Transmission media (e.g. copper and fibre optic cabling, wireless transmission)
LAN Topologies (e.g. bus, ring, star), LAN standards (e.g. Ethernet) and layer-2 addresses
Layer 3 issues, routing and addressing (e.g. IP)
Connection-oriented v connectionless layer 4 (e.g. TCP and UDP)
WAN technologies and services (e.g. leased lines, ISDN, Frame Relay)
Application-layer software (e.g. e-mail, FTP, Web browsers and Web servers)
Network security (e.g. anti-virus software, firewalls, encryption, digital signatures, PKI, VPNs, SSL, IPSec)
Network management (e.g. network management categories, SNMP, MIB, RMON)
Multimedia hardware
Language translators (assemblers, interpreters and compilers) - structure and operation.

The material will be presented through a combination of lectures (2 per week), tutorial/practicals (1 per week) and independent self-directed study.
(1:n)2 (1:20)1

Standard network laboratory facilities.
Java language.
Opnet IT Guru Academic Edition.

Prior study of Hardware, Software Systems and Networks or equivalent.

Main course text:
Communications and Networking: An Introduction, John Cowley, 2007, Springer, ISBN: 1-84628-488-0

Programming language Processors in Java, David Watt and Deryck Brown, Prentice Hall, 2000, ISBN 0-13-025786-9

Background Reading:
Computer Systems, Sebastian Coope, Neil Willis, John Cowley, Publisher: McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN: 007709803X

Computer Networks and Internets with Internet Applications, Douglas E Comer and Ralph E Droms, 2004, 4th Ed, Prentice Hall, ISBN: 013123627X

Computer Networks, 4th Edition (International Edition), Andrew Tanenbaum, Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR, ISBN: 0-13-038488-7, 2003

Coursework weighted at 30% (Learning Outcome 1).
Examination, unseen in exam conditions length 2 hours, weighted at 70% (Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4).