CIT 30700
Data Communications
Course Instructional Objectives
Data Communications
Course Instructional Objectives
Components of Data Communication and Networking
- Understand the criteria associated with evaluating network performance, reliability and security
- Direction of data flow
- Understand the advantages and disadvantages to the different network topologies
The OSI Model
- Understand how the TCP/IP protocol suite works
- Describe the protocols which are part of the TCP/IP protocol suite
- Describe the functions of the layers in the TCP/IP reference Model and how messages move through the layers
- Identify the Addressing associated with each layer of the model from Physical addresses, Logical addresses, port addresses and specific addresses
Signals, Data Encoding, and Modems
- Describe how signals are represented
- List the encoding types based on signal types and information types
- Identify the various encoding methods
Flow Control and Error Detection and Correction
- Describe the basic flow control protocols used in data communications
- Explain the types and sources of errors that can affect data transmission
Transmission Media
- Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the different medium types, including Twisted-pair, Coaxial and Optical
- Select a medium type based on specific requirements
Multiplexing Techniques
- Understand how multiplexing accomplishes increased efficiency in data transmission
- Distinguish between Frequency Division Multiplexing and Time Division Multiplexing
LAN Protocols
- Describe, compare and contrast the commonly used media access control protocols
- Describe several important LAN standards
- Describe, compare and contrast the commonly used media access control protocols
- Explain the concepts of client/server computing
- Identify the principal H/W components of a LAN
Telephony
- Describe the major components of the telephone system
- Characterize the transmission services provided by common carriers
- Compare and contrast DSL v Cable networks
Standards
- Identify several standards organizations and their functions in the field of data communications and networking.
LANs, MANs and WANs
- Define the characteristics of a LAN, MAN, and WAN
- Identify the principal H/W components of a LAN
- Discuss how performance, reliability and security effect a network
- Compare the different networking and internetworking devices
Circuit and Packet Switching Concepts
- Understand the concepts associated with Packet Switched networks
- Distinguish between the datagram approach to packet switching and the Virtual Circuit approach
- Identify applications of Packet Switching and Circuit Switching
TCP/IP protocols
- Understand the Core protocols associated with the TCP/IP protocol stack including TCP, UDP and IP
- Define address space and other logical addressing terms
- Understand how to subnet a network using IP addressing
- Identify protocols used in troubleshooting such as ICMP
- Understand the role of protocols such as ARP, RARP, DHCP
