Students

COMP6250 – Data Communications

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor and Lecturer
Tao Gu
tao.gu@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces basic data communication concepts, theory and practice within the context of the use of communication networks in organisations.

Topics include:

  • protocols and standards, including the OSI model
  • in-depth understanding of key protocols of the TCP/IP protocol suite
  • network switching and routing, including both intra-domain and inter-domain routing protocols
  • LAN and WAN topologies
  • wireless networking
  • network hardware, such as routers, modems, repeaters, switches and hubs
  • public telecommunication-based data services
  • the effect of telecommunications on society
  • the role of telecommunications within organisations
  • introduction to security and network management
  • organisational management of telecommunications
  • introduction to network design
  • regulatory frameworks

Practical work includes basic network configuration and protocol performance using specialised software.

This unit does not presume any knowledge of programming nor is there any programming work in the unit.

Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Explain the importance and the role of network protocols including why they are organised into protocol stacks and how protocol stacks function.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate an understanding of network addressing, routing of traffic between networks and the mechanisms that allow applications to co-exist and interact.
  • ULO3: Differentiate among LAN components, describe addressing schemes at various layers and how they interact, techniques to resolve them, and in particular instances calculate addresses.
  • ULO4: Critically reflect on different major network technologies including wireless, backbone, wide area networks, and the Internet and, being aware of their properties, be able to evaluate different network designs.
  • ULO5: Demonstrate technical networking proficiency including demonstrated ability to configure, construct, and document, and in simple cases, design networks, as well as the ability to perform traffic analysis on local area networks.
  • ULO6: Demonstrate an understanding of, and have an ability to develop plans for dealing with, issues regarding network security and management.

General Assessment Information

We strongly encourage all students to participate actively in all learning activities. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit, as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation enhances your learning experience and contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.

Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit, you must:

  • Achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%

There are no hurdle requirements for the unit.

Assessment Information

All assessments in this unit are individual assessments.

  • Basic Networking Assignment
    • This is an individual assessment to be submitted on iLearn and will be checked for plagiarism via Turnitin.
  • Network Design Report
    • This is an individual assessment to be submitted on iLearn and will be checked for plagiarism via Turnitin.
  • Final Exam
    • This is an individual formal examination that will be conducted on campus and invigilated. The time and place will be published on https://iexams.mq.edu.au/ closer to the date.

Release

  • Basic Networking Assignment
    • Specifications to be released no later than 18th August 2025.
  • Network Design Report
    • Specifications to be released no later than 22nd September 2025.
  • Final Exam
    • Information to be released no later than 3rd November 2025.

Submission of assessable work

For all your assignments and your professional life in the future, you are encouraged to:

  • Set your personal deadline earlier than the official deadline
  • Keep backups of all your important files
  • Ensure that no one else has access to your files or documents

 

Late Assessment Submission

Late assessments are not accepted in this unit unless a Special Consideration has been submitted and approved.

 

Special Considerations

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please submit a Special Consideration request through the Service Connect Portal.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Basic Networking Assignment 30% No Sunday, 21st September 2025, 23:55
Network Design Report 30% No Sunday, 2nd November 2025, 23:55
Final Exam 40% No Exam Period

Basic Networking Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Sunday, 21st September 2025, 23:55
Weighting: 30%

 

The first assignment tests students understanding of network stacks, layering, and addressing techniques.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the importance and the role of network protocols including why they are organised into protocol stacks and how protocol stacks function.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of network addressing, routing of traffic between networks and the mechanisms that allow applications to co-exist and interact.
  • Differentiate among LAN components, describe addressing schemes at various layers and how they interact, techniques to resolve them, and in particular instances calculate addresses.

Network Design Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Sunday, 2nd November 2025, 23:55
Weighting: 30%

 

The second assignment tests students understanding of selected networking technologies.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of network addressing, routing of traffic between networks and the mechanisms that allow applications to co-exist and interact.
  • Differentiate among LAN components, describe addressing schemes at various layers and how they interact, techniques to resolve them, and in particular instances calculate addresses.
  • Critically reflect on different major network technologies including wireless, backbone, wide area networks, and the Internet and, being aware of their properties, be able to evaluate different network designs.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of, and have an ability to develop plans for dealing with, issues regarding network security and management.

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 40%

 

The final exam asks students to apply the knowledge they have gained through the semester to one or more given network scenarios. Tasks to be completed may include elements of network design, troubleshooting, and the appropriate application of security controls.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the importance and the role of network protocols including why they are organised into protocol stacks and how protocol stacks function.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of network addressing, routing of traffic between networks and the mechanisms that allow applications to co-exist and interact.
  • Differentiate among LAN components, describe addressing schemes at various layers and how they interact, techniques to resolve them, and in particular instances calculate addresses.
  • Critically reflect on different major network technologies including wireless, backbone, wide area networks, and the Internet and, being aware of their properties, be able to evaluate different network designs.
  • Demonstrate technical networking proficiency including demonstrated ability to configure, construct, and document, and in simple cases, design networks, as well as the ability to perform traffic analysis on local area networks.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of, and have an ability to develop plans for dealing with, issues regarding network security and management.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Classes

Each week, you have a two-hour lecture and a two-hour practical class. For details of scheduled classes, consult the Classfinder tool on eStudent.

Please note that lectures begin in week 1, while the practical classes (lab sessions) start in week 2. The week-by-week details of the practical (lab) classes will be available from iLearn.

You must attend the practical class for which you are registered on eStudent.

 

Methods of Communication

We will communicate with you via your university email and through announcements on iLearn. Queries to teaching staff can be sent via your university email to the appropriate contact emails, which are listed in the iLearn Contacts block.

Unit Schedule

Topics covered:

  • Networking Fundamentals
  • Communication Standards (OSI and TCP/IP models)
  • Network Security
  • Network Architecture

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

To enable students to focus more time on learning, understanding, and reflecting on the content of our unit, we have revised the assessment structure as advised, resulting in only three assessments. Although no marks are associated with attendance and practical activities, all activities provide you with key content designed to help you understand the content and complete the assessments successfully.

Unit information based on version 2025.06 of the Handbook