UB University of Baltimore
Merrick School of Business


INSS 650 - Telecommunications
Fall 2004

Thursdays 8:15 - 9:45 PM - BC305
and one hour on the Web

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

Office hours: Wednesdays TBA and Thursdays 3:00-5:00 PM

[assignments][[mid-term exam][final exam][project][outline][Forum]

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. Topics include communications models and layers, communication techniques, LANs, WANs, Frame Relay, ATM, VPN, network design, management and security. This course is focused on the TCP/IP architecture, but the OSI model is presented and discussed. A review of networking using Windows 2000 is also provided.

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

  1. summarize the history and current status of the field of telecommunications.
  2. describe the components of telecommunication systems.
  3. compare and contrast various network implementations.
  4. design, configure and price local area and backbone networks.
  5. configure and setup Microsoft TCP/IP in Windows 2000.
  6. manage simple networks using network software tools.

Each class meeting will be divided in two parts:

  1. fundamentals and applications: the basic concepts and techniques of telecommunications. From 8:15 to 9:45 PM.

  2. networking using Windows 2000 and specialized readings. One hour on the Web.

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 (Netscape or Internet Explorer 4 and above required).

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

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

Assignments (6) 25%
Mid-term exam 25%
Project 25%
Final exam 25%

Assignments

All assignments are to be done individually. The first assignments are to be submitted as a file in the Forum, but most are to be posted on the Web (marked web). Assignments are due one week after they are introduced in class as shown in the outline, unless specific due dates are indicated in the assignment's page (link).

  1. Provide information about Layers and HTTP messages.
  2. Obtain IP information from a PC running Windows 2000.
  3. How much would cost to network 20 PCs using two hubs (assume they are in acceptable distance) in terms of NICs, hubs, wiring, etc (do not include software)? Do a simplified drawing or schematic representing your network. Include your answer (with specific brands of your choice) and the network image in a Web page (web).
  4. Assume you received a class C IP address (221.221.221.0) and you are setting up a network with 4 subnets, each with 50 users. Please select a subnet mask, explain why you did it, and show the range of IP addresses in each subnet. Draw an image to show the network. Include your image and answers in a Web page (web).
  5. Exercise 7-3 (page 293). Draw an image of the backbone network, write a description of the network, prepare the materials list (as a table), as you did in assignment 3. Include your image and answers in a Web page (web).
  6. Run Shields UP! and check your machine status. Then visit the site of Kerio and Zone Alarm Personal Firewalls. Compare the two products (free version) and install one of them. Finally, download and install the LeakTest. Write a report organized as follows:(a) machine shields status, (b) comparison of Kerio and Zone Alarm, (c) installation and use of Kerio, or Zone Alarm, and (d) results of the leak test, including images if needed. Post your report in a Web page (web).

Mid-term exam

An in-class, multiple-choice, open book exam on October 21, 2004, covering class materials from 09/02 to 10/14.

Final exam

A non-comprehensive, in-class, multiple-choice, open book exam on December 16, 2004, covering class materials from 10/28 to 12/09.

Project

The project is to be done in groups of two to three students. The objective is to explore a free or demo network management software (see SLAC, Tivoli, SolarWinds, or use any other sources). Select one specific software (free or demo), install it at the MIS Lab, home or office. Then write a report describing the tool, the installation procedures and problems, and a simple set of user instructions. Post the group project on the Web and send me the URL by December 16, 2004.

TEXTBOOK AND REFERENCES

Required:

Fitzgerald,J. and Dennis, A. Business Data Communications and Networking 8th ed, John Wiley & Sons, 2005. ISBN: 0-471-65924-X

Fitzgerald,J. and Dennis, A. Student Web site for Business Data Communications and Networking, 8th ed., 2004 (on-line only)

Web references:

Basic Telecom

Windows 2000 and Networking

OUTLINE
Day 8:15 - 9:45 On the Web Assignment posted
09/02 Course overview [1] Course materials, Forum, posting assignments. Introduce yourself in the Forum
09/9 Communications model and application layer [1,2] Microsoft enterprise concepts 1. Layers and HTTP messages
09/16 Physical and Data Link Layer [3,4] Windows 2000 basics  
09/23 Network and transport layer [5] Windows 2000 TCP/IP 2. TCP/IP information
09/30 Local Area Networks [6] NetBIOS Resolution  
10/07 Local internets [6,8] IP routing and resolution  
10/14 Wireless LANs [7] Creating a Web page (not part of exams) 3. costing a simple network
10/21Mid-term ExamMid-term Exam  
10/28 Backbone networks [8] More in Virtual LANs and collapsed backbones. 4. subnet mask calculation
11/04 Telephone Service [9] IP Telephony: Voice over IP [D]  
11/11 Wide Area Networks [9] More in Packet-Switching concepts. 5.costing a backbone network
11/18 Frame Relay, ATM and VPN [9] Review of the Internet [10]  
11/25 Thanksgiving no classes  
12/02 Network Security [11] Project questions and answers 6. security check and firewalls
12/09Network design and management [12,13] Final exam review  
12/16 Final exam   Project due

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 28, 2003.