School Engineering Science and Technology

Department ICT and Electronics

Course Title Data Communications and networks
Course Code CUIT 213
Course level 2.2
Credits Lecture hrs: 18 Practical hrs: 24 Tutorial hrs: 6
Individual Study hrs: 53 Assessment: 19
Notional Hours: 120 Credits: 12
Lecturer Information Name: T D Kavu Office Hours: 08-18:00hrs
Office No: E8 Contact: 333
Email: tkavu@cut.ac.zw
Prerequisites Computer Organization and Architecture
Course Description This course brings a firm foundation of data communication on all types of media and the
knowhow of creating networks and troubleshooting networks.
Course Aim To equip students with the knowledge of creating and troubleshooting networks
Learning Outcomes By the end of the course students should be able to :

 Explain how communication works in data networks and the Internet.

 Recognize the different internetworking devices and their functions.
 Explain the role of protocols in networking.
 Program network devices
 Design and build network cables and also lay the network
 Analyse the services and features of the various layers of data networks.
 Design, calculate, and apply subnet masks and addresses to fulfil networking
requirements.
 Analyse the features and operations of various application layer protocols such as
Http, DNS, and SMTP
 Understand network security and cloud computing
 Configure routers and switches
 Use simulation software such as Mat lab, NS2 and NS3
 Configure a LAN.

Core Synopsis Computer network technologies and applications, Role of Data communication in
organizations, Transmission Media , Signalling, Communication protocols, Communication
architectures – ISO OSI Model, Transmission media, Network connections (Data transmission
modes, multiplexing), Network types (LAN,WAN,MAN), LAN topologies, LAN MAC protocols,
Routing and routing algorithms (distance vector, link state, BGP), Basic router configurations
and routing tables, switching and switching devices. Spanning tree protocol. Configuration,
operation and administration of PC-based LAN and WAN, troubleshooting a network.
Administration of multiple network Operating Systems e.g. Windows 2000, Linux and Unix
services via TCP/IP protocol. IP addressing (IPv4and IPv6). Network security, hands-on-
experience in inter-networking with current versions of Microsoft and Unix/Linux. Accessing the
WAN protocols-ATM, Frame Relay, HDLC, PPP, PAP, CHAP and broadband links. WAN traffic
control and Access Control Lists (ACL), Enterprise Network (NAT, DHCP and troubleshooting).

Course Assessment Assessment comprises of continuous assessment and a written final examination as follows.
2 Assignments 15%
Project 15%
Tests: 2 In- Class Tests 10%
Final Examination: 60%

Textbooks and References Bertsekas, Dimitri, and Robert Gallager. Data Networks (2nd Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall, 1991. ISBN: 0132009161.
Peterson and Davie. Computer Networks (2nd Edition). San Francisco, CA: Morgan Kaufmann
Publishers, 1999. ISBN: 1558605142 .
Walrand and Varaiya. High Performance Communication Networks. San Francisco, CA:
Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 1996. ISBN: 155860341
Software Packet Tracer, GNS3, NS3
Topics to Be Covered
Week Number Topic Subtopics( Areas to be covered)
Week 1 Introduction to Data Comm · Networks
· Network Topologies
· Network categories
· The internet
Week 2 Analog to Digital Transmission and  Frequency
Multiplexing  Domain Concepts
 Time Domain Concepts
 Distinction between Data and
Signals
 Transmission Impairments
 Frequency Division Multiplexing
 Synchronous Time Division
Multiplexing
 Statistical Time Division
Multiplexing
(Assignment 1)
Week 3 Transmission Media  Twisted Pair.
 Coaxial Cable.
 Metallic media
 Optical fiber media
 Wireless media (line-of-sight
media)
 Baseband and broadband
transmission
 Transmission bandwidth (link
capacity)
Week 4 Packet ,Circuit Switching and Internet  Circuit Switching Concepts
Communications Model  Circuit Switching Networks
 Control Signalling in Circuit
Switching Networks
 Data Transmission
 MAC protocols (CSMA/CD and
Token passing)
Week 5 OSI reference Model and TCP/IP  Data Link Control
protocol architecture  ARP
 MAC
 IP addressing
Week 6 LAN and WAN  LAN and WAN(Devices routers,
hubs and switches, LAN cables,
IP addressing)
 Sub-netting
 VLMS (Assignment 2)
Week 7 Building a Simple network and  Understanding the Host-to-Host
Ethernet Local Area Networks
Communications Model
 Cables(Cabling)
 Understanding the TCP/IP
Transport Layer
 Exploring the Packet Delivery
Process
 Understanding Ethernet
 Connecting to an Ethernet LAN
 Understanding the Challenges of
Shared LANs
 Solving Network Challenges with
Switched LAN Technology
 Exploring the Packet Delivery
Process
 Operating Cisco IOS Software
 Starting a Switch
  Understanding Switch Security
 Maximizing the Benefits of
Switching
 Troubleshooting Switch Issues
(Test 1)
Week 8 LAN Connections  Exploring the Functions of
Routing
 Understanding Binary Basics
 Constructing a Network
Addressing Scheme
 Starting a Cisco Router
 Configuring a Cisco Router
 Exploring the Packet Delivery
Process
 Understanding Cisco Router
Security
 Using Cisco SDM
 Using a Cisco Router as a DHCP
Server
 Accessing Remove Devices
Week 9 WAN Connections  Understanding WAN
Technologies
 Enabling the Internet Connection
 Enabling Static Routing
 Configuring Serial Encapsulation
 Enabling RIP
 Configuring DHCP
Week 10 WLAN  Exploring Wireless Networking
 Understanding WLAN Security
 Implementing a WLAN
Week 11 VLANS  Implementing VLANs and Trunks
 Improving Performance with
Spanning Tree
 Routing Between VLANs
 Securing the Expanded Network
 Troubleshooting Switched
Networks
Week 12 Implementing Routing Algorithms  Implementing OSPF
 Implementing EIGRP
 Configuring VPN
 Establishing a WAN Connection
with Frame Relay (Test 2)