Course syllabus for Routing and switching technology

1. Design and implement effective and efficient IP addressing and subnetting based on combinations of the techniques; Variable Length Subnet Mask (VLSM), Network Address Translation (NAT) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). 2. Work out a basic configuration of an IP router connecting a local network to the Internet. 3. Analyze, configure, implement, and verify access control lists within a router configuration to filter packets in accordance with a predefined local policy for Internet access. 4. Configure and evaluate the major characteristics of the most used routing protocols within an autonomous system; Routing Information Protocol (RIP) and the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF). 5. Use TCP/IP utilities and tools to troubleshoot the network configuration and connectivity issues of the network equipment. 6. Configure and administer a switch in switched Ethernet LAN with redundant cabling and possibly with functional groupings based on Virtual LANs (VLANs). 7. Configure and administer inter-switch VLANs on Ethernet switches and activate inter-VLAN routing on router. 8. Identify the key characteristics of common wide area networking (WAN) configurations and technologies like Frame Relay and Point to Point Protocol (PPP).

The course comprises basic skills and knowledge of the Internet technology and TCP/IP protocol suite, in particular the Internet access and routing protocols. The course is mainly focusing on the operation and engineering of IP routers and Ethernet switches. The practical skills gained during the course, which correspond to the Cisco certification in CCNA Routing and Switching, will be carried out in a reality-like laboratory environment.

The course contains the following parts:

Introduction to Networks (review): The OSI refernce model for data communications. TCP/IP-architecture for the Internet. Application and transport layer protocols. Internet Protocol IP addressing and subnetting. Local Area Networks (LAN) and Ethernet technology.

Routing and Switching Essentials: Managing the router as a core internetworking device, Basic router configuration, Routing, Path Determination algorithms, Routing Protocol RIP as distance-vector routing protocol. IP addressing with variable subnet mask (VLSM) beside some addressing methods like Dynamic IP configuration (DHCP) och address translation (NAT). Routing within an autonomous system (AS). Routing protocols with VLSM subnetting: RIPv2 and the standard link-state routing protocol OSPF. Switching Basics. Managing the LAN switch as a networking device, basic switch configuration. Spanning Tree protocol (STP). Virtual LANs and frame-tagging. Routing between VLANs. Securing network devices using packet filters and firewall by applying access control lists (ACL).

Scaling Networks: Configuring routers and switches for advanced functionality considering the architecture, components, and operations of larger and more complex networks. Troubleshooting routers and switches and resolve common issues with using single-area OSPF, multiarea OSPF and STP in both IPv4 and IPv6 networks. Acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to install a wireless LAN (WLAN) in a small or medium-sized networks. Implementing VLANs, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), Per VLAN Spanning Tree Plus Protocol (PVST+), and EtherChannel.

Connecting Networks:  WAN technologies and network services required by converged applications in a complex network. Link protocols in WANs e.g. HDLC, Point-to-point (PPP) protocols and Frame Relay. Broadband and serial connections. Knowledge and skills needed to implement virtual private network (VPN). Network monitoring and troubleshooting using syslog, SNMP, and NetFlow. Borderless networks, data centers and virtualization.

The course includes mainly 14 lectures or presentation seminars, 17 labs, 3 case studies, 3 lab-skills exams and 2 homeworks. There is also a moment of self-studying a web-based course material.

Cisco Networking Academy, "CCNA Routing and Switching", Interactive Web-based course material.

Other Course Books:

(1) Comer D. E. "Internetworking with TCP/IP, Principles, Protocols and Architecture", Pearson Education.

(2) James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, "Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach",Pearson Education.

The course is divided into three parts; basic routing and switching, routing och switching in complex networks, and WAN access. Each part is graded by same examination methods. The intended outcomes are examined in three ways. The first is direct supervision by the examiner and assistants during the lab sessions and then assesing the laboratory work by lab-skills exam in laboratory at the end of each part. The second is evaluating the results of the case study that will be worked out in relation to each part. The work of the case study is done electronically using network simulator and by delivering the results as uploaded files; simulation, diagram, tables and report. The third is by evaluating an oral presentation with opponents of a selected topic during a seminar with active attention of the whole class. The examination is obviously a continous process during the course. The mandatory activities and tasks will be evaluated and awarded due to demonstrating the results in a suitable form; mainly reports and presentations. The activities are labs, case studies, seminars, lab-skills exams and homeworks. The grading with grades U/3-5 is based on the sum of the results gained from all activities and tasks (more details are available at the homepage of the course).