UTEP, IDS (CIS course)

Current Issues in CIS

CIS 5394 - Seq. # 25374

Spring 2004

Instructor:Dr. Kallol Bagchi

Class meeting:6:00-8-50 a.m. Thursday BUSN 311

Office:BUSN, Room 204

Office Hours:Monday though Friday : 3:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m., also by appointment

Phone:747-5376 (Office), E-mail:

Text Books:The following are required:

  1. Data communications and Computer Networks, C. White, Course Technology, 2nd Edition.
  1. Windows 2000 Admin (to be supplied): Teaching Notes based on Courseware version 4.4, CIT, 2001.
  1. MCSE LabSim for Windows 2000 Professional and Server books by Course Technology, 2002.

Prerequisites:

CIS 5394 covers an intense and fast-paced curriculum in class sessions and lab classes. If you do not have the necessary skills and background [explained below], you will have to work very hard to meet the basic benchmark to do well in this course.

It is unfair to hold the class back for the students who do not have the required preparation that is needed as a prerequisite for this class. The following listing, though not exhaustive, will give you some idea about the necessary prerequisite skills for coping with the intense pace of this course.

  • Working knowledge of PC/Computers
  • Working Knowledge of DOS and Windows

Drives, Directories and Files:

  1. Creating and navigating through folders on various drives.
  2. Copying and moving files across folders and drives.
  3. Creating, deleting, opening and saving files.
  • Hardware & Software Concepts

Hardware: Understanding of the fundamental technological units of most computer systems: Input, processing, output, and storage components; ALU, CPU, and RAM/ROM; units of storage and memory, storage media.

Software: Understanding of the basics of the systems and application software, system utilities, etc.

Disclaimer:

The following is a rough detail about what will be covered in lecture, assignments, grading, tests, etc. This is not a contract, but rather it is a guideline to be adjusted as necessary.

Course Objectives:

This course will introduce the student, who has completed a typical prerequisite introductory computing course, to business data communications. The main purpose of this course is to provide a basic understanding of:

  1. Networking fundamentals with applications in modern business;
  1. the technologies/products underlying modern communication networking systems such as those based on Windows 2000;
  1. a knowledge of some management issues concerning network planning, implementation and administration ;
  1. understand the terminologies used in communication networking;
  1. the issues involved in designing and implementing an organization’s networking systems.

Grading:1. 3 Exams 30% (10% each)

2. Lab Exercise 20%

3. Project: Power Point Presentation of a CASE 15%

4. Class Participation 5%

5. Quiz 20%

6. Assignments 5%

7. Attendance 5%

======

Total 100%

Numeric scores will be given for each component which will be converted to letter grades on the basis of comparative performance. Thus a raw score of “85” can become a “C” or an “A”, although in the most likely case it will be a “B”. Extra credits will be given in for showing additional proficiencies in projects, group presentations etc.

Grades will be assigned based on the following scale.

A90+C70-79.9D60-69.9

B80-89F<60%

Exams:Each exam will consist of a combination of multiple choice, short answer, matching, and/or True/False questions which may involve the concepts discussed in your text books, materials covered in your assigned projects and labs, and operation procedures and rules of the Network being studied. Each exam will contain questions from the material covered since the last exam. If you miss exam 1 or 2, and have an approved excuse, a make-up exam may be held within one week from the original exam date. There will be no make-up for the final exam.

Three exams will be given during the course. The third exam is the final exam. It will not be cumulative and is scheduled during the final exam period.

Students may also be required to take computer-based tests to assess their progress in learning Network. Additionally, a final oral examination may also be taken to test the skills acquired by the student.

A student who is unable to take an exam due to an emergency must inform me of that fact on or earlier than the day of the exam and arrange for a make-up exam before the graded exam is returned to the class. Any student requiring a make-up will have to document his/her excuse (e.g., a letter from a physician written on the physician's letterhead). Make-ups will only be given during a regular class period or during my office hours. In no event will a make-up be given after the graded exam is returned to the class, which is usually the class period after the exam is scheduled.

Projects/ Lab Exercises:

You are assignedin a group to solve projects. You must learn to work in a group.

You must read the project assigned to you before the class.

Projects will be assigned and collected throughout the quarter. Each project is due on the date designated on your schedule. Submit assignments in an 9” X 12” envelope, which you may reuse later. On the envelope, indicate the course name, project number, your name and ID number, and the date. All projects must be done in a group.

Each project is due AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS PERIOD on the due date. If you turn in a project 10 minutes after the class begins, 10 points will be deducted from your grade on the project. If you turn in a project on the day after the due date, an additional 5 points will be deducted from your grade (i.e., 15 points will be deducted). An additional 5 points will be deducted from your grade for each additional late day.

It is your responsibility to keep a copy of every assignment you submit. You must make sure that you get your assignment back with my initials on it. In case there is a dispute, I will change my record only if you show me all your work with my original initials.

  1. CASE Presentation:

Powerpoint Presentation (PPT in schedule) on selected Network topics:

Points to remember:

a)It is a group presentation to the class.

b)Maximum time for presentation: 30 minutes.

c)Prepare for a 15-20 minutes presentation with Powerpoint slides on the assigned topic. Leave 5 minutes for questions and discussions.

d)Give the instructor a handout of Powerpoint slides, 6 per pages, before the presentation

e)You will also be evaluated by the rest of the class. Make sure you do a good job.

f)Extra credit for a superb presentation, extra credit for asking relevant questions to the presenters.

Schedule of Presentations:

Group 1: On Windows 2000 Server

Group 2: On Network Printing

Group 3: On Linux

Group 4: On Novell Netware

Group 5: On CISCO Routers

Group 6: On Wireless LAN

Group 7: Blue Tooth

  1. Lab Exercise: Shown below

Class Participation:It is known that students vary in their willingness to ask questions in class and participate in class discussions. However, some level of interaction, (in-class) is required. A small portion of your grade will be based on class participation (5%).

Attendance:You are expected to attend all class sessions, arrive on time, and complete all reading assignments prior to class. f you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to catch up. For getting good grades, regular attendance is essential. Attendance sheets may be circulated when appropriate. A small portion of your grade will be based on attendance (5%).

Quizzes:12 Quizzes will be given during the course (one for each chapter and the final one on Windows 2000). Each quiz will be administered after a chapter is finished and before another chapter is started. The best of 10 quizzes will be taken into account. A portion of your grade will be based on quizzes (20%).

Assignment: The assignment must be turned in, hard copy only, on the date

shown on the Syllabus. It should be typed, edited and stapled. Late assignments will not be accepted. Assignments will not be accepted by e-mail etc. A small portion of your grade will be based on the assignment (5%).

Assignment 1 : A LAN solution for the ABC company (3-4 pages max.) Deliverable Date:Dec. 2nd

Design a solution for ABC company’s LAN. They may require data, voice, video, multimedia, imaging

applications (any or a combination from the list). Assume they have 50 users. The analysis should include:

  • Hardware (such as servers, clients, communication media etc.) and software (such as protocols and O/S etc.) solutions
  • Type of services/applications supported
  • Advantages/disadvantages Compare your solution to other solutions (Linux versus Windows versus Novell) in terms of cost, special requirements etc.
  • A conclusion on the future of your solution suggested (such as expandability, reliability etc).

Extra credit:It is optional.Details should be worked out with the instructor, 3-4 weeks prior to the end of the course. (Max. credit: 5%)

Incomplete:University policy states that a grade of “I” may be given only when a student is currently receiving a passing grade in the course. An incomplete is meant for hardship cases where you are unable to complete the course requirements due to circumstances beyond your control. It is not meant to accommodate students who decide that the work load is too heavy.Adequate evidence of such hardship must be presented when requesting an “I” grade.

Inappropriate Behavior. Inappropriate behavior distracts other students and interferes with their learning experience. Inappropriate behavior may include arriving late, leaving early, talking, surfing the net, and so on. Rude and inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Since it is my responsibility to provide an environment that is conducive to learning for everyone is the class, I will deduct points from the final grade of a student who chooses to repeatedly distract others. In particularly egregious cases, I will have the student permanently removed from the class.

Academic Irregularities and Students' Academic Grievances. Cheating, plagiarism, and unauthorized collaboration are unacceptable and subject to disciplinary actions. Plagiarism is turning in someone else's ideas work. Cheating is copying or giving your work to someone else. Such actions may include and "F" in the course and a letter of fact on your student record following the rules of the University and the College of Business.

TentativeSchedule of Classes

Date / Topic / Readings / Due
Jan. 15
Jan 15 / Course Introduction
Introduction to networks and data communications / Chapter 1
Jan.22
Jan. 22
Jan. 29 / Data and Signals
Media
Making Connections / Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Jan. 29
Feb. 5
Feb. 5
Feb 12 / Multiplexing
Errors
Exam 1: Chapters 1-4
Lab 1 / Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Exam time: 1 hour
Room 311
Feb. 12
Feb. 19 / PPT presentation
Lab 2 / Groups 1-3
Feb 19 / LAN: Basics / Chapter 7
Feb 26 / Lab 3
Feb. 26 / LAN: Internetworking / Chapter 8
Mar. 4 / Lab 4.
Mar. 4
Mar. 11 / LAN: Software/MAN/WAN
PPT Presentation / Chapters 9/10
Groups 4-6
Mar. 11
Mar. 15-19
Mar. 25 / Exam 2:Chapters 6-10
Spring Break
Lab 5 / Exam time: 1 hour
Room 311
Mar. 25
Apr.1
Apr. 1
Apr. 8
Apr. 8
Apr. 15
Apr. 15
Apr. 22
Apr. 22
Apr 29
Apr. 29
May 6 / Internet
Lab 6
Telecom
Lab 7
Security
Lab 8
Design and managemnet
PPT Presentation/Lab
Lab 9
Lab 10
Lab 11
Exam 3: Chapters 11-14 / Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapters 13
Chapter 14
Rest of the groups
7:00A.M.--9:45 P.M.
Room 311
Exam time: 1 hour / Assignment 1

Project report due

CIS 5394

LAB Exercises: You need to submit reports (1-2 pages) for each exercise detailing what you found, what worked, what did not work and your reasons, in case it did not work. It is a good practice to use screen shots. You must submit your report as a group . In most cases, you will watch the simulation exercise first and then repeat it on the system to see how it worked.

Possible topics intended to be covered are :

logging in exercise

2000 server and XP installations

Disk management exercises

File Allocation Table

NTFS

File System security

Administering user accounts, group accounts, group policies

Administering Print services

Deliverable Due Date: Dec. 2nd