Computer Networks Introduction

There is no recommended basic knowledge.

Theoretical classes:

• Presentation of the concepts to be used in the practical component, with sessions (whenever possible) of discussion and reflection.

Practical classes:

• Solidification of knowledge through the practical application of concepts, using practical work sheet(s) to be carried out during classes.
• Resolution of exercises on IP addressing and sub-addressing.
• Laboratory activities for installation and configuration of elementary data networks based on the GNS3 simulator.

This course aims providing students skills that enable them to understand the main characteristics, technologies, and protocols underlying data networks. It is also intended to enable them to deploy elementary data networks and configure active data network devices and data terminal equipment.

The skills to be developed are the ability to:

• Identify the main concepts underlying data communication networks.
• List the main technologies that support data transmission.
• Explain and illustrate how data flows through communication protocol stacks.
• Explain the main characteristics underlying local data network technologies.
• Describe the main protocols of the TCP/IP application layer.
• Install and configure elementary data networks.
• Define IP addressing plans with fixed and variable length masks.

• Objectives and deployment of data networks
• Regulation activities
• OSI reference model
• TCP/IP communication protocol tack
• Introduction to wired local data networks
• Ethernet Technologies
• Introduction to wireless local data networks
• 802.11 standards
• IPv4 Protocol
• IPv4 addressing and sub-addressing plans
• ARP protocol
• Direct and indirect routing
• Elementary configuration and troubleshooting of network and data terminal equipment in environments with several interconnected networks.
• Transport level protocols
• Application level protocols

All students must ensure that their mailbox is operational,  it should be read daily and has enough space to receive regular mail in order to maintain a reliable channel of communication with the teacher. Missed deadlines and other elements communicated by email may result in failing the course.

This Curricular Unit (CU) will adopt the evaluation methodology known as M1. As explained in an email from the Vice-President of ISEC (2021/11/19; 18:07), in this methodology the assessment is carried out by the way of the continuous and/or periodic assessment types, it ends before the exam period and there is no moment of further evaluation/examination.

Any student who has a special status, duly recognized by the Academic Services, which makes it impossible, but formally justified, for him to weekly attend the classes, must communicate the fact in a duly documented way by email (miguel.nunes@isec.pt) to the regent as soon as possible, so that alternative assessment times can be scheduled. It is also the responsibility of these students to follow the curricular unit from the beginning of the semester and to maintain regular contact with the teacher by email and on Nónio.

Students who attended the previous edition without approval, but who have attended the minimum number of classes required (75% or more, including justified absences), must proceed as described above for students who are in a special situation that makes it impossible for them to attend the course regularly.

Any student unable to attend an assessment on time, with a justification validated by the coordinator, must inform the regent by email as soon as possible to find an alternative date.

Therefore, in this CU, the assessment component will consist of the following types:

    1) Continuous Assessment, where regular monitoring of academic activity and student performance will be taken into account considering:

• Class attendance.
• Carrying out small tests during contact periods (theoretical and/or practical classes) with prior scheduling.
• Bibliographical research component on a topic related to the curricular unit.
• Implementation component in GNS3 of a common theme related to the topics taught in the curricular unit.

The various types of CU assessment will have the following weights:

• Continuous Assessment 100% of the final classification, subdivided into

• 10% for class attendance.
• 60% for tests. It is planned to carry out 2 tests, each of which will have a weight of 30%.
• 10% for the research component of a topic.
• 20% for the GNS3 implementation component.

NAO