This module provides the learner with fundamental knowledge and skills to understand the operation of computer networks.
The aim of this module is to provide the student with the necessary background knowledge to understand modern computers — how they are physically structured and how they operate, independently and in a network.
Basic Architecture and Operation (25%)
- CPU Components — CU, ALU, registers, address bus, data bus, memory; Instruction execution (fetch, decode, execute); full adders, half adders.
- Machine code, 8086 instruction set, registers. Primary memory, RAM, ROM, memory addresses. Secondary storage devices, disk storage technology.
Operating Systems and Processing (25%)
- Operating systems components and functions. Operating systems types — basic terminology.
- Multi-user systems and UNIX, UNIX implementations, DOS and UNIX command set and scripting, resource management, sharing and exhaustion.
- CPU time, single and multiple processes, multi-tasking, creation and removal of processes, process states and scheduling, process deadlock.
Networking Models (10%)
- Concepts of networks (LAN and WAN), OSI and TCP/IP models; application, presentation, session, transport, network and data link.
- Network traffic analysis, real and simulated networks, peer-to-peer networks. Data encapsulation.
TCP/IP Suite (15%)
- The application layer, the interaction of protocols and services and applications. HTTP, DNS, SMTP/POP, Telnet and FTP.
- The transport layer — how the TCP and UDP protocols apply to applications.
- The network layer — concepts of addressing and routing, path determination, data packets. IP protocol: configuring hosts to access the local network and exploring route tables.
IP Addressing (15%)
- Network addressing, the subnet mask, the number of sub-networks and hosts in a network, ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) tools.
Design, Cabling, Configuration and Testing (10%)
- Ethernet operation: encapsulation processes as data travels across the LAN and the WAN.
- Designing and cabling a network, which cables to use, how to connect devices, developing and addressing and testing scheme, connect and configure a small network using basic router commands.
Modules will be simultaneously delivered on campus, in class and live streamed for online participants. There will be both lecture style and lab style classes. Students are expected to attend all lecture and lab sessions. Attendance will be recorded in most labs and lectures. You will access all your online materials through the official TU Dublin virtual learning environment, Brightspace, using your student credentials.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |