MUTEESA I ROYAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,

INDUSTRIAL ART AND DESIGN

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

P.O. BOX 14002, KAKEEKA, MENGO - UGANDA

LEARNING GUIDE AND COURSE MATERIALS FOR COMPUTER

NETWORKING FOR BACHELOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(BIT) DEGREE PROGRAMME

BASED ON THE CURRENT CURRICULUM AS REVIEWED

(DAY/EVENING PROGRAMME)
 Course Name: COMPUTER NETWORKING
Course Code : BIT2102
Credit Units : (3CU)
Contact Hours: 45 HOURS
Pre-requisite : BIT1201

COURSE OUTLINE
a) Course Description
This course will cover the basics of networking that link computers
together: definition; types of networks and their advantages;
considerations for choosing a network type in your organizations;
Transmission media; OSI Reference model; the different hardware and
software attached to the networking topologies; Digital vs Analog
Transmission; know how the LAN technology aligns with the computer
communication by modems; Computer Network Security Issues and
among others. It targets undergraduates, business analysts, systems
and network engineers and administrators, among others.

b) Course Objectives
i. To introduce students to the concepts, theory and practice
associated with computer networks
ii. To introduce students to standards and guidelines in
computer networks
iii. To enable students develop and install networks fitting within
the proposed and designed networks.

c) Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
i. Apply the networking knowledge in their respective
organizations or businesses to solve networking problems.
ii. Demonstrate the knowledge of networking concepts and tools
through designing network systems.
iii. Master the network planning and performance issues that
may arise in the day to day business demands.
d) Learning and teaching Methodologies
o Lectures,
o Tutorials
o Lab sessions
e) Course Assessment
Attendance……………………………………………………………………..
05%
Practical and Theoretical
Assignments…………………………………………10%
 Tests…………………………………………………………………………….1
5%
Examination…………………………………………………………………….
60%

f) Course Content
1. Introduction
[6 Hours]
Networking Definition and Concepts; Types of Networks: LAN, WAN,
MAN, SAN, VPN, INTRANET and EXTRANET; Network Benefits and
Drawbacks; Network Hardware and Software Components.

2. LANs and Backup Systems

[9 Hours]

Transmission media: magnetic media, twisted pair, coaxial, fiber-

optics; Software: Network Operating Systems, Types of Operating
Systems, File transfer programs

3. Network Topology
[9 Hours]

Network Topologies: Bus, Star, Ring, Mesh, and Hybrid;

Internetworking; LAN Protocols; CSMA/CD and Token Passing;
Integrated Services Digital Network; Fiber Distributed Data Interface;
Asynchronous Transfer Mode and other Protocols

4. Choosing a Network
[9 Hours]
Computer Systems and Local Area Networks (LANs); Conducting a
Needs Assessment
Planning a Network; Considering the Alternatives; Making the Decision;
Installing a LAN; Importance of Planning and the General
Recommendations

5. Testing the Server and Workstations

[9 Hours]
Setting Up Users, Applications, and Printers; Running the Cable;
Establishing Redundancy; Staff Training

6. Network Support
[9 Hours]
The Cables; File Servers; Virus Protection; Backups and
Troubleshooting
7. Project Assignment
[6 Hours]
A group project on Network design and presentation
8. Revision Exercise
[4 Hours]

g) Text Books
i. Admission Wesley (1995), Computer Networks and Open Sys-
tems
ii. Andrew S. Taneubaum, (2003), 4th Edition, Computer Networks,
Prentice Hall Publishers New Jersey, ISDN: 0-13-066102-3.
iii. Michael Milone, (1999), The Basics of Networking, Harcourt
Learning Direct Publishers – USA.
iv. James F. Kurose and KeithW. Ross. Computer Networking - A Top
Down Approach
v. Featuring the Internet, 3rd edition, Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-321-
22735-2.
vi. L. Peterson and B. Davie, Computer Networks: A Systems Ap-
proach.
h) Recommended Text books for further reading:
i. Douglas E. Comer (2006), Internetworking with TCP/IP, Principles,
Protocols and Architecture VOLUME 1, 5th Edition - , Pearson Edu-
cation.
ii. Richard Stevens (2003), TCP/IP Illustrated Volume 1 - Addison
Wesley.
iii. James Kurose and Keith Ross, Computer Networking- A TopDown
Approach Featuring the Internet-3rd Ed.
iv. Larry L.Peterson & Bruce S et al (2003), Computer Networks: A
systems Approach 3rd Ed., Morgan Kaufmann Pub, Inc.
v. Paul Albitz and Cricket Liu (2001), DNS and BIND - O'Reilly & As-
sociates, Inc.
vi. S. Keshav (1997), An Engineering Approach to Computer Net-
working, Addison Wesley Longman, Inc.

COURSE LEARNING GUIDE

TOPIC 1
Introduction
[6 Hours]
Networking Definition and Concepts; Types of Networks: LAN, WAN,
MAN, SAN, VPN, INTRANET and EXTRANET; Network Benefits and
Drawbacks; Network Hardware and Software Components.

N.B:
  To use the slides provided plus other sources
 To do the assignments as specified in the
slides

TOPIC 2
LANs and Backup Systems
[9 Hours]

Transmission media: magnetic media, twisted pair, coaxial, fiber-

optics; Software: Network Operating Systems, Types of Operating
Systems, File transfer programs

N.B:
Give examples of magnetic transmission media
Compare and contrast the properties/characteristics/features of the
following types of physical transmission media: twisted pair, coaxial,
fiber-optics

Mini project:
a) Form groups of five. (N.B: Though working in a group, every
member will be individually assessed and awarded marks
accordingly during the presentation)
b) Make a ground survey and sketch the layout of MRU Kakeeka
Campus Network
c) Specify:
i. the various network devices installed and the role each one
particularly plays
ii. the transmission media used to connect the respective parts
of the network
iii. the network operating system(s) and other software
running/installed on this network
d) Neatly document your findings using appropriate software and
present to the class in the fourth week of the semester
e) Print out a hard copy to hand in and send a soft copy to me on
[email protected] at least a day before the
presentation.

TOPIC 3
Network Topology
[9 Hours]

Network Topologies: Bus, Star, Ring, Mesh, and Hybrid;

Internetworking; LAN Protocols; CSMA/CD and Token Passing;
Integrated Services Digital Network; Fiber Distributed Data Interface;
Asynchronous Transfer Mode and other Protocols
 TOPIC 4
Choosing a Network
[9 Hours]
Computer Systems and Local Area Networks (LANs); Conducting a
Needs Assessment
Planning a Network; Considering the Alternatives; Making the Decision;
Installing a LAN; Importance of Planning and the General
Recommendations

TOPIC 5
Testing the Server and Workstations
[9 Hours]
Setting Up Users, Applications, and Printers; Running the Cable;
Establishing Redundancy; Staff Training

TOPIC 6
Network Support
[9 Hours]

The Cables; File Servers; Virus Protection; Backups and

Troubleshooting

TASK 1
Project Assignment
[6 Hours]

A group project on Network design and presentation

TASK 2
Revision Exercise
[4 Hours]