Data Communications Networks - Theory and Practice

Technical familiarity with basic computer operating systems.

The Data Communications Course presents the basic theory of operation os data communications networks, starting from the OSI-RM, LANs, WANs, TCP/IP and basic network security and network applications. The course provides the student with general knowledge of the architecture, hardware components, software configuration, and structure of data communications networks.

Introduction to networking and the OSI reference model

• Introduction to data networks
• LAN and WAN
• Application types and requirements
• The OSI-RM functions and the modular structure of the data network

Introduction to LAN technology and theEthernet protocols

• The Ethernet protocol and 10M/100M/1G/10Gbps Ethernet
• Ethernet media types (Twisted Pairs, cable categories - 5/5e, fiber optical cables and connectors)
• CSMA/CD algorithm
• Frame structure (802.3, 802.3, Ethernet-2, Ethernet-SNAP)
• Common problems

LAN Switching – Functionality and Operation

• The LAN bridge characters and operation
• LAN switch operation
• LAN switches technology – HD/FD and auto-negotiation
• VLANs (Virtual LAN) and VLAN tagging
• The Spanning Tree protocols - STP/RSTP/MSTP
• LAG and Etherchannel. LAN Structure and topologies
• Data Center switching

WAN Protocols and Services

• The public network structure – access transmission and switching.
• Traditional Networks architecture and protocols
  • End to end services - FR, ATM and Leased lines
  • Transmission services – SDH and WDM/DWDM
  • Access services – xDSL, CaTV/DOCSIS
• The new generation networks
  • End to end services – Carrier Ethernet and MPLS IP-Based services
  • Transmission networks – Carrier Ethernet
  • Access networks – advanced xDSL, DOCSIS and Optical technologies

Wireless Network and Wi-Fi

Network architecture – elements and network topologies

The physical layer

• 801.11a/b/g
• 801.11n - OFDM ad MIMO

The MAC layer - Contention Resolution

• CSMA/CA, RTS, CTS and NAV
• IEEE 802.11 Frame Format and Addressing

Additional features

• WiFi security – WEP, EAP, TLS, TTLS and 802.11x

WiFi QoS - Contention Based Access - AIFS, Access Categories and Contention Windows. Controlled Access - Polling and TXOPs. Controlling Quality of Service - ADDTS, Traffic Streams and TSPECs.

• Cellular Networks

Introduction

• Frequencies spectrum re-use
• Call setup and management,
• The main servers - MSC, BSC, BTS and terminals
• Handovers and Channels

Standards and evolution

3GPP, 3GPP2 and IMT-2000

Networks evolution – cdma1 to EVDO/DV and GSM to HSPA and LTE

Introduction to TCP/IP

• The TCP/IP model and Common protocols
• Protocols operation
• Standard organizations

IPv4 – Protocol and Addressing

• IP characteristics
• ARP – Address Resolution Protocol
• The IP frame structure
• IP addressing and address classes
• Private and public addresses
• Subnetting an IP address space – VLSM and CIDR
• IP address design (Exercise)
• DHCP – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
• Multicast and IGMP

IPv6 – Protocol and Addressing

• IPv6 characteristics and comparison to IPv4
• Packet structure and headers (brief)
• IPv6 addresses and address categories
• The Auto-configuration process
• Migration from IPv4

L4 Protocols – TCP and UDP

• Introduction to layer 4 protocols and Well known ports
• UDP packet structure and operation
• TCP packet structure and operation
• TCP connectivity and reliability
• TCP sliding window, slow-start and congestion avoidance
• Sequence and acknowledge numbers
• TCP maximum throughput (WS and RTT) calculation
• Go-back-N and Selective-Repeat
• TCP performance issues

Routing and L3 Switching basics

• Routing process principles
• Routing domains and areas
• Static and dynamic routing
• Distance-vector and Link-state protocols
• Routing metrics
• RIP and OSPF
• BGP – eBGP and iBGP
• L3 Switching
• Static and Dynamic NAT
• HSRP and VRRP
• QoS in IP Networks

QoS parameters – Bandwidth, Delay, Jitter and Packet Loss

• Applications requirements and network behavior
• Classification and marking, Policing and shaping, Queuing, RED/WRED

Network Security Basics and Components

• Network security Basics, threats and Vulnerabilities.
• Secured network architecture – FWs, VPN's, NACs, and security devices.
• FW operation – packet filtering and statefull inspection.
• Security protocols – Encryption and Authentication
• Encryption types and definitions
  • Symmetric-key algorithm. Block and Stream Cyphers.
  • Public-key cryptography.
  • Hash Functions.
• Authentication basics
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Tokens and Smart Card Encryption Wireless encryption protocols
  • OTP - One Time Passwords

Introduction to Data Networks Design

• Introduction to Network Engineering
  • Requirements analysis
  • Flow models
• Architecture (High-Level) Design
  • Component architecture and the Reference architecture
  • Architectural models
  • Systems and network architectures
  • Service and vendor architecture choices
• Topology (Low-Level) Design
  • Enterprise networks design
  • LAN/WAN design
  • IP networks design
  • Security and privacy design
  • Network management design
• Network operations design