PROGRAMME: HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA (HND)

DEPARTMENT: NETWORKING AND CLOUD COMPUTING/DATA

COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKS
COURSE TITLE: NCC 311/SWD315
COURSE: NETWORKING ESSENTIALS
GOAL: This course is designed to equip students with networking skills.
CREDIT UNITS: 3
NOTE: NCC 311/SWD315 uses the same curriculum, so it will be same lecture hour

GENERAL OBJECTIVES CONTENTS:

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.0 Understand Networks Today
2.0 Understand Protocols and Models
3.0 Know Open System Interconnect (OSI) model
4.0 Understand Ethernet Switching
5.0 Understand Number Systems and IP addressing
6.0 Understand Basic Router and Switch Configuration
7.0 Understand Network Security Fundamentals
8.0 Know how to build Small Networks

GENERAL OBJECTIVE: UNDERSTAND NETWORKS TODAY

1.1 Explain how networks affect our daily lives.
1.2 Outline how host and network devices are used
1.3 Outline network representations and how they are used in network topologies.
1.4 List the characteristics of common types of networks.
1.5 Outline how LANs and WANs interconnect to the internet.
1.6 Explain the four basic requirements of a reliable network.
1.7 Outline how trends such as BYOD, online collaboration, video, and cloud computing
are changing the way we interact
1.8 Explain some basic security threats and solutions for all networks
1.9 Outline employment opportunities in the networking field

GENERAL OBJECTIVE 2.0: UNDERSTAND PROTOCOLS AND MODELS

2.1 Outline the types of rules that are necessary to successfully communicate.
2.2 Narrate why protocols are necessary for network communication
2.3 Outline the purpose of adhering to a protocol suite.
2.4 Outline the role of standards organizations in establishing protocols for network
interoperability.
2.5 Outline how the TCP/IP model and the OSI model are used to facilitate
standardization in the communication process.
2.6 Outline how data encapsulation allows data to be transported across the network.
2.7 Outline how local hosts access local resources on a network.
2.8 Contrast the roles of the MAC address and the IP address.
2.9 Explain the purpose of ARP.
2.10 Explain the operation of IPv6 neighbor discovery.
2.11 Outline how ICMP is used to test network connectivity.
2.12 Explain the techniques of ensuring successful communication between devices

GENERAL OBJECTIVE: 3.0 KNOW OPEN SYSTEM INTERCONNECT (OSI)

MODEL
3.1 Explain the purpose and functions of the physical layer in the network.
3.2 Explain the characteristics of the physical layer.
3.3 Explain the basic characteristics of copper cabling.
3.4 Explain how UTP cable is used in Ethernet networks.
3.5 Explain fiber optic cabling and its main advantages over other media.
3.6 Explain Network devices using wired and wireless media.
3.7 List the purpose and function of the data link layer in preparing communication for
transmission on specific media.
3.8 List the characteristics of media access control methods on WAN and LAN
topologies.
3.9 Explain the characteristics and functions of the data link frame.
3.10 Explain how the network layer uses IP protocols for reliable communications
3.11 Explain the role of the major header fields in the IPv4 packet.
3.12 Explain the role of the major header fields in the IPv6 packet.
3.13 Explain how network devices use routing tables to direct packets to a destination
network.
3.14 Explain the functions of fields in the routing table
3.15 Explain the purpose of the transport layer in managing the transportation of data in
end-to end communication.
3.16 List the characteristics of TCP.
3.17 List characteristics of UDP.
3.18 Describe how TCP and UDP use port numbers.
3.19 Explain how TCP session establishment and termination processes facilitate reliable
communication.
3.20 Explain how TCP protocol data units are transmitted and acknowledged to guarantee
delivery
3.21 Explain the operations of transport layer protocols in supporting end to-end
communication. 3.22 Explain how the functions of the application layer, presentation
layer, and session layer work together to provide network services to end user
applications.
3.23 Explain how end-user applications operate in a peer to-peer network.
3.24 Explain how web and email protocols operate.
3.25 Explain how DNS and DHCP operate.
3.26 Explain how file transfer protocols operate.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE: 4.0 UNDERSTAND ETHERNET SWITCHING
4.1 Describe how the Ethernet sublayers are related to the frame fields.
4.2 Describe the Ethernet MAC address.
4.3 Describe how a switch builds its MAC address table and forwards frames.
4.4 Describe switch forwarding methods and port settings available on Layer 2 switch
ports

GENERAL OBJECTIVE: 5.0 UNDERSTAND NUMBER SYSTEMS AND IP

ADDRESSING
5.1 Explain how to convert numbers between decimal and binary systems.
5.2 Explain how to convert numbers between decimal and hexadecimal systems.
5.3 Explain the structure of an IPv4 address including the network portion, the host
portion, and the subnet mask.
5.4 Analyse the characteristics and uses of the unicast, broadcast and multicast IPv4
addresses.
5.5 Describe public, private, and reserved IPv4 addresses.
5.6 Describe how subnetting segments a network to enable better communication.
5.7 Compute IPv4 subnets for a /24 prefix.
5.8 Describe the need for IPv6 addressing.
5.9 Describe how IPv6 addresses are represented.
5.10 Contrast types of IPv6 network addresses.
5.11 Describe how to configure static global unicast and link local IPv6 network
addresses.
5.12 Describe how to configure global unicast addresses dynamically.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE 6.0: UNDERSTAND BASIC ROUTER AND SWITCH

CONFIGURATION
6.1 Explain how to access IOS or VRP device for configuration purposes.
6.2 Explain how to navigate IOS or VRP to configure network devices.
6.3 Explain the command structure of IOS or VRP software.
6.4 Explain IOS or VRP device using CLI.
6.5 Explain IOS or VRP commands to save the running configuration.
6.6 Explain how devices communicate across network media.
6.7 Explain a host device with an IP address. 6.8 Explain connectivity between two end
devices.
6.9 Explain initial settings on an IOS or VRP router.
6.10 Explain two active interfaces on IOS or VRP router.
6.11 Explain how devices use the default gateway.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE 7.0: UNDERSTAND NETWORK SECURITY
FUNDAMENTALS
7.1 Explain why basic security measures are necessary on network devices.
7.2 List general security mitigation techniques.
7.3 Explain network devices with device hardening features to mitigate security threats.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE 8.0: KNOW HOW TO BUILD SMALL NETWORKS

8.1 Explain the devices used in a small network.
8.2 Explain the protocols and applications used in a small network.
8.3 Explain how a small network serves as the basis of larger networks.
8.4 Explain common network troubleshooting methodologies.
8.5 List common connectivity problems associated with network devices