Examination (50%) (Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
Assignment (50%) (Learning outcomes 1, 4, 5, 6)

Computer Networks -

Introduction to data communications.
Communication architecture and network protocol layering.
Network hardware - local area networks and wide area networks with consideration of alternative methods and fundamentally new communication technologies such as ISDN, ATM, wireless and cellular networking technology, and satellite networks.
Network Software - hierarchical protocol layers with consideration of specific services and protocols in protocol suits such as TCP/IP stack.
Internetworking - principal concepts and architecture of heterogeneous networks and internetworking protocols such as ARP, HTTP, ICMP, IP, TCP and UDP.
Application interfacing - examining major issues in distributed applications areas such as network management and security, the World Wide Web, DNS, electronic mail and file transfer protocol.

Distributed Systems -

Characteristics of distributed systems - key characteristics and design issues involving multimedia objects and hypermedia links.
Interprocess communication - the building blocks, client-server communication, the remote procedure call and group communication.
Processes and processors - Introduction to threads and system models such as processor pool and workstation models.
Naming Services and protection - examining such aspects as navigation through a collection of name servers while resolving a name, caching and replication. Case studies such as SNS, DNS for internet and X.500.
Distributed file services - file server and file service interface design, and case studies such as The Sun Network File System.
Security - security mechanisms and technology, authentication and encryption protocols and services such as Kerberos and OSF/DCE.
Case studies: investigating key standards such as DNS, CORBA, WWW and Microsoft OLE.

This module uses a number of teaching methods to provide the student with appropriate knowledge and understanding of the material in the module. The continual practical work will assist the student in understanding the material presented and also to support the development of practical skills this module aims to achieve. Lecture material will be presented to the students both formally and informally as appropriate to the subject matters. Delivery will normally be 2 lectures and 2 practicals per week.

The assessment will be by an end of module written examination as well as an in course assignment in the form of a coursework or practical assignment(s).
(1:n)2 (1:20)2

Comer D E, Computer Networks and Internets (3rd Edition), Prentice Hall 2001.
Tannenbaum A S, Computer Networks, (4th Edition), Prentice Hall 2000.
Coulouris G, Dollimore J, Kindberg T, Distributed Systems - Concepts and Design (3rd Edition), Addison-Wesley 2001

UNIX based network with Internet access
Network Simulation Lab
Opnet

CE00217-M, Principles of Software Engineering or equivalent.