BIT Year 2 – Semester 4 – Detailed Syllabi IT4504

IT4504 - Data Communication and Networks

(Optional)

INTRODUCTION
This is one of the optional courses designed for Semester 4 of the Bachelor of
Information Technology Degree program. This course on Data Communication and
Networks provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts on data communication
and the design, deployment, and management of computer networks.

CREDITS: 04

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After successful completion of this course students will be able to

• Identify the different components and their respective roles in a communication

system

• Propose efficient, cost effective, reliable and appropriate technology to establish

communication links

• Design an enterprise network employing the common LAN technologies and be

able to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages

• Configure a PC to work as a host in a TCP/IP network and to use the IP based

commands to facilitate the trouble shooting process

• Describe the technical issues related to the Wide Area Networks and identify the
common technologies available in establishing WAN infrastructure

• Describe the specific actions that can be taken to enforce network level security.

MINOR MODIFICATIONS
When minor modifications are made to this syllabus, those will be reflected in the Virtual
Learning Environment (VLE) and the latest version can be downloaded from the relevant
course page of VLE. Please inform your suggestions and comments through the VLE.
http://vle.bit.lk

ONLINE LEARNING MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES

You can access all learning materials and this syllabus in the VLE: http://vle.bit.lk, if you
are a registered student of BIT degree program. It is very important to participate in
learning activities given in the VLE to learn this subject.

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ONLINE ASSIGNMENTS
The assignments consist of two quizzes, assignment quiz 1 (It covers the first half of the
syllabus) and assignment quiz 2 (It covers the second half of the syllabus). Maximum
mark for a question is 10, minimum mark for a question is 0 (irrespective of negative
scores). Final assignment mark is calculated considering 40% of assignment quiz 1 and
60% of assignment quiz 2. Pass mark for the online assignments in a course is 50. You
are advised to do online assignments before the final exam of the course. It is
compulsory to pass all online assignments to partially qualify to obtain year 2 certificate.

FINAL EXAMINATION
Final exam of the course will be held at the end of the semester. Each course in the
semester 4 is evaluated using a two hour question paper.

OUTLINE OF SYLLABUS

Topic Hours

1- Fundamentals of digital communications 05

2- Physical layer characterization 05

3- Data transmission mechanisms 12

4- Network architectures 04

5- Internet protocols 12

6- Local area networks 14

7- Practical aspects of networking 08

Total for the subject 60

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Main Reading

Ref 1: Tanenbaum Andrew S., Computer Networks, 4th edition (2nd Impression 2006)
Ref 2: William Stallings, Data and Computer Communications, 7th Edition (3rd
Impression 2007)
Ref 3: Teacher’s note
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Supplementary Reading

Ref 4: Larry L. Peterson, Bruce S. Davie, Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, 4th
Edition
Ref 5: Halsall Fred, Data Communications, Computer Networks and OSI, 4th edition
(10th Indian reprinting 2005)

DETAILED SYLLABUS:
Topic 1: Fundamentals of digital communications (03 hrs)

Instructional Objectives

• Describe the basic concept of communications and the electronic implementation

of communications paradigms
• Identify the characteristics and the analyze the signals properties

Material /Sub Topics

1.1. Introduction to digital communications [Ref 2: pg.72-83]

1.1.1. Definitions of terms
1.1.2. Signal propagation
1.1.3. Signal types
1.1.3.1. Sine waves
1.1.3.2. Square waves
1.1.4. Signal parameters
1.1.4.1. Amplitude
1.1.4.2. Frequency
1.1.4.3. Phase
1.2. Channel effects on transmission [Ref 1: pg.85-89]/ [Ref 2: pg.92-98]
1.2.1. Attenuation
1.2.2. Effects of limited bandwidth
1.2.3. Delay distortion
1.2.4. Noise
1.3. Data rate limits in channels[Ref 1: pg.89-90]/ [Ref 2: pg.99-103]
1.3.1. Nyquist's theorem
1.3.2. Shannon's theorem

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Topic 2: Physical layer characterization (06 hrs)

Instructional Objectives

• Describe how digital data can be transmitted using analog transmission facilities
• Map a binary pattern into a signal encoded using different encoding schemes
• Select a suitable transmission medium/media for the implementation of a
communication network
• Recognize the constrains related to the practical usage of transmission media

Material /Sub Topics

2.1. Transmission Media [Ref 1: pg.90-118] [Ref 2: pg.111-140]

2.1.1. Twisted pair cables
2.1.2. Co-axial cables
2.1.3. Fiber optic cables
2.1.4. Wireless media
2.2. Physical Layer Interfaces [Ref 2: pg.209-219]
2.2.1. RS 232 / EIA 232/ USB

Topic 3: Data transmission mechanisms (10 hrs)

Instructional Objectives

• Describe the design issues related to data transfer

• Compare and contrast the circuit and packet switching technologies
• Describe the concept and the use of multiplexing technologies
• Describe error control mechanisms

Material /Sub Topics

3.1. Communication modes [Ref 1: pg.129] / [Ref 2: pg.73]
3.1.1. Simplex
3.1.2. Half-duplex

3.1.3. Full - duplex

3.2. Transmission modes
3.2.1. Serial transmission

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3.2.2. Parallel transmission

3.3. Synchronization [Ref 2: pg.189-192]
3.3.1. Asynchronous transmission
3.3.2. Synchronous transmission
3.4. Introduction to packet switching [Ref 1: pg.146-151]/ [Ref 1: pg.343-350] /
[Ref 1: pg.32-33]
3.4.1. Circuit switching vs. packet switching
3.4.2. Types of services
3.4.2.1. Connection oriented services (Virtual circuits)
3.4.2.2. Connectionless services (Datagrams)
3.5. Multiplexing [Ref 1: pg.137-143]/ [Ref 2: pg.259-287]
3.5.1. Frequency division multiplexing
3.5.2. Synchronous time division multiplexing
3.5.3. Statistical time division multiplexing
3.6. Error control methods [Ref 1: pg.191-192]
3.6.1. Feedback error recovery (ARQ) (Eg: Based on parity check)
3.6.2. Forward error correction (FEC) (Eg; CRC)

Topic 4: Network architectures (04 hrs)

Instructional Objectives

• Describe the advantages of a layered architecture

• Illustrate the roles of each layer in the OSI model two process - process
communication
• Provide a description of the emergence and the evolution of computer networks
• Discuss the selection of suitable geometric layout for a network based on the
standard topologies
• Outline the features of different types of computer networks

Material /Sub Topics

4.1. Introduction to computer networks[Ref 1: pg.1-80]

4.2. Network topologies: Bus, Star, Ring [Ref 1: pg.16-17]
4.3. Types of networks [Ref 1: pg.15-21]
4.3.1. Local area networks
4.3.2. Wide area networks
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4.3.3. Personal area networks

4.4. Layered network model [Ref 1: pg.37-49] /[Ref 2 : pg.36-63]
4.4.1. OSI model
4.4.2. TCP/ IP model

Topic 5: Internet protocols (12 hrs)

Instructional Objectives

• Give a description of the TCP/IP protocol suite including the roles of major
protocols
• Configure an IP address block into a given number of subnets
• Use the IP based diagnostic commands to support troubleshooting in IP
networks
• Describe IP routing mechanisms
• Describe the popular application layer protocols in the Internet
• Recognize the limitations of IP version 4 and the advantages of IP version6

Material / Sub Topics

5.1 Introduction [Ref 1: pg.41-44]/ [Ref 1: pg.524-526]

5.1.1 History of the Internet protocols
5.1.2 Internet protocol stack
5.1.3 IP Addressing and Routing (Version 4) [Ref 1: pg.433-448]/ [Ref 1:
pg.350-366]/ [Ref 1: pg.370-372]/ [Ref 1: pg.454-462, 711-714]
5.1.4 Subnetting :Fixed and variable length
5.1.5 Unicast routing algorithms
5.2 Transport Layer protocols [Ref 1: pg.524-555] / [Ref 2: pg.699-718]
5.2.1 TCP
5.2.2 UDP
5.3 IP Support Protocols [Ref 1: pg.449-454]
5.3.1 ARP
5.3.2 DHCP
5.3.3 ICMP
5.4 Application Layer Protocols [Ref 1: pg.579-660] [Ref 2: pg.762-791]
5.4.1 Domain Name System (DNS)
5.4.2 Email – SMTP, POP, IMAP

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5.4.3 FTP
5.4.4 HTTP
5.4.5 RTP and Vo IP
5.5 IP version 6 [Ref 1: pg.464-473]

Topic 6: Local area networks (13 hrs)

Instructional Objectives

• Compare and contrast different LAN technologies such as IEEE 802 LAN
standards
• Describe the problem of channel allocation in the LAN segments and the
solutions used
• Design a large Ethernet network using hubs and switches and to suggest the
suitable devices to provide the connectivity to the other outside networks
• Describe the problems associated in deploying a wireless LAN and propose
solutions

Material / Sub Topics

6.1 Introduction to LANs [Ref 1: pg.16-17]/ [Ref 1: pg.317-323]/ / [Ref 2: pg.482-

485]
6.2 Conventional LAN Architectures [Ref 1: pg.248-258]/ [Ref 1: pg.276-306]/
6.2.1 Access Protocols: CSMA/CD,Token Passing
6.2.2 Interconnecting devices: Hubs, L2 /L3 Switch
6.3 IEEE 802 MAC layer standards :802.3 , 802.11 ,802.15 [Ref 1: pg.292-302] /
[Ref 1: pg.310-317]
6.4 Switched Ethernet variants: Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, 10Gb Ethernet
[Ref 1: pg.281-292] / [Ref 2: pg.518-532]
6.5 Wireless LANs: (802.11) [Ref 1: pg.267-270,292-302]
6.5.1 Access methods: CSMA/CA
6.5.2 Frequency Bands: ISM
6.5.3 Operating Modes: adhoc, Managed

6.5.4 Variants: 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n

6.5.5 Wireless interconnection devices: Hub, Router
6.6 Bluetooth (802.15) wireless personal area network [Ref 1: pg.310 - 317]

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Topic 7: Practical aspects of networking (06 hrs)

Instructional Objectives

• Identify the techniques of securing a private network

• Describe issues in structured cabling
• Identify connecting options made available by service providers

Material / Sub Topics

7.1 Structured cabling and specifications: Standards CAT5, 5E, etc..

7.2 Network security [Ref 1: pg.328-336]/ [Ref 1: pg.657-659]/ [Ref 1: pg.776-785]
]/ [Ref 1: pg.779-785]
7.2.1 Firewalls and NAT
7.2.2 VLANs, VPNs
7.2.3 Proxy servers
7.2.4 Wireless security
7.3 User access technologies [Ref 1: pg.166-169] / [Ref 1: pg.130-135] / [Ref 1:
pg.302-310] / [Ref 1: pg.709-711]
7.3.1 Wired: xDSL, FTTH
7.3.2 Cellular wireless: GPRS, EDGE, HSPDA
7.3.3 Broadband wireless: 802.16

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