General information


Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Alfonso Palacios González

Trimester: Third term

Credits: 6

Teaching staff: 

Pere Barberan Agut

Skills


Basic skills
  • B2_That students know how to apply their knowledge to their job or vocation in a professional way and have the skills they demonstrate by developing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of ​​study

  • B5_That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy

Specific skills
  • EFB5_Knowledge of the structure, organization, operation and interconnection of information systems, the fundamentals of their programming and their application for solving engineering problems

Transversal competences
  • T1_That students know a third language, which will be preferably English, with an adequate level of oral and written form, according to the needs of the graduates in each degree

  • T2_That students have the ability to work as members of an interdisciplinary team either as one more member, or performing management tasks in order to contribute to developing projects with pragmatism and a sense of responsibility, making commitments taking into account the available resources

Description


The aim of this course is to explain the basic principles of computer networks. It is based on an Internet approach so that Internet protocols are used whenever possible as a vehicle to study the fundamental concepts of computer networks. The most important points that will be seen in this subject are:

  • Introduction to networks (packet networks, OSI and TCP / IP protocol architecture, standardization bodies)
  • IP networks (protocol, routing, ARP, address translation)
  • TCP and UDP (protocols, ARQ, flow control, congestion control, connection establishment and release)
  • Local Area Networks (Ethernet)
  • Technologies, protocols and services of telecommunications operator networks

 

Learning outcomes


In general, this subject contributes to the following learning outcomes specified for the subject to which it belongs (Architecture, operating systems and computer networks):

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the internal workings of a computer and the workings of communications between computers
  • Ensure that an organization's ICT systems function properly, are secure, and are properly installed, documented, customized, maintained, updated, and replaced, and that people in the organization receive proper ICT support
  • Design solutions that integrate hardware, software, and communications technologies (and the ability to develop system-specific software solutions) for distributed systems and ubiquitous computing devices
  • Design, implement and configure networks and services
  • Team project development
  • Understand and use manuals effectively, product specifications and other technical information written in English

At a more specific level, at the end of the course the student must be able to:

  • LO1: Explain the OSI stack to the TCP / IP stack
  • LO2: Design an IP network taking into account its characteristics, addressing and routing used
  • LO3: Identify and inspect the headers of a plot with a network analyzer
  • LO4: Explain and compare the most important features of the TCP and UDP protocol
  • LO5: Model the different elements in a communications system. Calculate the basic parameters of efficiency, bandwidth and utilization of communications networks
  • LO6: Explain the functions of link protocols and analyze the basic parameters
  • LO7: Explain and compare the different switching techniques

Working methodology


Guided learning hours include:

  • Theoretical / practical classes in large groups in which the teacher introduces the contents of the subject and teaching activities are carried out that seek to make the student an active protagonist in the acquisition of their knowledge.
  • The activities are carried out in teams of two people. These practical activities will be carried out both in classes with small groups and in classes with large groups (all students).
  • The final objective is that the student acquires the knowledge of the subject through activities which can be small as more complete projects where the knowledge that is acquired throughout the course takes part. Within the hours of autonomous learning are considered the hours to prepare the theoretical classes, the hours to study and consolidate the acquired knowledge, the hours to prepare the work of the practices and, finally, the hours that the student can dedicate to increase and complement their knowledge on the subject.

Contents


T1. Computer networks and the Internet

  • Introduction to computer networks
  • Concepts of protocol and service
  • Protocol architecture: OSI and TCP / IP models

T2. IP networks

  • Internet Protocols
  • The IP protocol
  • IP addressing, subnetting. Other IP support protocols (ICMP, ARP, DHCP).
  • Internet routing
  • Know how to route a datagram, what is the routing table
  • Static and dynamic routing

T3. The TCP protocol

  • Introduction to Transport Layer Services
  • Multiplexed and demultiplexed
  • Offline transport: UDP
  • Principles of a reliable data transfer service
  • Connection-oriented transport: TCP
  • Establishment and release of TCP connection
  • TCP Congestion Control

T4. Switching networks

  • Switching networks
  • Circuit switching: Temporary behavior
  • Packet switching: virtual circuit and datagram, routing
  • Delay and Loss in Packet Switching Networks
  • Flow and congestion control

T5. Link layer

  • Link Layer: Introduction and Services
  • Error Detection and Correction Techniques
    • Stop and wait
    • Sliding window
  • Ethernet technology

Learning activities


A series of eminently practical activities are made available to students, which are the basis of the learning activities of the subject. These activities will have to be solved by the students, sometimes in a non-contact way, following the instructions of the teachers and / or they will also be worked in class, either as examples in the theory sessions, or in laboratory sessions ( large or small groups). Although some of these activities could be optional (teachers will not individually verify the performance by students), they will be essential to achieve the theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject.

With the aim of gathering evidence of the achievement of the expected learning outcomes, the following activities of an evaluative nature will be carried out, related to the common, transversal and specific competences. The transversal competence associated with the subject of knowledge of the third language is worked from the documentary sources that the students have to consult and from the subject itself that has English as its vehicle language.

 

1. Written test I: 

  • Individual test of practical application (resolution of exercises and problems) of the theoretical concepts and practical procedures of the first two blocks of the subject (Evidence of the results of the learning RA1, RA2 and RA3)

2. Written test II:

  • Individual test of practical application (resolution of exercises and problems) of the theoretical concepts and practical procedures of the blocks 3, 4 and 5 of the asignatura (Evidence of the results of the learning RA4, RA5, RA6 and RA7)

3. Practices:

  • Basic router configuration (Evidence of learning outcomes RA1 and RA2)
  • Static and dynamic routing (Evidence of learning outcomes RA1, RA2 and RA3)
  • The protocol analyzer. The TCP protocol (Evidence of learning outcomes RA4, RA5 and RA6)

4. Final challenge: 

  • Individual and group evaluation of the knowledge obtained in carrying out the different activities during the term (Evaluation evidence of the learning outcomes RA1 to RA6)

 

In relation to the basic competences assigned to the subject, these are covered especially with regard to the aspects that are explained:

  • CB2: problem solving within their area of ​​study.
  • CB5: development of learning skills needed for further studies (autonomous access to documentation, effective work habits)

 

In relation to the specific competencies associated with the subject, these are covered especially with regard to the aspects that are explained:

  • EFB5: works both with written tests and with practices and the challenge where it is necessary to demonstrate their knowledge of the structure, organization, operation and interconnection of computer systems.

In relation to the transversal competences associated with the subject, these are covered especially with regard to the aspects that are explained:

  • CT1: knowledge of the English language is worked from the documentary collections that students must consult, since most of them are mostly in English. All the written material of the subject (notes, problem statements, practice statements, ...) are distributed exclusively and only in English. The vehicular language of the subject is English.
  • CT2: working as members of an interdisciplinary team is mostly worked on in practical activities, where management and shared responsibility is especially relevant

 

In relation to the common competencies associated with the subject, these are covered especially so that the aspects that are explained:

  • CIN1: we work mainly on practical tests that involve the development of computer solutions
  • CIN4: work in a transversal way in the written tests of the subject, which work the most theoretical aspects, but also in the practical activities, because in each of them emphasis is placed on aspects of the interconnection of networks
  • CIN5: we work together with the CIN1 competence in the practical tests that involve the development of interconnection solutions for computer systems
  • CIN11: work in a transversal way in the written tests of the subject, which work the most theoretical aspects, but also in the practical activities, because in each of them emphasis is placed on aspects of computer networks and the Internet

In order to pass (pass) the assessment activities, students must demonstrate:

  • That they have acquired the theoretical knowledge related to the contents of the subject and that their understanding allows them to put them into practice [MECES-2 point a, point c]
  • That they can develop solutions to problems that, although they may be similar to others seen above, present aspects that are new [MECES-2 point f]

Rules for carrying out the activities

  • All activities are required to attend to be evaluated.
  • Activities are mandatory. Activities not performed or not attended are rated as 0.

Evaluation system


  • Written tests: 60%
  • Internships: 20%
  • Final practice (challenge): 10%
  • Continuous assessment: 10%

All grades are required. Theoretical exams can be retaken.

For written tests the average of the tests must have a minimum grade of 5. If the grade is less than 5 then the final grade will be that of the written tests.

REFERENCES


Basic

http://cisco.netacad.com

Stallings, W (2013) “Data and Computer communications” .10th edition. Prentice Hall

James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross. (2017) “Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach”. Pearson

Online resources: Presentations and notes of the subject in Moodle

Complementary

Tanenbaum, Andrew S. (2013) “Computer Networks”. 5th ed. Prentice-Hall