CISC 458: Applied Computer Networks

Catalog Description:
Principles of communications as they apply to computer networks. Includes advanced concepts of network design, construction and management.

Current Texts:
Practical Planning for Network Growth
Blommers,
Prentice-Hall, 1996.

Computer Networks
Andrew S. Tanenbaum
Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Goals:
This is a follow-on course to CISC 450 Computer Networks. It is taught using Problem-Based Learning techniques. Teams of students learn to analyze typical computer networking requirements found in the industry, model potential solutions and prepare implementation documents. This course is appropriate for students preparing for a career in the computer industry in the networking and applications development fields.

Content:
The course consists of problems which encourage the development of expertise in the following areas:

• Problem analysis from typical requirements documents
• Design of Local Area Networks, including the use of network modeling tools
• Analysis of Wide Area Network requirements to interconnect the previously designed LANs
• Reliability, Availability and Serviceability of the generated designs
• Network management considerations, including fault and performance monitoring, security management and capacity planning.

Required Background: CISC 450 (Computer Networks)