Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Rein Vesilo
Contact via rein.vesilo@mq.edu.au
E6B 124
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp including COMP247(P)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines the technology used in modern data communication networks including local-area, wide-area, metropolitan and access networks with emphasis on the concepts and general principles of those technologies. The focus is on layers 1 and 2 of the OSI reference model. The unit examines commonly used and new networking technologies including Ethernet, wireless networks, optical networks, time-division multiplexing networks, cellular and ADSL networks. The unit examines these technologies from a number of different perspectives including physical-layer communications, medium access control (MAC), link-layer protocol, network architecture, connection control, network device, network performance and quality of service. A practical component gives students skills in using and configuring network equipment and using network simulation tools.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
---|---|---|
Final examination | 55% | Examination period |
Assignment 1 | 5% | Week 4 |
Assignment 2 | 5% | Week 7 |
Assignment 3 | 5% | Week 10 |
Assignment 4 | 5% | Week 12 |
Major report | 10% | Week 13 |
Laboratories | 10% | Throughout semester |
Participation | 5% | Throughout semester |
Due: Examination period
Weighting: 55%
Closed book examination of 3 hours duration.
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 5%
Set of problems.
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 5%
Set of problems.
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 5%
Set of problems.
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 5%
Set of problems.
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 10%
An essay style report involving research and analysis of a topic in communications networks and technology.
Due: Throughout semester
Weighting: 10%
Assessment based on work done in laboratories with networking equipment, Matlab and Opnet simulation.
Due: Throughout semester
Weighting: 5%
Active participation in tutorial sessions
There are eleven weekly laboratory sessions, starting in Week 2.
Laboratory attendance is compulsory and a roll will kept for the laboratory. Satisfactory attendance requires attendance for at least 8 sessions.
Late assignments will be penalised 10% per day of lateness except if a request for extension based on medical or other exception circumstances is submitted (through ask.mq.edu.au as a special consideration) and approved.
Library and internet search engines, word processing and presentation software, Cisco switches and routers, Atlas ADTRAN switches, Matlab software.
No student will be permitted to enter the laboratory without proper footwear. THONGS OR SANDALS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. NO FOOD OR DRINK may be taken into the laboratory.
Communication Networks A Concise Introduction, by J. Walrand and S. Parekh, Morgan & Claypool Publishers, 2010.
Networking, Second edition, J. S. Beasley, Pearson, 2009.
Data Communications and Networking, 4th Edition by B. A. Forouzan, McGraw-Hill, 2007.
Data and Computer Communications, 9th ed W. Stallings, Pearson, 2012
Lecture notes, laboratory notes, workshop notes, assignments and resources are provided online through iLearn.
Topic list (for exact week by week schedule see iLearn). Topics may vary slightly from below. |
Introduction to networking layers. |
Ethernet - frame format, devices, CSMA., spanning tree protocol, VLANS. |
Ethernet - Physical layer. |
Wireless LANs |
WANs - TDM, Optical, Frame relay, ATM networks |
Sharing, metrics, scalability |
Queueing |
Markov chains |
Capacity allocation |
Quality of service |
Analogue transmission |
Wireless communication |
Cellular networks |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
There are only minor changes from the previous offering.
A satisfactory performance in ALL aspects of the unit is required to pass.
Date | Description |
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31/07/2015 | Removed Oopnet references and changed topic list to remove week by week reference (students should refer to ilearn). |