Networks and Switching
Overview
This unit introduces you to the field of data networking and provides you with the necessary skills to design and successfully deploy a small network.
27-October-2024
16-February-2025
01-June-2025
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Use the OSI Model to discuss network design and infrastructure (K3, S3)
- Design an addressing scheme to subnet a network to given specifications (K2, K3, S3)
- Describe the processes of LAN switching and how VLANs are used in a switched network (K3)
- Use best practice to design secure corporate networks and deploy security to practical networking environments (K3, S1, S3)
- Describe how the Spanning Tree Protocol eliminates loops in multi-switched LANs (K3)
- Construct a simple network of PCs, switches and a router, and troubleshoot problems in those networks (K3, S1, S2, S3)
- Generate documentation for laboratory work and assignments (A2)
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Class |
3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| On-campus Lecture |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Specified Activities Various |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Individual/Group | 20% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
| Examination | Individual | 40 - 50% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Practical Skills Examination | Individual | 10 - 20% | 2,3,4,6 |
Hurdle
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all ULOs to a minimum standard, an undergraduate student must have achieved:
(i) An aggregate mark of 50% or more, and(ii) At least 40% in the final exam, and(iii) A Pass grade for the Skills Exam. The criteria for passing the Skills Exam is available in the Unit Outline.Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirements (ii) and (iii) will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.
Content
- Networking Fundamentals
- OSI Network Layers
- Ethernet fundamentals, technologies and switching
- TCP/IP and addressing
- Subnets and subnetting (VLSM and CIDR)
- Switching concepts
- Virtual LANs
- Inter-VLAN Static routing
- Network and Secure Network Design
- Etherchannel Bundling
- Spanning Tree Protocol
- Wireless LANs
- Basic switch troubleshooting
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.