Networking

Networking

Instructors:	Dale R. "Zai" Fox, Ph.D.
Office:
Office Hours:	5:00 - 6:00 PM Wednesday or by appointment
Phone:
E-mail:	zai@warriorhealer.net
Text:	*Myers, Network+ Certification: All In One, McGraw Hill, 2002.*
Recommended References:	*Velte and Velte, Cisco: A Beginner's Guide, Osborne, 2004.* *Forouzan, Data Communications and Networking, McGraw Hill, 2004.* *Bardwell and Akin, CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator, 3rd Edition, Osborne, 2005.* *Roshan and Leary, 802.11 Wireless LAN Fundamentals, Cisco Press, 2004.*
Evaluation:	Grades will be based on homework, tests and labs. But since the labs don't seem to be forthcoming this will be reduced to just homework and tests. Overall homework will count for 50% of your grade and there will be three of these. The other 50% of your grade will be based on two tests, a midterm and a final. In order to receive full credit on any homework assignment it must be turned in on time. If it is between one and three days late you lose 10 PTS. If it is more than three days late you lose 20 PTS.
Jargon Page:	An Overview of Some Jargon
Description:	This course will focus on the basics of computer networks. I like to take an approach that is often called "bottom up". I start by talking about moving information across networks in packets and develop all kinds of ancillary and concomitant issues. I think it is important to have some serious comprehension of these sorts of aspects of networking in order to develop intelligent implementations and make intelligent decisions. I have chosen to use text that helps to prepare people for the Network+ certification. But much of this course was developed and structured to prepare people for the old CCNA exam. But I think it is very important to not limit ourselves to Cisco views of things, but they tend to work at a level that is most akin to my views. To see more about the course content you should look at the links for the course below.
Cases:	Link to Networking Cases

Weekly Topic Coverage

Week 1	Syllabus/Policies A Bit of History of Computer Networking Why Network? A Bit About Packet Switching The OSI Model TCP/IP
Week 2	Categorizing Networks Categorizing Networks by Physical Scope Categorizing Networks by Administrative Methods/Interaction Type Categorizing Networks by Operating System Categorizing Networks by Protocol Categorizing Networks by Topology Categorizing Networks by Architecture Some Background on Number Systems Some Mathematics Associated with Networking Homework 1
Week 3	Some More Network Communication Concepts The OSI Model Revisited Networking Standards Some Background on Signals Some Signal Characteristics Signaling and Communications Quality Signal Modulation, Encoding and Multiplexing
Week 4	Media Access Methods LAN Links Ethernet Background More on Ethernet More on CSMA/CD Token Ring AppleTalk Backbones FDDI Asynchronous Transfer Mode Gigabit Ethernet Cisco Presentation - Gigabit Ethernet to the Desktop Gigabit Ethernet and ATM WAN Links WAN Hardware WAN Topologies Network Switching Types
Week 5	Network Interface Cards Wire Based Network Media Network Connecting Devices Bridges Hubs Switches Some Current Switches Routers Some Current Routers
Week 6	Some Topics to Integrate through the Course Gigabit Ethernet 10 GB Ethernet Fiber Optic Design of Networks IPv6 Another Protocol that Runs System Level stuff below TCP/IP Much more about Networking Devices and how to cost and how to select and read Company Info
Week 7	Homework 2
Week 8	IP Addressing IP Addressing Some More on IP Addressing Designing IP Addressing Implementing IP Addressing TCP/IP Utilities LAN/WAN Connectivity Working in the Finance Computer Lab
Week 9	Midterm
Week 10	The Internet and Routing Protocols Some Background on the Internet The Internet and the World Wide Web An Atlas of Cyberspaces TCP/IP Routing on the Internet Some More on Routing Protocols Characterizing Routing Protocols Homework 3
Week 11	Remote Access Remote Access Connectivity Devices Remote Access Servers Remote Access Configuration and Security Background on Virtual Private Networking VPN Protocols VPN Security and Performance
Week 12	Homework 4
Week 13	Some Background on Desktop Operating Systems Files and File Systems Some Common Desktop Operating Systems Survey of Network Protocols Network Administration Overview of Some Network Operating Systems Some Background on Directory Services Some Popular Directory Services Hybrid Networks Multiple Protocols Multiple Operating Systems Multiple Hardware Platforms
Week 14	Protecting the Network Network Security Implementing Security How Security Components Work Security Policy The More Technical Side of Security Policy Firewalls Disaster Protection and Recovery
Finals

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