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Prescription: NW500 Networking Principles

Aim of Module	To provide students with an understanding of networking principles and the knowledge and skills required for installing and maintaining networks
Credits	14
Student Learning hours	140
Content Revised	New 2004
Prescription Expiry Date	Nov 2007
Note	As this module has content that overlaps with the content of DC500 and NM500 students completing this module cannot be awarded a credit for either DC500 or NM500 The content of this module is based on Cisco CNAP CCNA 1 V3.0 course content and is cognisant of the Plan for Academy Student Success (PASS)

Level and Assessment Schedule
Topics	Highest Skill Level	Suggested Assessment Percentage
1 The OSI 7-Layer Reference Model	C	10
2 Networking Media	C	15
3 LANs and WANs	P	15
4 Cabling LANs and WANs	A	10
5 TCP/IP	A	15
6 Ethernet Operation and Switching	C	10
7 Routing Concepts and Protocols	C	10
8 Case Study	P	15

		100

LEARNING OUTCOMES The Student Will

C	1	Describe the operation of networks in terms of the OSI 7-layer Model

C	2	Describe the physical, electrical and mechanical properties and standards associated with networking media

P	3	Describe, install, configure and test PC networks

A	4	Describe the topologies and physical issues associated with cabling LANs and WANs and explain the requirements for cable testing

A	5	Describe the TCP/IP protocol suite, explain and demonstrate the mechanics associated with IP addressing and IP sub-netting and describe packet switching

C	6	Explain the fundamentals and operation of Ethernet CSMA/CD and describe the various Ethernet technologies and switching on an Ethernet network

C	7	Describe routing concepts and protocols

P	8	Perform a structured cabling case study and installation project

CONTENT

1	The OSI 7-Layer Reference Model


>	The OSI reference model will be described in terms of the purpose of:

	-	The seven layers including the characteristics, functions and keywords associated with each layer

	-	The packaging units used to encapsulate each layer

	-	Protocols and standards that operate at each layer

	-	Flow of data through the protocol stacks of source, destination and transit network devices

2	Networking Media


>	A description of the physical, electrical and mechanical properties and standards associated with networking media will include the following:

	-	Copper media, including coaxial cable, STP cable and UTP cable together with their associated specifications and

		-·Atoms and electrons

		-·Insulators, conductors and semiconductors

		-·Resistance and impedance

		-·AC and DC voltage and current



	-	Optical media, including multimode fibre and other optical components, the electromagnetic spectrum and optionally:

		-·Single-mode fibre

		-·Light rays

		-·Reflection

		-·Signals

		-·Installation and testing



>	Wireless media including:

	-	Wireless LAN organisations and standards

	-	Devices and topologies

	-	And optionally:

	-	Radio wave and microwave spectrums

	-	Signals and noise

	-	Security





	-	Bandwidth including:

		-·Digital versus analogue

		-·Throughput and data transfer

3	LANs and WANs


>	A description of PC networks will include:

	-	LANs, WANs, MANs, SANs and VPNs

	-	Topologies

	-	Layer 1, 2 and 3 network devices (Network Interface Cards (NICs), Repeaters, Hubs, Bridges, Switches, Routers, Clouds and network segments)

	-	Flow of data through LANs in terms of the layer 1, 2 and 3 devices and the upper protocol layers

	-	Operating System network configuration and diagnostic tools



>	Installing and configuring PC networks includes:

	-	Interconnecting and configuring LANs using two PCs (Peer-to Peer)

	-	Installing a workstation and software package onto a server-based LAN

	-	Verifying and configuring the network settings using the basic utilities

	-	Configuring the workstation for browsing the Internet

	-	Using the ICMP Ping command

	-	Using a suitable utility to verify the IP configuration settings

	-	Fault finding using diagnostic tools

4	Cabling LANs and WANs


>	A description of the topologies and physical issues associated with cabling LANs and WANs will include:

	-	LAN and WAN physical layer

	-	Ethernet media and connector requirements

	-	Peer-to-peer and Client/Server

	-	Repeaters, hubs, bridges, switches and routers

	-	Basic setup of switches and routers

	-	Wireless

	-	WAN serial connections



>	And optionally:

	-	Routers and ISDN, DSL and cable connections



>	An explanation of the requirements for cable testing will include:

	-	Waveform theory

	-	Signal attenuation, crosstalk and noise

	-	Cable testing standards



>	And optionally:

	-	Signal strength (Decibels)

	-	Frequency

5	TCP/IP


>	The TCP/IP protocol suite will be described in terms of:

	-	Relationship with the OSI reference model

	-	The four layers of the model

	-	Primary protocols and utilities that operate at each layer

	-	Flow of data through the protocol stacks of source, destination and transit network devices



>	An explanation and demonstration of the mechanics associated with IP addressing and IP subnetting will include:

	-	Conversion between relevant number systems including base 10, base 2 and hexadecimal

	-	Boolean logic

	-	Autonomous systems

	-	Path Determination

	-	Comparing flat and hierarchical addressing

	-	IPv4 versus IPv6

	-	IP Address Classes

	-	Reserved IP Addresses

	-	Introduction to Subnetting and Creating Subnets:

		-·Determining subnet mask size

		-·Computing hosts per sub-network

		-·IP configuration on a network diagram

		-·Host/subnet schemes

		-·Private addresses

	-	Obtaining an IP address including:

		-·Static assignment

		-·ARP and DHCP

	-	And optionally:

		-·RARP, BOOTP

6	Ethernet Operation and Switching


>	An explanation of the fundamentals and operation of Ethernet CSMA/CD will include:

	-	IEEE standards and Layer 2 framing

	-	Ethernet frame structure and fields

	-	Media Access Control (MAC)

	-	Link establishment and full and half duplex

	-	Collisions and errors



>	A description of the various Ethernet technologies will include:

	-	10Base-T

	-	100Base–X

	-	Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet

	-	And optionally:

	-	10Base5, 10Base2 and 10Base-FX



>	A description of switching on an Ethernet network will incude:

	-	Layer 2 bridging and switching

	-	Switch operation

	-	Spanning-Tree protocol

	-	Collision and broadcast domains

7	Routing Concepts and Protocols


>	A description of routing concepts and protocols will include:

	-	Routable and routing protocols

	-	IP packets

	-	Routing tables, algorithms and metrics

	-	IGP and EGP

	-	Link state and distance vector

8	Case Study


>	The structured cabling case study and installation project will require:

	-	Materials for a structured cabling case study and installation project, appropriate to New Zealand, to be provided by the tutor. A structured cabling case study should be completed on paper, followed by a hands-on structured cabling installation project.



>	The structured cabling case study and installation project will include:

	-	Structured Cabling Systems

	-	Structured Cabling Standards and Codes

	-	Safety

	-	Tools of the Trade

	-	Installation Process

	-	Finish Phase

	-	The Cabling Business


Note
>	A typical assessment strategy should include:

	-	practical skills tests

	-	laboratory exercises

	-	group activities

	-	progressive on-line tests (CISCO Web Portal)

	-	summative (final) on-line test (CISCO Web Portal)

	-	kinaesthetic activities



>	LEARNING RESOURCES



	-	The following links provide additional structured cabling resources:

	-	http://www.ieee.org

	-	http://www.tiaonline.org

	-	http://www.iso.org

	-	http://www.linktionary.com/linktionary.html

	-	http://www.siemon.com/standards/

	-	http://www.netday.org



	-	CISCO Networking Academy Programme:

		-·First-year Companion Guide

		-·Lab Companion Volume 1

		-·Engineering Journal and Workbook Volume 1