Networks & Distributed Systems

This course unit offers an insight into Enterprise Networks with an emphasis on their technological basis and corporate applications.

1. Build on the concepts introduced in Computer Fundamentals.
2. Provide an overview of the principles of telecommunications.
3. Examine the underlying technology to communications systems, especially those concerned with PC LANs and WANs, including the Internet.
4. Introduce the issues involved in the building and use of Open Systems and applications.

Programme Content and Learning Objectives

After completing the programme, the student should be able to:

1. Understand and apply basic data communications principles and concepts
2. Understand the importance of structured models such the OSI - ISO model
3. Identify different LAN technologies and understand their various differences, similarities, advantages and disadvantages
4. Describe distributed applications such as EDI, E-mail and understand their various differences, similarities, advantages and disadvantages
5. Understand the emerging role of client-server operation
6. Map TCP/IP onto the OSI model and apply to enterprise network architectures
7. Contrast de Jure, de Facto & Proprietary standards and understand their importance to business in making decisions about communications networks

Syllabus Content

Standards

Standards Bodies: De Jure, De Facto & Proprietary Standards Bodies & Regulators. Technology development and standards creation. An Introduction to layered models for business data communications, the ISO OSI 7-layer functional model.

End-to-End data communication. Simplex, Duplex, Synchronous, Asynchronous, Digital, Analogue, Serial & Parallel transmissions. Media, characteristics of signals; bandwidth. Modulation and demodulation principles using amplitude and frequency. Modems. Protocol basics. An introduction to character encoding (EBCDIC vs. ASCII) and data compression (lossless vs. lossy)

Characteristics of network used in local area networks. Their topologies, transmission media and access techniques, and their associated IEEE 802 standards, including both wired & wireless LANs. Mapping various network models onto the ISO reference model. An introduction to high speed LANs & MANs. An introduction to structured wiring. LAN operating systems.

Characteristics of network topologies used in wide networks. Mapping various network models onto the ISO reference model, including TCP/IP. Appreciation of circuit and packet switching and network routing with reference to public and networks, ISDN and X.25. Connectionless and Connection-oriented operation.

Interconnection methods. Bridges, routers, brouters, gateways. Modems. Security : firewalls, encryption.

Applications

ISO & non ISO application protocols, such as X.400, X.500, FTP, SMPT and their use in e-mail, EDI etc., Client-server models. TCP/IP Enterprise networks such Intranets and Extranets. Meeting the needs of Businesses. The Internet.