Raritan Valley Community College

Academic Course Outline

CISY 253 - Advanced Computer Networking

I. Basic Course Information

A. Course number and Title: CISY 253- Advanced Computer

Networking (TCP/IP)

B. New or Modified Course: Modified

C. Date of Proposal: Semester: Spring Year: 2015

D. Effective Term: Spring 2016

E. Sponsoring Department Computer Science (CS)

F. Semester Credit Hours: 3

G. Weekly Contact Hours: 4 Lecture 2

Lab 2

H. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CISY 119 –

Networking Essentials

I. Laboratory Fees: Yes, at current rate

J. Department Chair: Dr. Tom Edmunds –

[email protected]

II. Catalog Description

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in CISY 119 - Networking Essentials This

course builds on the foundations of modern communication networks covered in
CISY 119, Networking Essentials. The principle focus of this course is on the
TCP/IP family of network protocols as they apply to all types of networks
including LANs, WANs, and the Internet. Particular attention is directed towards
the functions of the TCP/IP Protocols, the makeup of network datagrams for each
protocol and the inter-dependencies of all protocols for successful
communication. The topics of Network Security, IP Routing, IPv6 and Network
Management are covered in some depth. Offered in the Spring Semester.

III. Statement of Course Need

A. Computer Networks have become a common part of everyday life for

business, education, and pleasure. The explosion of the Internet and
growing technologies such as wireless communications and voice over IP
Page 1 of 6
 are causing a shortage in Network Engineers and Network Designers.
This course is the second of three required courses in the Networking
Curricula and gives the students an in-depth view of the TCP/IP family of
protocols and services upon which the Internet is built. Detailed
knowledge of TCP/IP is essential for today`s students who desire a career
in networking at any level.

B. This course has a lab component. Students are required to use a Packet
Sniffer (Wireshark, for example) to interpret and analyze packets on the
network in the classroom in real time. Some setup of test networks will
require access to the Cisco Networking Academy Lab.

C. Transferability of Course: This course generally transfers as a Computer

Science Elective or a Free Elective.

IV. Place of Course in College Curriculum

A. Free Elective

B. This course meets a program requirement for:

1. Computer Networking A.A.S. degree,
2. Computer Networking and Security Traditional Emphasis
Certificate

C. This course serves as a CIS Elective on the Computer Science Elective

List

D. Course Transferability: a) for New Jersey schools go to the NJ Transfer

website, www.njtransfer.org; b) for all other colleges and universities, go to
their individual websites.

V. Outline of Course Content

This course explores the following topics:

NOTE: This outline may be adapted by individual Instructors in terms

of sequence of presentation.

UNIT I – Introduction to TCP/IP

History of TCP/IP
TCP/IP Standards and IETF RFCs
Review of the OSI Model
The TCP/IP Networking Model
Introduction to TCP/IP Protocols, Services, Encapsulation and
Protocol Analysis

Page 2 of 6
UNIT II – IP Addressing
Class Addresses
Special Addresses: Broadcast, Multicast, Unicast
IP Networks, Subnets and Subnet Masks
Introduction to CIDR, Private Addressing and NAT
Classful Addressing Subnetting Procedures

UNIT III – Data Link Layer Protocols used with TCP/IP

PPP
Ethernet and Ethernet Frame Types
Token Ring and Token Ring Frame Types
ARP, RARP, Proxy ARP

UNIT IV – Network Layer TCP/IP Protocols

IP Datagrams: sending, routing, fragmentation and reassembly
IP Header Fields and Functions

UNIT V – Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)

ICMP Header Fields and Functions
PING, TRACEROUTE, PATHPING
Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU)
Security Issues with ICMP

UNIT VI – Transport Layer TCP/IP Protocols

UDP – a connectionless protocol
TCP – a connection-oriented protocol
TCP Connection Processes
Sequence Numbers and Positive Acknowledgement Processes
TCP Error Recover
TCP Congestion Control Mechanisms
TCP Sliding Window
TCP Header Fields and Functions

UNIT VII – TCP Services

FTP and TFTP
Telnet
SMTP
HTTP
SNMP

UNIT VIII – Domain Name System (DNS)

History and Background
DNS Processes
DNS Caching
NSLOOKUP Command
DNS Query/Response Model and Packet Formats

Page 3 of 6
 UNIT IX – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
DHCP Processes
DHCP Lease Assignment and Renewal Processes
IP Address Management using DHCP
DHCP Packet Structure
DHCP Relay Agent
DHCP Scopes

UNIT X – Securing TCP/IP Environments

Principles of IP Security
Common Points of IP Attacks
Maintaining IP Security
IPSec Protocol
Firewalls and Proxy Servers
Security Policy Development

UNIT XI – IP Routing
Routing Table Construction
Route Convergence
Loop Avoidance Processes
Multicast versus Broadcast Routing Updates
Interior Gateway Protocols
Routing to the Internet
Securing Routers

UNIT XII – Network Management

Principles of Network Management
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

UNIT XIII – IP Version 6 (IPv6)

The IPv6 Address Space
Routing with IPv6
Auto-configuration

VI. General Education and Course Learning Outcomes

A. General Education Learning Outcomes

After completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Apply quantitative reasoning to synthesize and interpret data and solve

networking problems or diagnose their performance (GE-NJ IL)

Page 4 of 6
B. Course Learning Outcomes:

At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Describe the OSI Reference Model including the name and function(s)
of each layer, equipment types associated with each layer, and
protocols associated with each layer
2. Describe the TCP/IP Communications Model including the name and
function(s) of each layer, equipment types associated with each layer,
and protocols associated with each layer
3. Demonstrate the ability to decode Ethernet frames, IP packets, and
TCP or UDP segments using a software Protocol Analyzer (Wireshark,
for example)
4. Demonstrate the ability to perform both Classful and Classless
Subnetting Techniques for IPv4 networks

C. Assessment Instruments
1. Laboratory Results – gather and explain data on network
operations, protocol analysis, and troubleshooting (Learning
Outcome 3)
2. Exam Questions designed to test abilities in four Course
Learning Outcomes and General Education Goal 1 (above)

VII. Grade Determinants

Instruments may include:

A. Homework assigned from the text book and/or Instructor’s Notes

B. Optional Research Paper
C. Class Participation
D. Periodic Examinations and/or Quizzes
E. Final Examination
F. Optional in-class exercises (other than the Lab assignments) assigned
by the Instructor

Page 5 of 6
VIII. Text and Materials

Suggested Textbook--Guide to TCP/IP Fourth Edition by Chappell and Tittel,

Prentice Hall, 2013

(Please Note: The course outline is intended only as a guide to course content
and resources. Do not purchase textbooks based on this outline. The RVCC
Bookstore is the sole resource for the most up-to-date information about
textbooks.)

IX. Resources

A. Library (for optional research paper)

B. Computer Lab with Access to the Internet and ability to run a Network Packet
Sniffer (e.g. Wireshark)
C. Access to the Cisco Academy Networking Lab

Page 6 of 6