Attendance: 1.5hpw (tutorial/workshop/quiz, online), 2hpw (laboratory, online)

Subject description

Students completing this subject have a good understanding of the theory of communication protocols and its

application to popular protocols, in particular TCP/IP, as well as the analysis of performance and troubleshooting

protocol issues in large carrier-grade networks. A significant practice-oriented laboratory component allows students to gain deeper insights into the theory through the use of the Wireshark packet sniffing application.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Identify fundamental concepts of communication protocols such an encapsulation/decapsulation and overhead; switching, routing, fragmentation, IP addressing, transport layer, and IP/MPLS based services. (D.1)

2. Use the'wireshark'packet sniffing program. (D.1)

3. Combine 1 and 2 above in the implementation, analysis, performance measurement and troubleshooting of networks. (C.1)

4. Recognise basic configuration and measurement procedures on an industry-standard service router platform. (D.1)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in   new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)

Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced

discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.1)

Intent: Lab activities allow students to link theory and practice using industry standard tools and techniques.

Students will capture packets using the'wireshark'software, and analyse the composition, flow and timing of packets and frames in a very similar way to what a professional telecommunication

engineer would do in configuring and troubleshooting a real-world network. In the lab exam, students will demonstrate their capabilities to analyse traffic, identify faults and measure network performance in a simulated network environment.

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

C.1 and D.1

Type: Laboratory/practical

Groupwork: Individual

Weight: 25%

Task: Students will retrieve an obfuscated Mininet lab exam script via Git, which they will execute in their    virtual machine image. Using this script, you will need to complete a series of tasks on the emulated  network, including (but not limited to) traffic analysis, route analysis, port scans, and various types of performance testing. Performance metrics may include measurements such as latency,jitter, packet loss and throughput. You will be expected to describe exactly how you performed each test that you  used and provide a technically accurate interpretation of the results. The task will be a restricted open-book exam.

Due: You will perform this assessment task individually in Week 12. The task will be released at the start of your scheduled laboratory session, and you will need to submit your answers within the specified time period as directed.

Criteria: Completeness (50%) - Did you complete all parts of the lab examination? Did you miss any important faults or significant deviations between the expected and actual network behaviour? Have you

adequately interpreted each of your observations?

Accuracy (50%) - How accurate and precise were your measurements and observations? Did you    correctly calculate any required efficiencies, overheads, throughputs, latencies or other metrics? Did you correctly apply appropriate statistical methods (e.g. calculation of means, standard deviations     etc.)?

Intent: To assure that all students passing the subject have a minimum level of understanding of critically

important concepts such as IP addressing, subnetting and supernetting.

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

D.1

Type: Quiz/test

Groupwork: Individual

Weight: 20%

Task: Take the online IP addressing test at the time specified in the Program. You may have up to three

attempts at this task. You will receive the highest mark exceeding 80%; if you fail to reach the 80% threshold by the third attempt, you will receive a mark of zero for this task.

Due: IP Test attempt 1 : Week 7;

IP Test attempt 2 : Week 8;

IP Test attempt 3 : Week 10.