Short course name:

Computer Networks & Data Communications 1

Module number:

COM 103

Course Syllabus:

Review of computer networking concepts:

Standalone versus distributed computing

Network types and models e.g. pear-to-peer and client-server types

Generic physical and logical topologies for networks

Network devices and components e.g. switches, routers, repeaters and hubs


Layered Network Protocols:

OSI formalism for describing network protocol layers

Application layer service request and response types

Data formatting, encryption and compression within the presentation layer

Session layer activities for initiating, managing and closing nodal communications; simplex, half-duplex and full-duplex sessions.

Error-checking, re-sequencing and reliable delivery mechanisms in the transport layer; packet header usage

Packet/datagram addressing issues within the network layer

Flow-control and medium-access techniques used by the data-link layer; manchester encoding and other synchronisation method

Communications channel characteristics of the physical layer. Assessing bandwidth requirements


TCP/IP Protocol characteristics:

Genesis and evolution of TCP/IP; APPANET origins and RFC categories

Relative merits of the TCP.IP protocol

TCP/IP packet framing

Characteristics of MAC (physical) and IP (logical) addresses

IP address classes

Creating TCP/IP inter-networks

Subnetting basics and use of subnet masks

Supernetting TCP/IP inter-networks