School Unit Code: CM309

Unit Title: Integrated Network Services

Approval Status: Validated

This Unit builds on the knowledge and skills gained through earlier stages in the course. The Unit aims to provide the student with a deepened understanding of networking, and the ability to make critical judgements of emerging technologies and services related to the general fields of synchronous and asynchronous multi-media working in distributed computing environments.

The unit will focus upon the underlying technologies and the effective exploitation of the relevant network services and tools related to this type of working. The unit will also focus on the relevant techniques used for the analysis, design, evaluation and management of such systems enabling the student to understand how to make the most effective use of these technologies and services in an organisation.

To enable the student to undertake an effective role in the process of selecting, developing, implementing and managing advanced integrated networks and associated network services within an organisational context.

On completion of this unit the student will be able to:

• understand the requirements and technologies used to support synchronous and asynchronous multi-media working in networked computing environments.
• make critical judgements related to achieving the most effective use of such technologies in organisations.
• undertake analysis, design and implementation activities using appropriate methods and tools required to develop effective networked multi-media applications.

• Theoretical aspects of communications and media
• Theoretical aspects of LAN and MAN protocols
• The analogue telephone network and ISDN
• Wide Area Network services and protocols
• Network simulation, planning, costing and management
• Wireless and mobile computing
• Broadband techniques and emerging technologies

Teaching and Learning Strategy and Methods:

This Unit places the student at the centre of the learning process, and makes use of Virtual Campus tools and methods (e.g. electronic conferencing and Web delivery systems). Students will acquire general and fundamental concepts and principles through a combination of lecture topics and directed study material. Students will be given the opportunity to discuss and apply these concepts and principles in tutorials and laboratory work which will have a practical problem solving nature. Students will have the opportunity to review their progress on the Unit via a number of non-assessed tests.

Laboratory work, directed study and lecture topics will be examined (50%) and will assess the students' understanding of items 1 and 2 of the learning outcomes.

Continuous assessment (50%) will assess the students’ understanding of items 2 and 3 of the learning outcomes.

1. Computer Networks (Third Edition)

By: Andrew Tanenbaum - Prentice Hall International, 1996

2. Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems (fourth Edition)

Proposal for Unit Banding other than A:

This Unit will require specialist technical support for the installation, configuration and administration of a dedicated web servers. It is therefore recommended that the Unit is banded at C.