La Trobe University, Bendigo

Division of Information Technology

BITCNE: Computer Networks

Subject Outline, Semester 2, 1998 (Version 2.1)

Content:

Topics expected to be covered in 1998 include, in no particular order:

• Overview of data communications: layered models, functional description of the layers, entities which exist at each layer.
• The emergence of the Internet as a major social and technological phenomenon.
• The role of de jure and de facto standards. Particular emphasis will be placed on the functionality defined by the upper layers of the OSI model. This will include analysis of, and comparisons with, other layered network architectures such as TCP/IP (The Internet) and SNA.
• Carrier services: comparison, charging policies. Emergent carrier technologies and their likely impact. Political aspects.
• Basic network services in TCP/IP: functions and protocols (eg) FTP, Telnet, SMTP.
• Survey of some more advanced network services and protocols from TCP/IP and OSI, (selected from) DNS, HTTP, FTAM, X.400, X.500, VT, NFS
• SNA structures and services. In 1998, this topic will almost certainly only be available as an assignment question.
• Network management. SNMP and introduction to ASN.1. Network management software tools.
• Network security issues. Firewalls. Encryption technologies.
• Applications of computer networks: The Internet, Electronic commerce (also: EDI, and the emergence of EDI over the Internet), multimedia networking, including a case study of the MBone, the multicast (or multimedia) backbone, issues in the evolution of the World Wide Web and its protocols, etc.

URL

The Internet URL for this subject is:
http://ironbark.bendigo.latrobe.edu.au/subjects/bitcne/toc.html

Notes on the Subject

• Students should note that this unit is concerned with a very dynamic field, and that there will almost certainly be variations in topics covered, and on emphasis of individual topics from year to year. The assignments will give students an opportunity to explore interesting topics in more depth.
• This subject is offered in 1998 (semester 1 only), in our unique "Internet-assisted" mode. This means that you can study Computer Networks from home in a kind of distance education environment. All subject material will be available on the Web, and students can dial in to the campus or connect to the Web pages via their own local Internet Service Provider.
  
• For those students who are resident at or near the Bendigo campus, the subject is also being offered in conventional classroom (lecture and tutorial) mode. Lectures in this subject will be held on Tuesday at 1pm, and Friday at 9am.

Assessment:

There will be a single 3 hour exam at the end of the semester, which will count for 60% of the marks in this unit^[1]. Three (5%, 15% and 20%, due at the end of weeks 3, 7 and 13^[2]) assignments will account for the remaining marks.

Texts:

Nil. There is no single textbook for this unit. Instead, a variety of sources, both printed and on-line, will be used.

References:

The following are basically in order of relevance to the subject.

Stallings, W (1994) Data and Computer Communications, 4th Ed NY, Macmillan. ISBN 0-02-415441-5 (hardcover). The 5th edition of this text is available, but I have not seen it yet.

Comer, D.E, (1995) Internetworking with TCP/IP, Volume 1: Principles, Protocols and Achitecture, 3rd Ed NJ, Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-216987-8 (v.1)

Tanenbaum, A.S. (1996) Computer Networks, 3rd Ed NJ, Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-394248-1

Halsall, F. (1996) Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems, 4th Ed Wokingham, Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-42293-X

Piscitello, D.M. & Chapin, A.L. (1993) Open Systems Networking: TCP/IP and OSI Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-201-56334-7 (hardcover)

Stallings, W and Van Slyke, R, (1998) Business Data Communications, 3rd Ed NY, Macmillan. ISBN 0-13-761230-3

Stevens, W. Richard (1994?) TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1: The Protocols Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-201-63346-9 (hardcover)

Contact time:

2 hours lectures per week, 2 hours tutorial per week. Note that this applies to students taking the subject in conventional mode. Special arrangements exist for students taking the subject in "Internet-assisted" mode.

Lecturer:

Phil Scott, phone 5444 7277, email P.Scott@latrobe.edu.au, office: B1.11