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32521 WANS and VLANS

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

UTS: Information Technology: Computing and Communications
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 32524 LANS and Routing, and with a minimum mark of 50% OR 31277 Routing and Internetworks OR 31471 Networking 2
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 31084 VLANs and WANs AND 31283 WANs and Virtual LANs

Handbook description

This subject extends the work covered in 32524 LANs and Routings. WAN and LAN design is introduced. Use of the UTS Cisco Academy resources are used for practical work. After completing this subject students may sit for the industry certification CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate).

Subject objectives/outcomes

At the end of this subject, the student will be able to:

  1. List the major concepts, theories and principles that are used in the implementation of a Local Area Network (LAN) and how the LAN can connect to a Wide Area Network (WAN) or the Internet to meet the computer networking needs of an organization.
  2. Describe layer 2 switching protocols and concepts used to improve redundancy, propagate VLAN information, and secure the portion of the network where most users access network services.
  3. Explain the underlying processes of the common Layer 2 switching technologies for LANs.
  4. Implement, verify, and troubleshoot switching technologies.
  5. Summarise and describe WAN technologies including PPP, Frame Relay, and broadband links.
  6. Describe WAN security concepts including types of threats, how to analyse network vulnerabilities, general methods for mitigating common security threats and types of security appliances and applications.
  7. Identify and explain the major issues associated with the design and implementation of a LAN using VLANs and wireless LANs, and interconnecting these to a corporate WAN or the Internet.
  8. Construct and test (in a laboratory environment) a network of VLANs, wireless LANs and WANs using a selection of technologies and techniques.
  9. Summarise WAN converged applications and quality of service (QoS).
  10. Explain the principles of traffic control and access control lists (ACLs) and describe how to implement IP addressing services for an Enterprise network, including how to configure NAT and DHCP.
  11. Use Cisco Router and Security Device Manager (SDM) to secure a router and implement IP addressing services.
  12. Detect, troubleshoot and correct common Enterprise network implementation issues.

Contribution to course aims and graduate attributes

Students learn how to implement VLAN segmentation and wireless LANs in a small- or medium-sized business network. Students also learn various WAN technologies to connect small- to medium-sized business networks. Through case studies, and group work students work collaboratively and individually to produce written reports requiring analysis and evaluation of alternative solution and technologies. The presentation style of the subject is workshop based where student interactions and respect are necessary. Students will need to go beyond what is presented in class for successful mastery of this material. This subject allows students to specialize in computer networking, and contributes to preparation suitable for Cisco CCNA exams.

Teaching and learning strategies


4 hours lab contact time per week, the labs include hands-on work, short (30-50 min) lectures, kinesthetics, preparation of case studies and an opportunity for class discussion.

An on-line discussion forum is used to disseminate information to all students, and to allow students to pose questions, and more importantly, to answer each others’ questions. Students are expected to login to the forum on a frequent basis to read messages and to engage in dialogue on the subject matter.

Most factual content is available as on-line course material (‘CCNA Exploration 4.0: LAN Switching and Wireless’ and ‘CCNA Exploration 4.0: Accessing the WAN’) with simulations, e-laboratories, pre-tests and other learning support activities. Students are expected and encouraged to study the on-line materials before class so that informed debate on issues is possible. Instructors will conduct classes on the understanding that all students have completed the required pre-study.

Students are expected to exercise considerable diligence, to strive for efficient utilisation of class time and laboratory facilities so as to ensure maximum benefit from these resources by their learning group.

Content

  1. LAN Design
    • Fundamental aspects of designing local area networks
    • Hierarchical network design
  2. Basic Switch Concepts and Configuration
    • Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching
    • Switch configuration
  3. VLANs
    • Types of VLANs
    • VLAN trunks with IEEE 802.1Q tagging
  4. VTP
    • Configuration, verification, and troubleshooting of VTP implementations
  5. STP
    • IEEE 802.1D implementation of STP
    • IEEE 802.1w (RSTP) implementation
  6. Inter-VLAN Routing
    • Various methods of inter-VLAN routing
    • Router-on-a-stick topology
  7. Basic Wireless Concepts and Configuration
    • SSIDs and MAC filtering
    • WPA2 and 802.1x authentication
  8. Introduction to WANs
    • Enterprise WANs and their technologies
  9. PPP
    • Various aspects of PPP including PAP and CHAP.
  10. Frame Relay
    • Frame Relay WAN protocol
    • Implementation of Frame Relay between LANs
  11. Network Security
    • Security threats and mitigation techniques
    • Configuration of basic router security
  12. ACLs
    • Standard and extended ACLs
    • Dynamic, reflexive and timed ACLs
  13. Teleworker Services
    • Cable, DSL, and wireless broadband options
    • VPNs
  14. IP Addressing Services
    • DHCP
    • NAT
    • IPv6
  15. Network Troubleshooting
    • Network baseline and documentation
    • Layered troubleshooting approach

Assessment

Assessment Item 1: Online Final Exams

Objective(s):

1-12
Weighting: 5%

Assessment Item 2: Case Study

Objective(s):

2-8, 10-12
Weighting:

20%

Assessment Item 3: CCNA 3 Skills-Based Assessment

Objective(s):

1, 4, 7-8
Weighting: 10%

Assessment Item 4: Final Skills-Based Assessment

Objective(s):

4,8,11,12
Weighting: 15%

Assessment Item 5: Final Written Exam

Objective(s):

1-3, 5-7, 9-10
Weighting: 50%

Minimum requirements

A passing grade will be awarded if an aggregate mark of 50% or better is achieved overall and both on-line exams are completed.


Under the University’s assessment policy no supplementary examination is required in this subject and none shall be offered.

Required texts

  1. The primary source of information for this subject will be online course material. All students enrolled for this subject will be given access to ‘CCNA Exploration 4.0: LAN Switching and Wireless’ and ‘CCNA Exploration 4.0: Accessing the WAN’ through both the Cisco Networking Academy website (http://www.netacad.net) and UTS mirror website (http://www.iwork.uts.edu.au/enrolled/cisco/). Note that both sites contain all the online course material. The Cisco Networking Academy site also contains additional learning resources, and the UTS mirror website is hosted locally. So, you should use UTS mirror site in preference to the Cisco Networking Academy site whenever possible. However, both the Online Chapter Quizzes and the Online Final Exam will only be available via the Cisco Networking Academy website.
  2. Other subject documents and course materials, such as subject outlines, lecture notes, assignments, additional information about labs and assessments, as well as comments and answers to questions common to all students, will be distributed via UTS Online (http://online.uts.edu.au).
  3. Hard copy text books which cover essentially the same contents (but contain no animations and other activities) as the online curriculum may be purchased at the Co-op Bookshop or other places.

Recommended texts

  1. Wayne Lewis, LAN Switching and Wireless: CCNA Exploration Companion Guide, Cisco Press.
  2. Bob Vachon and Rick Graziani, Accessing the WAN: CCNA Exploration Companion Guide, Cisco Press.

Other resources

1. UTS mirror website for online course material (login:UTS ID and UTS Email password):
http://www.iwork.uts.edu.au/enrolled/cisco/
CCNA Exploration 4.0: Routing Protocols and Concepts

2. Cisco Networking Academy website for online course material (login:Cisco Networking Academy account):
http://www.netacad.com
CCNA Exploration 4.0: Routing Protocols and Concepts

3. Cisco’s assessment server for online quizzes and examinations (login:Cisco Networking Academy account):
www.netacad.com

4. UTS Online for online discussion and dissemination of course information (login:UTS ID and UTS Email password):
http://www.online.uts.edu.au

Note: If you have difficulty with logging in to any of the above web sites, you should contact your instructor to try to resolve your problem.

5. UTS: Engineering and Information Technology Student Guide Autumn 2013:
http://my.feit.uts.edu.au/ modules/myfeit/downloads/ StudentGuide_Online.pdf