CQUniversity Unit Profile
COIT20261 Network Routing and Switching
Network Routing and Switching
All details in this unit profile for COIT20261 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit provides you with fundamental skills and knowledge in the design and operation of computer networks. It deals in-depth with the techniques used in the Internet to forward the packets from the source to the destination via various types of networks. The unit analyses the Internet and Transport layer functions, with emphasis on IPv4 and IPv6 addressing as well as switching and routing technology. The unit covers these functions in relation to both Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs) as well as wired and wireless networks ensuring you can adapt to future changes in the field.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: COIT20246 ICT Services Management.Anti-requisite:  COIT20229 Networking with TCI/IP.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2021

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Rockhampton
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 20%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
3. Take Home Exam
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student Unit and Teaching Evaluations

Feedback

Moodle tute questions should give the actual questions instead of referring to page numbers in the textbook.

Recommendation

The tutorial questions will be changed so they are easily accessible to students.

Feedback from Student feedback, teaching staff reflections

Feedback

More practical networking activities in a computer lab would improve the engagement and skills of students.

Recommendation

Replace some of the theoretical tutorial activities with hands-on activities using a network lab.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Apply your knowledge in Network Routing to solve problems in wired and wireless networks
  2. Design IP addressing plans for suitable use in organisational networks
  3. Analyse the application of wireless network technologies in different scenarios
  4. Compare and contrast the protocols and standards in routing and switching
  5. Evaluate and report complex ideas on emerging trends or issues in networking.

Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is in use in over 100 countries and provides a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles.

ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile at https://www.acs.org.au/professionalrecognition/mysfia-b2c.html

This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA. The SFIA code is included:

  • Systems Design (DESN)
  • Systems Integration (SINT)
  • Network Support (NTAS)
  • Configuration Canagement (CFMG).

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Written Assessment - 20%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Take Home Exam - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Written Assessment - 20%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Take Home Exam - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

TCP/IP Protocol Suite

Edition: Fourth (2006)
Authors: Behrouz A. Forouzan
McGraw-Hill Higher Education
New York City New York City , New York , USA
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

electronic versions may be available at less cost direct from Publisher (McGraw-Hill). If you prefer to study with a paper text, you can purchase one at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code).

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Wireshark - Network Protocol Analyser
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Kenneth Howah Unit Coordinator
k.howah@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 12 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Introduction; TCP/IP Protocol Suite; Numbering Systems

Chapter

Chapter 2 & Appendix B

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 19 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Introduction to the Transport Layer; User Datagram Protocol (UDP)

Chapter

Chapter 13 & 14

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 26 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

Chapter

Chapter 15

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 02 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Introduction to the Network Layer; IPv4 Addresses Part I

Chapter

Chapter 4 & 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 09 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

IPv4 Addresses Part II

Chapter

Chapter 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 16 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 23 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Delivery and Forwarding of IP Packets; Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)   

Chapter

Chapter 6 & 8

Events and Submissions/Topic

WRITTEN ASSESSMENT 1: IP NETWORKING Due: Week 6 Friday (27 Aug 2021) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 30 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4); Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)

Chapter

Chapter 7 & 9

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 06 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Unicast Routing Protocols (RIP, OSPF, and BGP)

Chapter

Chapter 11

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 13 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

IPv6 Addressing; IPv6 Protocol; Routing in IPv6; ICMPv6

Chapter

26, 27, online material & 28

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 20 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Routing in Wireless Networks

Chapter

Online material

Events and Submissions/Topic

WRITTEN ASSESSMENT 2: ROUTING AND SWITCHING Due: Week 10 Friday (24 Sept 2021) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 11 Begin Date: 27 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Host Configuration: DHCP; Domain Name System (DNS)

Chapter

Chapter 18 & 19

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 04 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Switching in LANs and WANs; Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)

Chapter

Online material

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 18 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Check for notifications of details of the exam in the unit website.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
WRITTEN ASSESSMENT 1: IP NETWORKING

Task Description

You are required to demonstrate your knowledge of IP networking, including IP addressing and subnetting, by completing a number of exercise questions. There will be multiple questions requiring a mix of numerical and descriptive answers.  Exploratory exercises using common networking tools may also be presented.  The assessment and further description of the requirements can be found in Moodle. This is an individual assignment, and no group work or group submission applies.


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Friday (27 Aug 2021) 11:59 pm AEST

Your assignment must be submitted in the format specified in the assignment. See Moodle unit website for details.


Return Date to Students

Week 8 Friday (10 Sept 2021)


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

Your answers will be marked based on technical correctness, completeness, clarity and relevance. Questions that ask you to show your working or calculations or the steps you took to arrive at your answers, may have marks deducted if such information is not provided. If a question requires you to submit a graphic (e.g. a screenshot or a diagram), the graphic must have sufficient resolution to show all its details clearly and be of a reasonable size for normal reader viewing, with all or any text within the graphic being legible and readable, in order to be marked. If a question asks for an explanation or discussion followed by "(essential)", it means that at least 50% of the allocated mark is for the explanation or discussion, the rest is for the balance of the answer.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
The assignment must be submitted online in Moodle.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply your knowledge in Network Routing to solve problems in wired and wireless networks
  • Design IP addressing plans for suitable use in organisational networks


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
WRITTEN ASSESSMENT 2: ROUTING AND SWITCHING

Task Description

You are required to demonstrate your knowledge of routing and switching in networks, by completing a number of exercise questions. There will be multiple questions requiring a mix of numerical and descriptive answers. Questions that ask you to show your working or calculations or the steps you took to arrive at your answers, may have marks deducted if such information is not provided. Some questions may require research of technologies or relevant technology trends not covered in lectures or the textbook. The assessment and detailed description of the requirements can be found in Moodle. This is an individual, not a group, assignment.


Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Friday (24 Sept 2021) 11:59 pm AEST

Your assignment must be submitted in the format specified in the assignment. See Moodle unit website for details.


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Friday (8 Oct 2021)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

Your answers will be marked based on technical correctness, completeness, clarity, originality and relevance. Proper use of referencing conventions are expected and marks may be deducted for failure to comply. For discussion or research-based questions, if you decide to submit a graphic (e.g. a screenshot or a diagram) in support of your answer, the graphic must be relevant to your discussion, be appropriately referenced, and must have sufficient resolution to show all its details clearly and be of a reasonable size for normal reader viewing, with any text within the graphic being legible and readable. Originality means the work is your own and is expressed in your own words. An answer is unacceptable if it is composed mostly of quoted material from other sources, and may receive no marks as a result.

Questions that ask you to show your working or calculations or the steps you took to arrive at your answers, may have marks deducted if such information is not provided. If a question asks for an explanation or discussion followed by "(essential)", it means that at least 50% of the allocated mark is for the explanation or discussion, the rest is for the balance of the answer.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
The assignment must be submitted online in Moodle.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Analyse the application of wireless network technologies in different scenarios
  • Compare and contrast the protocols and standards in routing and switching
  • Evaluate and report complex ideas on emerging trends or issues in networking.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

3 Take Home Exam

Assessment Title
WRITTEN ASSESSMENT 3: COMPREHENSIVE

Task Description

This final assessment takes the place of an invigilated examination and should take you up to 3 hours to complete.  However, a 24-hour timeframe will be allowed in which you will need to download the assessment from the unit’s Moodle website, complete it, upload it to Moodle and submit it for marking.  If you have other assessments within or overlapping the same designated period, you will be responsible for managing your time accordingly.

The assessment contains three parts, Parts A, B and C.  Part A consists of Short Answer questions covering a range of terms and concepts learned during term.   Part B contains practical and theory problems related to working with or discussing routing and switching operations, protocols, or functions.  Part C contains several longer answer questions requiring discussion or explanation and may include technical or conceptual aspects of the unit.


Assessment Due Date

The exact date and time the assessment will become available in Moodle will be announced some time from week 10 onwards.


Return Date to Students

Not returned, but viewable on request. Overall results become available on Certification Date (see Academic Calendar).


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

Your answers will be marked based on technical correctness, completeness, clarity, originality and relevance. Proper use of referencing conventions are expected and marks may be deducted for failure to comply. For discussion or research-based questions, if you decide to submit a graphic (e.g. a screenshot or a diagram) in support of your answer, the graphic must be relevant to your discussion, be appropriately referenced, and must have sufficient resolution to show all its details clearly and be of a reasonable size for normal reader viewing, with any text within the graphic being legible and readable. Originality means the work is your own and is expressed in your own words. An answer is unacceptable if it is composed mostly or solely of quoted material from other sources, and may receive no marks as a result.

Questions that ask you to show your working or calculations or the steps you took to arrive at your answers, may have marks deducted if such information is not provided. If a question asks for an explanation or discussion followed by "(essential)", it means that at least 50% of the allocated mark is for the explanation or discussion, the rest is for the balance of the answer.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
This assessment must be submitted in Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply your knowledge in Network Routing to solve problems in wired and wireless networks
  • Design IP addressing plans for suitable use in organisational networks
  • Compare and contrast the protocols and standards in routing and switching


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?