Data Communications 1 and 2

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AIMS

Desired outcomes include:

• an understanding of data communications - the hardware, software and communications services available to support distributed processing and enable organisations to utilise information effectively;
• an appreciation of the crucial importance of the role and nature of standards in the field of data communications,
• an understanding of network types, their essential similarities and differences and the way in which differing computers and application systems can make use of inter-networks to communicate;
• knowledge of the emerging integrated global telecommunications network and of the Information Society which this network has enabled. Specifically, knowledge about the Internet,
  • - what it is;
  • - how it has come to be;
  • - what opportunities it offers;
  • - what threats it poses;
  • - how it is likely to affect organisations and individuals as we move towards the 21st century;
• knowledge of the technological alternatives which provide the infra-structure for the global telecommunications network (the Internet);
• ability to locate and assimilate information about the strategic business applications being created using these technological alternatives;
• understanding that much of the strategic advantage deriving from telecommunications relies on linkages both within and outside the Organisation;
• ability to argue rationally about ethical or other value judgements such as:
  • - network censorship,
  • - desirable levels of security and privacy;
  • - the role of "open" and document exchange standards;
• appreciation of the opportunities available for strategically minded organisations within the global information community;
• demonstration of the mastery of the skills required to enable effective use of the Internet as an Organisation or personal provider of information; as a user of interpersonal communications systems-, and as an Internet based researcher.

This study area is directed to five classes of participant:

• future IS / IT managers who have a need to understand the telecommunications area within their Organisation
• those executives to whom the data/telecommunications function reports
• those already managing a data/telecommunications department whose day-to-day tasks do not leave sufficient time to catch up with the latest developments
• data/telecommunications specialists who wish to progress to management
• other IS / IT specialists who are considering a change of specialisation to data/telecommunications

OUTLINE OF DATA COMMUNICATIONS 1

Module 1 - INTRODUCTION TO DATA COMMUNICATIONS

Introduction
The Need for Data Communications
Who Uses Data Communications?
Changing Approaches to Communications Management
Implementing an Effective Communications Infrastructure
Distributed Computing
Centralised vs Distributed Computing
Types of Distributed Computing
Communications Implications of Distributed Computing
Micro-Mainframe Links
Client-Server Architecture

Module 2 - DATA COMMUNICATIONS PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES

Point-to-Point Data Transmission
The Key Aspects of Data Transmission
Transmission Definitions
Data Transmission Techniques
Modems and Interfaces
Modulation Techniques
Data Transmission Media
Analogue vs Digital Transmission
Transmission Impairments/Media
Eff or Detection Techniques
Data Link Control
Line Configuration
Flow Control
Error Control
Data Link Control Protocols
Multiplexing and Data Compression
Multiplexing
Data Compression

Module 3 - DATA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKING

Switched Communications Networks
Circuit Switching (point-to-point)
Message Switching (store-and-forward) Packet Switching
Switched Communications Comparisons Common Carriers/Value-Added Networks ISDN
Wide-Area Networks (WANs)
Packet Routing
Congestion Control
X.25
Local/Metropolitan Area Networks Local/Metropolitan Area
Network Topology Local Area Network Technology
Standards for LANs
Network Interface Units
Centralised Networks
Inter-LAN Connections

Module 4 - COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS ARCHITECTURE

Communications Protocols and Standards Layered Network
Protocols
MAP (Manufacturing Automation Protocol)
TOP (Technical Office Protocol)
ISDN (Integrated Systems Digital Network)
SNA (IBM's Systems Network Architecture)
DECnet/DNA (Digital Network Architecture) Network Access
Protocols and Internetworking Transport Protocols
Connection-Oriented Transport Protocols
Connectionless Transport Protocols
Future High-Performance Transport Protocols
Higher-Layer Protocols
The Session Layer
The Presentation Layer
The Application Layer
Application Layer Services
Application Service Elements (ASEs)
Commitment, Concurrency and Recovery (CCR)
Virtual Terminals
File Transfer Protocols
Message Handling Systems
Directory Services
Network Management
Great Southern WAN

Module 5 - CASE STUDY EXAMPLES

OSI Model Under Examination
Building a Better Token Ring Network
Agents of the Net - intelligent Internet assistants
Network Security - the remote access challenge
Enterprise NOSs - are they real?
Networking's New Era - switched virtual networks
ISIS Reins in Galloping Communication Costs

OUTLINE OF DATA COMMUNICATIONS 2

Module 6 - GLOBAL INFORMATION MARKETPLACE

Global and ubiquitous data communications
Trends in Computing and Data Communications
Trends in business, education, government service provision
The Internet, a single global telecommunications network
Intranets, Organisation wide, standards based networks
Technical issues in global communications
Open standards
Security
Network management

Module 7 - ADVANCES IN GLOBAL COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Client-server architecture
ISDN and Broad-band ISDN
ISDN network access
ISDN in the network backbone
B-ISDN technologies
Switched internetworks

Module 8 - GLOBAL NETWORK MANAGEMENT

Open standards
Layered networks, layered services
Network management
Network security

Module 9 - STRATEGIC GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Telecommunications and competitive advantage
Better service
Faster service
Electronic Commerce
Electronic Data Interchange Payment systems
Virtual organisations

RESOURCES PROVIDED BY STUDENTS

NOTE: All students must have access to the following resources in order to complete the subject Data Communications 2.

1. Internet access at 14400 bit/s or better
2. An Internet Email address
3. A computer capable of running Netscape Navigator 3
4. A second computer, an Intel based 486 or better computer with 16 MByte memory and a 200 MByte hard disk and Windows NT, Windows 95, FreeBSD or Linux installed. This computer will be used to install a secure world wide web server and to configure and test web security. Ideally this second computer and one other with Netscape Navigator 3 will both reside on the same local area network.