Assessment Details and Submission Guidelines
Unit Title Networking Fundamentals
Assessment Title Network models, media and connections
Purpose of the assessment (with ULO Mapping) Apply the principles of networking protocols and standards
Understand in-depth and apply reference models and layered architectures in networking.
Recognise network topologies, media types and network components
word limit Max 1500
Submission Guidelines All work must be submitted on Moodle by the due date along with a completed Assignment Cover Page.
The assignment must be in MS Word format, 1.5 spacing, 11-pt Calibri (Body) font and 2 cm margins on all four sides of your page with appropriate section headings.
Reference sources must be cited in the text of the report, and listed appropriately at the end in a reference list using IEEE referencing style.
Assignment description
ABC-Z limited is a small start-up business which is setting up business operations in a suburb just on the outskirts of Melbourne CBD. The business is to operate in a building with a size of 120,000 square meters (200 meters by 600 meters). The building will house large and heavy machinery 50 of which must be connected to a computer system. Each device transmits data at a rate of 2 Mbps and sends a small packet of data every two to three seconds. Now due to several building-related reasons, any cables that are going to be used for this network must be suspended high overhead in a hard-to-reach location. In addition, the business owners are not sure whether these devices will be to communicate with each other over the network since they are made by different manufacturers.
Imagine that you have been hired by the business owner to design and install this network. To get started with the design, you are required to do some background research and prepare documentation based on the questions below. In no more than 1,500 words, write a report that answers the following questions;
To address the business owner’s concern on whether their machines will be to communicate with each, you inform them that networking devices are designed based on reference models such as the OSI and TCP/IP which allows them to communicate even if they are made by different manufacturers. In class, we discussed the TCP/IP reference model, however there is more than one way of describing it. Find two other examples of the TCP/IP protocol suite that differ from what we discussed and cite the sources. How are those two suites alike, and how do they differ? How do they compare to the TCP/IP protocol suite discussed in class? With the help of diagrams, write a short, concise report summarising your findings.
Give a brief description of any other network model that exists or has been in existence besides the OSI model and TCP/IP protocol suite? Remember to cite all sources used.
What type of cable would you recommend for this business based on the business requirements above? Use the media selection criteria discussed in class.
ABC-Z is also expected to run an application that will transmit data records to another building in a suburb nearby. The data records are 500 bytes in length, and the application will send one record every 0.5 seconds. Is it more efficient to use a synchronous connection or an asynchronous connection? What speed transmission line is necessary to support either type of connection? Show all your work.
Marking criteria for Assignment 1:
Note: The marking criteria varies for each assignment
Section to be included in the report Description of the section Marks
Introduction Outline of the report (in 3-4 sentences) 5
Answers to Q1 Gives the 2 other examples
Provides a comparison between the 2 examples
Compares the 2 to the TCP/IP protocol
Uses diagrams to demonstrate the 2 examples 2
5
5
3
Answers to Q2 Names and provides a concise description of the model. 5
Answers to Q3 Cable is selected using the selection criteria discussed in lecture 10
Answers to Q4 Defines synchronous and asynchronous connections
Gives convincing evidence on why the selected mode of connection is more efficient
Transmission line clearly stated
Working is provided 5
5
5
5
Reference style Follow IEEE reference style 5
Total 60