COIT20261 - Network Routing and Switching

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit provides you with fundamental skills and knowledge in the design and operation of computer networks. It deals in-depth with the techniques described in current Internet protocols to forward data packets from source to destination through different types of networks. You will focus on the Transport and Internet layer functions with emphasis on IPv4 addressing as well as switching and routing technologies. An introduction to IPv6 and transition issues is included. The unit covers these functions in both Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs). The function of the key protocols in wireless networks are also discussed, ensuring a well-rounded grounding to enable easier adaptation to imminent significant developments such as the global adoption of IPv6 and the growing dominance of wireless networking in business and everyday life. Delivery of this comprehensive content is through a weekly lecture and tutorial which includes theory and some hands-on lab activity where available.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 9
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: COIT20246 Networking and Cyber Security

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).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 3 - 2024

Term 3 - 2024 Profile
Online
Term 1 - 2025 Profile
Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Rockhampton
Sydney
Term 2 - 2025 Profile
Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Rockhampton
Sydney
Term 3 - 2025 Profile
Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
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).

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.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Written Assessment 20%
2. Written Assessment 30%
3. In-class Test(s) 50%

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

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2024 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 80.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 44.72% response rate.

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.

Source: Student Feedback
Feedback
The lecture slides should be concise and well organised.
Recommendation
The lecture slides should be reviewed and updated.
Action Taken
Lecture slides have been trimmed down to 30-35 per lecture ensuring they now align seamlessly with the lecturer's flow for improved student comprehension. There have been no further feedback, comments or complaints from students or staff regarding the number or content of the slides provided in Moodle.
Source: Feedback from Internship Hosts
Feedback
Students are lacking in hands-on experience.
Recommendation
Increase the practical activities with industry related tools, i.e., related to CCNA.
Action Taken
Tutorials in the second half of term now focus more on practical lab activities such as configuring routers. Ongoing feedback from internship hosts needs to be sought to determine what further actions may be appropriate to enhance student hands-on experiences.
Source: Teaching Team
Feedback
The coverage of cutting-edge cloud technologies is lacking.
Recommendation
Increase the coverage of state-of-the-art cloud technologies, i.e., Microsoft Azure cloud platform.
Action Taken
Consideration of this task is ongoing.
Source: Student feedback
Feedback
Consider incorporating more practical activities, e.g. cloud computing, into the assessments to enhance hands-on learning and reinforce students' understanding of the learning materials.
Recommendation
Integrate hands-on lab exercises using cloud computing tools such as Microsoft Azure into the unit. Assessing one or more of the lab activities should serve to reinforce student learning and enhance their practical experience.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student feedback, reflection
Feedback
Ensure feedback on assessment is clear, informative and practical to students.
Recommendation
Establish a minimum standard for delivering marker feedback that emphasises clarity, informativeness, and practicality to students. This should ensure a benchmark consistency across campuses and staff in providing feedback that meets student expectations.
Action Taken
In Progress
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. Develop IP addressing plans for 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 the complexities involved in transitioning to new technologies such as IPv6.

The Australian Computer Society (ACS), the professional association for Australia's ICT sector, recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is adopted by organisations, governments, and individuals in many 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.

This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA 8 (the SFIA code is included):

  • Systems Design (DESN)
  • Systems integration and build (SINT)
  • Network Support (NTAS)
  • Configuration Management (CFMG).

The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Framework defines knowledge, skills and tasks needed to perform various cyber security roles. Developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the NICE Framework is used by organisations to plan their workforce, including recruit into cyber security positions.

This unit helps prepare you for roles such as Systems Security Analyst, Network Operations Specialist and Systems Administrator, contributing to the following knowledge and skills:

  • K0001 Knowledge of computer networking concepts and protocols, and network security methodologies.
  • K0010 Knowledge of communication methods, principles, and concepts that support the network infrastructure.
  • K0011 Knowledge of capabilities and applications of network equipment including routers, switches, bridges, servers, transmission media, and related hardware.
  • K0029 Knowledge of organization's Local and Wide Area Network connections.
  • K0061 Knowledge of how traffic flows across the network (e.g., Transmission Control Protocol [TCP] and Internet Protocol [IP], Open System Interconnection Model [OSI], Information Technology Infrastructure Library, current version [ITIL]).
  • K0108 Knowledge of concepts, terminology, and operations of a wide range of communications media (computer and telephone networks, satellite, fiber, wireless).
  • K0111 Knowledge of network tools (e.g., ping, traceroute, nslookup)
  • K0113 Knowledge of different types of network communication (e.g., LAN, WAN, MAN, WLAN, WWAN).
  • K0136 Knowledge of the capabilities of different electronic communication systems and methods (e.g., e-mail, VOIP, IM, web forums, Direct Video Broadcasts).
  • K0138 Knowledge of Wi-Fi.
  • K0332 Knowledge of network protocols such as TCP/IP, Dynamic Host Configuration, Domain Name System (DNS), and directory services.
  • S0033 Skill in diagnosing connectivity problems.
  • S0035 Skill in establishing a routing schema.
  • S0041 Skill in installing, configuring, and troubleshooting LAN and WAN components such as routers, hubs, and switches.
  • S0162 Skill in applying various subnet techniques (e.g., CIDR)

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Written Assessment • •
2 - Written Assessment • • •
3 - In-class Test(s) • • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
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 •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8