to computers

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4	Line Control

>	A description and the use of asynchronous and synchronous line control protocols will include:
	-Connection establishment
	-Data transfer
	-Connection termination
	-Problem indicators
	-Flow control including Windowing and XON/XOFF
	-Polling, including roll call and hub polling
	(Note: Asynchronous protocols will include XMODEM, ZMODEM and/or any other appropriate protocols.
	Synchronous protocols will include Character (Byte) oriented Binary Synchronous Communications and Bit oriented HDLC, SLIP, PPP and/or any other appropriate protocols).
NOTE
>	Access to modems and break out boxes (or similar) are essential for this module
>	Use HyperACCESSTM or other similar communications software

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Note
LEARNING RESOURCES
Suggested Textbooks:
Forouzen, B. (2001) Data Communications and Networking 2nd Edition: McGraw-Hill