TEL 232 - Data Communications

1. Identify basic data communication types and equipment
   1. Identify common types of data equipment
   2. Identify analog and digital data transmission
   3. Identify serial and parallel transmission
   4. Identify synchronous and asynchronous data circuits
   5. Identify point-to-point and switched circuits
   6. Identify half- and full-duplex data circuits
2. Identify the modulation techniques used in data communications
   1. Explain and contrast between AM, FM, and PM
   2. Explain PCM and TDM
   3. Identify various modem specifications in data communications
3. Discuss the ISOs OSI model.
   1. Identify the 7 OSI layers
   2. Explain the basic functions of each layer
4. Discuss the TCP/IP Suite
   1. Compare TCP/IP to the OSI layers
   2. Explain the basic functions of each layer
   3. Identify common protocols used at each layer
5. Explain and demonstrate the use of a packet analyzer.
   1. Capture traffic using a PC based sniffer.
   2. Explain a capture packet output
   3. Decode data and identify relevant output
   4. Explain the relevant use for a sniffer or packet analyzer
6. Discuss TCP/IP transport layer protocols
   1. Explain the difference between connectionless and connection oriented protocols
   2. Explain how TCP establishes a connection and guarantees packet delivery
   3. Explain how UDP establishes a connection and why it is considered unreliable
   4. Explain the appropriate uses for TCP and UDP 
7. Discuss TCP/IP Inter-network layer protocols
   1. Explain IP addressing classes
   2. Demonstrate the ability to calculate subnets
   3. Given an IP address and subnet mask, identify address and network characteristics
8. Discuss the TCP/IP Network Access Layer protocols
   1. Explain the history and future uses of Ethernet.
   2. Explain CSMA/CD and MAC
   3. Identify the characteristics of a MAC address
   4. Explain Address Resolution Protocol.
9. Explain network devices and topologies
   1. Explain various network topologies and their uses
   2. Identify various network devices and the OSI layer they function at
   3. Explain the operation of network bridges and switches.
   4. Explain the operation of repeaters and hubs.
   5. Explain the operation of routers.
10. Discuss address assignment methods
    1. Explain static versus dynamic address assignment
    2. Demonstrate static assignment configuration parameters
    3. Explain bootstrap protocol and Dynamic host Configuration Protocol.
    4. Explain the DHCP graceful shutdown process
11. Identify standards and regulatory organizations relevant to the Internet
    1. Discuss the Internet Engineering Task Force
    2. Locate RFC and discuss their relevance to data communications
    3. Discuss ICANN and regional address authorities.
12. Demonstrate an understanding of Domain naming
    1. Explain DNS and its uses
    2. Explain the host DNS resolution process
    3. Display the contents of the DNS resolver
    4. Clear the connects of the DNS resolver
13. Discuss network design and management functions
    1. Identify basic network design and management goals
    2. Explain how to use the goals the maximize throughput