Syllabus - Introduction to Networking


Course Number: INLS 182

Section: 001

Term/Year: Fall 2004

Instructor: Mr. David B. Rankin, CCNA, MCSE, CNE

Classroom Locations: Room 307 and SILS Computer Classroom Room 117

Class Meetings: Monday from 6 pm to 8:30 pm

Office: 101 East Weaver Street, Suite G-4, Carrboro, NC

Telephone: 919-698-8600

E-mail: david.rankin@unc.edu

Fax: 919-962-0900

Web Site: http://www.unc.edu/~dbr/inls182/2004/

Office Hours: By Appointment

Overview of the Course

This course exposes students through lectures, discussions, demonstrations, textbook exercises and classroom labs to skills and knowledge necessary to help prepare them to take the Network+ certification exam administered by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

PLEASE NOTE -- Students are not required to take the Network+ certification exam as a part of this class and passing the Network+ exam has no influence on the grade received.

This course is intended for students who want to work as network administrators or support technicians. The audience for this class ranges from students with little or no experience in network administration to network professionals who are working in entry-level to intermediate technical support positions.

Prerequisites or Corequisites

INLS 50 -- Tools for Information Literacy. (3). Staff. Tools and concepts for information literacy. Includes microcomputer software use and maintenance, microcomputer applications, and networked information systems.

It may be helpful for students to have the following knowledge and skills prior to starting the course. In some cases, it may be possible for students to acquire this knowledge and these skills through additional study during the course.

Basic knowledge of PC operation and architecture

Knowledge of the fundamentals of networking technology

Experience using one or more of the major commercial operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, Novell NetWare, or one of the UNIX/Linux variants

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have learned to:

List the services provided by network protocols
Identify the layers of the OSI reference model and describe the functions of each layer
List the cabling topologies and the types of cables used to build LANs
Describe the functions of a network interface adapter
Describe the different types of hubs, bridges, switches, and routers and explain their functions
List the network operating systems used for server systems
Describe the client capabilities of the major operating systems
Identify the directory services provided with the Microsoft Windows NT Server, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, and Novell NetWare operating systems
Describe the functions of the Ethernet, Token Ring, and FDDI protocols
Describe the two basic wireless topologies
Describe the functions of the Internet Protocol (IP) protocol
Explain the basics of IP routing and fragmentation
Describe the functions of the IPX protocol
Describe the NetBIOS Extended User Interface (NetBEUI) Frame format
Describe the services provided by the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
Describe the services provided by the Sequenced Packet Exchange (SPX) and Network Control Protocol (NCP) protocols
Explain the function of the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
Describe the functions of the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)
Explain the elements of an IP address
Explain how the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) assigns TCP/IP configuration settings to workstations
Explain the functions of the Domain Name System (DNS) and the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS)
Manually configure the TCP/IP client on a computer running Windows 2000 and explain the functions of the parameters
Describe the technologies used to connect remote computers to networks
Explain what types of passwords are most secure
Explain how the client/server and peer-to-peer networking models affect security
Describe how to use packet filtering to protect a network from unauthorized access
Explain how network address translation (NAT) enables networked computers to use unregistered IP addresses and still participate on the Internet
Describe how Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) secures LAN communications
Evaluate the physical installation site for a network and explain how environmental conditions can affect the network planning process
Explain the various mechanisms used to make network data continuously available
Describe how to install cables externally, secure them in place, and run them around common obstacles
Describe the types of hardware and software used to perform backups
Describe how the major types of viruses work and explain the functions of antivirus software
Explain how software manufacturers release product updates
List the steps involved in troubleshooting a network problem
Describe the various informational resources available to network administrators on the Internet
Monitor the status of a computer running Windows 2000 by using the Performance console
Examine network traffic by using a protocol analyzer
List the capabilities of multifunction cable testers
Distinguish among network problems, computer problems, and user problems

Laboratory Availability

The INLS 182 Computer Lab is available when the SILS Library is open. Please see http://ils.unc.edu/ils/library/schedule.html for library hours.

Required Texts

ALS: Network+ Certification, Second Edition textbook and ALS: Network+ Certification, Second Edition Lab Manual (Microsoft Press, 2003)
ISBN 0-7356-1770-8. This book is available at the UNC Student Bookstore.

Evaluation

Final grades are determined through a weighted average of midterm and final examinations, quizzes, labs, homework assignments, class participation, and attendance. Your final grade in the course will be based on the following:

Class attendance and participation

Homework assignments

Labs

Quizzes

Midterm examination

Final examination