H15 NETWORKING

Students should have a working knowledge of the IMIS Code of Professional Conduct and be able to understand and apply the ethical and legal concepts contained therein.

By a single 3 hour externally set examination paper.

1. To acquaint students with the basic principles of a modern networking environment and the underlying computer communications technologies.

2. To introduce the relevant concepts of modern distributed information systems.

1. Describe a range of telecommunications applications.

2. Describe the basic topologies of networks and network system components.

3. Explain the development of data networks and describe the services and technical characteristics of Wide Area Networks (WANs), Local Area Networks (LANs) and Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs).

4. Identify the component requirements of a data communications system and describe a systematic approach to the analysis, design and implementation of communications systems.

5. Identify and describe the basic building blocks.

6. Explain the development of the client/server model and its practical application in business.

7. Describe examples of technologies and software applications used for distributing data and information within an organisation.

8. Explain the development of mobile communication systems and describe the components and technologies used to implement mobile computer networks.

Voice Networks, Data Networks, Broadcast Telecommunications, Services (fax, email etc) Multimedia (bandwidth etc).

Star, Ring, Bus etc., Compound Networks, Radio/Satellite Networks, Mobile Networks, System Components (lines, modems, DTE’s interfaces, UART etc), Internetworking (routers, gateways etc.)

Characteristics of WANs, LANs and MANs, Protocols, OSI Model, Network Controllers, Packet Switching, PAD, Devices for accessing Data Networks.

Physical Connection (devices, Transmission characteristics), Network Design Criteria (sizing, queuing theory, resilience etc) Networking Performance Factors, Network Configurations, Network Control Requirements, Network Implementation and Administration.

Elements of a DIS (data, processing and presentation), Distributed IT Infrastructure (distributing presentation, processing, data and object management services, remote data access, remote file access).

Business Motivation for Move to Distributed Computing Architectures (e.g. downsizing; hardware,  rightsizing; applications), Client/Server Architecture (characteristics, business benefits and negatives, Categories of Client/Server Information Systems (variations of presentation, application and data management on different executing platforms (i.e. mix of client and server). Vertical and Horizontal Software Compatibility (Unix, Windows NT, NetWare, Database server, Middleware).

SQL Servers, TP Monitors, Groupware, Middleware, Operating Systems and User Interfaces, Networking Operating Systems, Distributed Objects.

Wire-less communications (benefits, limitations, characteristics, devices), Wire-less technologies (mobile data networks, paging systems, cellular telephone networks, microwave and satellite transmission), GSM, Business Needs for Mobile Data communications, Public Communications Network (PCN) Mobile Computing (remote connection to computer networks).