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CM50123: Networking

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Computer Science
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 25%, EX 75%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework 1 (CW 10%)
  • Coursework 2 (CW 15%)
  • Examination (EX 75%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Mandatory Extra Work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To understand the Internet, and associated background and theory, to a level sufficient for a competent domain manager.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit a student should be able to:
* explain the acronyms and concepts of the Internet and how they relate;
* state the steps required to connect a domain to the Internet and explain the issues involved to both technical and non-technical audiences;
* understand the ethical issues involved in the use of the Internet, and have an "intelligent layman's" grasp of the legal issues and uncertainties;
* understand fundamental security issues, and advise on the configuration issues surrounding a firewall;
* be aware of the impact on networking of the latest developments in technology and software;
* perform principled analysis and evaluations of network designs. Skills:A thorough understanding of the concepts and models of networks and the application of these to practical networks at the local, area and global level (T, F, A). Critical analysis a particular network and assess its fitness for purpose (T, A).

Content:
The ISO 7-layer model. The Internet: its history and evolution - predictions for the future. The TCP/IP stack: IP, ICMP, TCP, UDP, DNS, XDR, NFS and SMTP. Berkeley Introduction to packet layout: source routing etc. The CONS/CLNS debate: theory versus practice.
Various link levels: SLIP, 802.5 and Ethernet, satellites, the "fat pipe", ATM. Performance issues: bandwidth, MSS and RTT; caching at various layers. Who 'owns' the Internet and who 'manages' it: RFCs, service providers, domain managers, IANA, UKERNA, commercial British activities. Routing protocols and default routers. HTML and electronic publishing. Legal and ethical issues: slander/libel, copyright, pornography, publishing versus carrying. Security and firewalls: Kerberos.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

CM50123 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Computer Science

CM50123 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Computer Science
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.