CPE5013 Network administration - Semester 1 , 2007 unit guide

Semester 1, 2007

Chief Examiner

Jefferson Tan

Lecturers

Caulfield : Jefferson Tan

Outline

Introduction to Network Administration:

  • Scope, Goals, Philosophy & Standards;
  • Challenges and common practice;
  • Network Administrators Role.
Review IT System Components:
  • Network Structures;
  • Technology (Sockets, Cables, etc);
  • Protocols (TCP/IP, X.25, ATM, etc);
  • Network Operating Systems.
Network System Management:
  • Hosts and Users;
  • System Configuration and Maintenance.
Methods of Network Administration:
  • Managing devices using SNMP;
  • Remote Management using RMON;
  • DeskTop Management.
Network Fault Diagnosis and Recovery.
Network Performance and Tuning.
Administration of Network Services:
  • TCP/IP Networks;
  • TCP/IP Toolkit.
Network Security and Administration.
Analytical System Administration.
Network Simulation.
Network Documentation.
Future of Network Administration.

Objectives

Knowledge and Understanding
After completing this unit, students will be able to:
  • identify the tasks or roles required of network administrators;
  • refine and extend existing knowledge of network technologies and their management;
  • understand current developments and standards for network management;
  • identify principles involved in system and network administration;
  • apply these principles to practical situations;
  • analyse and classify the requirements for management of networks;
  • design and implement network management policies;
  • identify and compare different network management techniques and strategies.
Practical Skills
After completing this unit students will have devloped the skills required to:
  • work with network management tools, their interface, capabilities and operation;
  • be familiar with typical methods of documenting and modelling networks;
  • effectively and efficiently setup networks and confirm correct operation;
  • monitor networks and diagnose common network faults;
  • construct test strategies and acceptance tests for networks.
Relationships, Communication and TeamWork
After completing this unit, students will:
  • appreciate the need for cooperative management of networks and computer equipment;
  • be able to Work effectively in groups to achieve a system implementation.

Prerequisites

You should have knowledge of modern network data communications, in particular TCP/IP and data link protocols used in local or wide area networks, such as ethernet, X.25 and ATM.

Unit relationships

CPE5013 is an elective unit in the Master of Network Computing. It has no prerequisites, but you should have knowledge of modern network data communications, in particular TCP/IP and data link protocols used in local or wide area networks, such as ethernet, X.25 and ATM.

Texts and software

Required text(s)

There are no required texts for this unit. Students are advised to select from the Recommended reading list shown below.

Textbook availability

See the library or the bookshop...

 

 

Software requirements

The standard operating environment provided in FIT computer labs is considered adequate for most purposes. However, some tutorial exercises require the use of a CDROM bootable operating system called KNOPPIX. Please download KNOPPIX from ftp://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso (ISO CD image) and burn into a CD. This CD should be brought along for your tutorials.

Software may be:

  • downloaded from ftp://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso

Hardware requirements

Students may use the facilities available in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to 8 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Recommended reading

Burgess M Principles of Network & System Administration 2nd Ed. Wiley (2004) ISBN 0-470-86807-4.
Subramanian M. Network management: Principles and Practice Addison-Wesley (2000) ISBN 0-201-35742-9.
Burke J.R. NETWORK MANAGEMENT Concepts and Practice Pearson Prentice Hall (2004) ISBN 0-13-032950-9.
Stallings W. SNMP, SNMPv2, SNMPv3 & RMON I and II 3rd Ed. Addison Wesley (1998) ISBN 0-201-48534-6.
Stallings W. Data and Computer Communications 8th Ed. Prentice Hall (2007) ISBN 0-13-100681-9.
Hunt C. TCP/IP Network Administration 3rd Ed. O'Reilly Associates (2002) ISBN 0-596-00297-1.
Mikalsen A., Borgesen P. Local Area Network Management, Design and Security Wiley (2002) ISBN 0-471-49769-X.
Cernick P., Degner M., Kruepke K. Cisco IP Routing Handbook M&T,IDG Books (2000) ISBN 0-7645-4695-3.

Library access

You may need to access the Monash library either personally to be able to satisfactorily complete the subject.  Be sure to obtain a copy of the Library Guide, and if necessary, the instructions for remote access from the library website.

Study resources

Study resources for CPE5013 are:

The CPE5013 web site on MUSO where unit outline, lecture slides, weekly tutorial exercises, assignment specifications, sample solutions and supplementary resource material will be available to registered students.

Web-based Notices and Discussion forum can also be accessed from MUSO site.

A bootable KNOPPIX CDROM distributed to students at the first tutorial and for use as part of some tutorial exercises in Labs.

Unit website

http://muso.monash.edu.au/

Structure and organisation

Week Topics Key Dates
1 Introduction to Network Administration
2 IT System Components
3 System Management - Hosts & Users Research Assignment Topic Selection
4 TCP/IP Network Administration, Toolkits and services
5 Configuration and Maintenance. Network Fault Diagnosis and Recovery. Network Performance and Tuning Assignment Progress review
6 Methods of Network Administration
Non teaching week
7 Managing devices using SNMP & RMON Assignment Research report Submission
8 Network Management Tools Network Admin Project Proposal
9 Network Management Tools
10 Enterprise & DeskTop Management Network Admin Project Demonstration
11 Network Security and Administration Network Admin Project Report
12 Analytical System Administration. Network Simulation. Network Documentation
13 Future of Network Administration

Timetable

The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+

Assessment

Assessment weighting

Assessment for the unit consists of:

  • a written research assignment with a weighting of 40% to be submitted by each student;
  • a network administration project worth 60% to be submitted by a group of students.

See the unit description and assessment pages on the unit web site for more details, including assignment specifications and marking guides. Read this section VERY carefully.

Assessment Policy

To pass this unit you must:

  • gain at least 40% of the assignment components: ie the assignments and any other other assessment tasks (such as presentations) taken as a whole
  • achieve at least 50% of the total marks for the unit.

For more details on the 40% Rule and many other things that students are expected to know about, visit the "For Current Students | Things you should Know" section of the Peninsula School of IT web pages.

Your score for the unit will be calculated by:

(A% * 40/100) + (P% * 60/100)
where:
A% is the total %mark awarded for the individual research assignment,
P% is the total mark awarded for the group network administration project.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Due Date Weighting
Research assignment 20th April 2007 40%
Network administration project 18th May 2007 60 %

Assignment specifications will be made available on the CPE5013 unit web site assignment page.

Assignment Submission

The parts of the assignments that require written submission must be delivered to the labelled mailbox at the offices of the Caulfield School of IT office on or before the nominated submission date and time, with the appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out and attached. In addition, the assignments must be submitted as PDF documents via a website that will be provided for that purpose.

Extensions and late submissions

Late submission of assignments

Assignments or parts thereof which are received after the due date, without previously granted extension, will be given a grade of Zero.

This policy is strict because comments or guidance will be given on assignments as they are returned, and sample solutions may also be published and distributed, after assignment marking or with the returned assignment. 

Extensions

It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. 

Extensions for submitting assignments/project reports must be obtained at least 48 hours prior to the submission deadline via email.

Grading of assessment

Assignments, and the unit, will be marked and allocated a grade according to the following scale:

Grade Percentage/description
HD High Distinction - very high levels of achievement, demonstrated knowledge and understanding, skills in application and high standards of work encompassing all aspects of the tasks.
In the 80+% range of marks for the assignment.
D Distinction - high levels of achievement, but not of the same standards. May have a weakness in one particular aspect, or overall standards may not be quite as high.
In the 70-79% range.
C Credit - sound pass displaying good knowledge or application skills, but some weaknesses in the quality, range or demonstration of understanding.
In the 60-69% range.
P Pass acceptable standard, showing an adequate basic knowledge, understanding or skills, but with definite limitations on the extent of such understanding or application. Some parts may be incomplete.
In the 50-59% range.
N Not satisfactory failure to meet the basic requirements of the assessment.
Below 50%.

Assignment return

We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt. Uncollected assignments will be retained by the lecturer after the end of semester. Assignments remaining uncollected by the end of the following semester will be discarded.

Feedback

Feedback to you

You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This feedback may be provided through your participation in tutorials and class discussions, as well as through your assignment submissions. It may come in the form of individual advice, marks and comments, or it may be provided as comment or reflection targeted at the group. It may be provided through personal interactions, such as interviews and on-line forums, or through other mechanisms such as on-line self-tests and publication of grade distributions.

Feedback from you

You will be asked to provide feedback to the Faculty through a Unit Evaluation survey at the end of the semester. You may also be asked to complete surveys to help teaching staff improve the unit and unit delivery. Your input to such surveys is very important to the faculty and the teaching staff in maintaining relevant and high quality learning experiences for our students.

And if you are having problems

It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem with your study. The semester is short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.

Plagiarism and cheating

Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating  has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Faculty regulations that apply to students detected cheating as these will be applied in all detected cases.

In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work. 

When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer. 

Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.

Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.

Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.

Communication

Communication methods

Contacting your lecturer or tutor

Preferred method of contact for lecturers and tutors is by eMail or conference group posting. The conference is accessable through the web, by eMail or newsreader. The lecturer is also available for personal consultation but an appointment must be made prior, preferrably agreed upon via email.

The Lecturer's contact details are:
eMail: Jefferson.Tan@infotech.monash.edu.au
Web: http://muso.monash.edu.au (discussion list)
Phone: 31172 (internal)
Room: Caulfield: H7.90

Tutor's contact details are:
eMail: Pravin.Shetty@infotech.monash.edu.au
Phone: TBA

Room: TBA

Notices

Notices related to the unit during the semester will be placed on the CPE5013 Notices conference in the unit website. Check this regularly. Failure to read the Notices newsgroup is not regarded as grounds for special consideration. Discussion and registration on the unit conference website is included as part of the first tutorial.

Consultation Times

A timetable showing consultation times will be posted here or announced via MUSO soon, and will also be posted on the door of each staff member's office.

If direct communication with your unit adviser/lecturer or tutor outside of consultation periods is needed you may contact the lecturer and/or tutors at:

Mr Jefferson Tan
Research Fellow
Phone +61 3 990 31172
Fax +61 3 9903 1077

Mr Pravin Shetty

All email communication to you from your lecturer will occur through your Monash student email address. Please ensure that you read it regularly, or forward your email to your main address. Also check that your contact information registered with the University is up to date in My.Monash.

Last updated: Mar 27, 2007