UB University of Baltimore
Merrick School of Business


INSS 427 - Business Data Communications
Fall 2011

Wednesdays 5:30 - 8:00 PM - BC321

Professor Al Bento
office BC 473 v-mail 837-5272
e-mail abento@ubalt.edu URL http://home.ubalt.edu/abento

Office hours: Wednesdays 3:30 - 5:00 PM

[assignments][quizzes][project][final exam][outline][SAKAI]

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objective of this course is to provide students with a solid understanding of fundamentals, as well as the state-of-the-art of telecommunications in business. Telecommunication technology will be reviewed and current practices discussed. Topics include distributed data processing, communication techniques, network design, management and security, LANs and PC networking. This course is focused on the TCP/IP architecture, but the OSI model is presented and discussed. Emphasis is also given to networking using Windows.

When you complete this course you will have the ability to:

  1. describe the components of telecommunication systems.
  2. compare and contrast various network implementations.
  3. summarize the history and current status of the field of telecommunications.
  4. design, configure and price local area networks.
  5. configure and setup Microsoft TCP/IP in Windows.
  6. manage simple networks using Windows.

Each class meeting will be divided in two parts:

  1. fundamentals and applications: the basic concepts and techniques of telecommunications. From 5:30 to 7:00 PM.

  2. networking using Windows : designing, installing and managing networks and internets using Windows. From 7:00 to 8:30.

CLASS MATERIALS

Class handouts will be available on the Web at the following address of the course syllabus:

The course syllabus will be linked to the class materials. You can see and print the class materials at the Lab and from your office or home (an Internet provider costs between $10-20 per month), using a Web browser.

Note: To print properly this syllabus set top and bottom margins to 1" in your browser.

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

Assignments (5) 25%
Quizzes (4) 20%
Project 25%
Final exam 30%

Assignments

All assignments are to be done individually and are to be submitted as a file in SAKAI or (marked web) are to be posted on the Web and the page URL submitted in SAKAI. Assignments are due as shown in the outline, unless specific due dates are indicated in the assignment's page (link).
  1. Hands-on network information. Test your download speed and how long it takes to reach a Web site.
  2. How much would cost to network 20 PCs using two switches (assume they are in acceptable distance) in terms of NICs, switches, wiring, etc (do not include software)? Do a simplified drawing representing your network. Include your answer (with specific brands of your choice) and the network image in a Web page (web).
  3. Resolving names and what's in a name? Exercises on IP and NetBIOS resolution in Windows.
  4. Obtain IP information from a PC running Windows.
  5. Subnetting and Subnet Mask calculations. Include your answers in a Web page (web).

Quizzes

Four on-line, multiple-choice quizzes in SAKAI covering topics in prior weeks, but non-cumulative.  The quizzes will open two days before the due date and will be comprised of twenty randomized questions. The grades will be posted immediately in SAKAI, but the comments will only be available the day after the due date.

Project

The project is to be done in group. The objective is the hardware and software design of a local area network for a real or hypothetical organization comprised of at least four subnets, with at least 100 PCs in each, using Windows and TCP/IP. The final report should include equipment list and prices, IP numbers assignment, domain(s), etc. Post the group final report on a Web page by December 7, 2011.

Final exam

A comprehensive, in-class, multiple-choice, open book exam on December 14, covering class materials from September 7  to November 30.

TEXTBOOK AND REFERENCES

Required:

Raymond R. Panko, Business Data Communications and Networking 8th ed, Pearson Prentice-Hall, 2011. ISBN: 0-13-610012-0

Raymond R. Panko, Companion Web site for Business Data Communications, 8th ed., 2011 (on-line only)

Web references:

Basic Telecom

Windows and Networking

OUTLINE
Day 5:30 - 7:00 7:00-8:30 Assignments
08/31 Course overview Course materials, SAKAI, posting assignments. Introduce yourself and select group in SAKAI
09/07 Basic communications model (1,2) Microsoft enterprise concepts  1. hands-on network information due:  09/12
09/14  Physical layer (5), [B] Windows 7 Overview. Quiz 1: due 09/19
09/21 Ethernet LANs and Other Ethernet technologies  (6) NetBIOS Resolution 2. costing a simple network  due: 10/03
09/28 Multiswitch Etherned LANs (6) Creating a Web page (not part of exams)   
10/05 TCP/IP and Windows (1,9) and More in TCP/IP and IP Subnet Calculator IP routing and resolution 3. resolving names and what's in a name? due: 10/10
10/12  Local internets (1) WINS, and DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol  4. TCP/IP information due: 10/17
10/19 TCP/IP Internetworking (9,10) Review of Posting Documents and Images on the Web.  5. subnet mask calculation due 10/24
10/26 Telephone Service .  (C) Voice Over IP(VOIP) and the "Last Mile" (C) Quiz 2: due 10/31
11/02 Wireless LANs (7) Final project overview  Start working on project
11/09 3/4G Wireless Networks and Mobile Computing (8)
 Networked applications (11),   Continue working on project
11/16 Wide Area Networks (6:230-241) Frame Relay, ATM and VPN Quiz 3: due  11/21
Chapter 11 not included
11/23 Thanksgiving week: no classes Thanksgiving week: no classes  
11/30 Security and Network Security (3) Project questions and answers Quiz 4:  due 12/05
Chapter 11 included
12/07 Network Management (4) Final exam review Finish working on project: due 12/12
12/14 Final exam Final exam  

This page is maintained by Al Bento who can be reached at abento@ubalt.edu. Although we will attempt to keep this information accurate, we can not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided. This page was last updated on August 20, 2011.