Engineering Institute of Technology

Unit Description and General Aims

The objective in presenting this unit is to provide students with detailed knowledge of communication systems particularly in regard to industrial automation systems , with a focus on the ubiquitous Ethernet and TCP/IP. The subject matter covered in this unit is intended to give students a thorough and systematic overview of communication technologies, devices, and protocols, allowing them to know not only how these systems work, but also be aware of how they are designed, in order to ensure reliable, safe, and secure implementation.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this Unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Describe the OSI model and the TCP/IP implementation protocol stack.

2. Compare the protocol data units, addressing schemes, functions and protocols of each layer.

3. Classify and describe the principles of operation of switches, routers, and firewalls in the context of the OSI model.

4. Solve, design, and develop a switch network for a given case study.

5. Design and develop a routed network for a given case study.

6. Design a secure network using security protocols, devices, and best practice standards.

Professional Development

Completing this unit may add to students professional development/competencies by:

1. Fostering personal and professional skills and attributes in order to:

   1. Conduct work in a professionally diligent, accountable and ethical manner.

   2. Effectively use oral and written communication in personal and professional domains.

   3. Foster applicable creative thinking, critical thinking and problem solving skills.

   4. Develop initiative and engagement in lifelong learning and professional development.

   5. Enhance collaboration outcomes and performance in dynamic team roles.

   6. Effectively plan, organise, self-manage and manage others.

   7. Professionally utilise and manage information.

   8. Enhance technologist literacy and apply contextualised technologist skills.

2. Enhance investigatory and research capabilities in order to:

   1. Develop an understanding of systematic, fundamental scientific, mathematic principles, numerical analysis techniques and statistics applicable to technologists.

   2. Access, evaluate and analyse information on technologist processes, procedures, investigations and the discernment of technologist knowledge development.

   3. Foster an in-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge, computer science, engineering design practice and contextual factors applicable to technologists.

   4. Solve basic and open-ended engineering technologist problems.

   5. Understand the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds associated with sustainable engineering practice.

3. Develop engineering application abilities in order to:

   1. Apply established engineering methods to broadly-defined technologist problem solving.

   2. Apply engineering technologist techniques, tool and resources.

   3. Apply systematic technologist synthesis and design processes.

   4. Systematically conduct and manage technologist projects, work assignments, testing and experimentation.

Engineers Australia

The Australian Engineering Stage 1 Competency Standards for Engineering Technologists, approved as of 2013. This table is referenced in the mapping of graduate attributes to learning outcomes and via the learning outcomes to student assessment.

Graduate Attributes

Successfully completing this Unit will contribute to the recognition of attainment of the following graduate attributes aligned to the AQF Level 7 criteria, Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Engineering Technologists and the Sydney Accord:

Unit Competency and Learning Outcome Map

This table details the mapping of the unit graduate attributes to the unit learning outcomes and the Australian Engineering Stage 1 Competency Standards for the Engineering Technologist.

Student assessment

Prescribed and Recommended Readings

Textbook

N/a

Reference

Parziale, L, Britt, DT, Davis, C, Forrester, J, Liu, W, Matthews, C, Rosselot, N 2007, TCP/IP Tutorial andTechnical Overview, 8th edn, IBM Redbooks, ISBN 0738494682. Online version available at:

http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/gg243376.pdf

Dietrich, R 2004, Industrial Ethernet - From the Office to the Machine - World Wide, HARTING Electric GmbH & Co. Online version available at: http://www.harting.com/fileadmin/harting/documents/lg/hartingusa/news/hotlink/harting_indus trial_ethernet_handbook.pdf

Journal, website

N/a

Notes and Reference texts

IDC notes and Reference texts as advised. Other material advised during the lectures Knovel library: http://app.knovel.com

Unit Content

One topic is delivered per contact week, with the exception of part-time 24-week units, where one topic is delivered every two weeks.

Topic 1

OSI Model and the TCP/IP protocol suite

1. The Open System Interconnection (OSI) model

2. The Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP protocol suite)

3. Protocol data units (PDUs), addressing schemes, TCP/IP layers functions and protocols

Topics 2 and 3

Physical and Data link layers

1. Physical layer (functions, media (cable and wireless) encoding protocols)

2. Fiber optic (construction characteristics)

3. Data link layer (PDU, addressing scheme, functions and protocols)

4. Switching technology (address table, Virtual LAN (VLAN))

5. Wireless technologies

Topics 4 and 5

Network layer

1. Network layer (functions, protocol data unit, addressing scheme)

2. Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)

3. IP packets (IPv4 addressing, header, subnet masking, prefix notation, private addresses)

4. IP addressing, Address Resolution Protocol, Internet Control Message Protocol

5. Routing (tables, manual and dynamic convergence)

6. Routing protocols (RIP, OSPF, EIGRP)

7. Routing tables, default gateways

8. Security – Network Address Translation (NAT), Port Forwarding, firewalls

Topics 6 and 7

Transport Layer and Firewalls

1. Transport layer (protocol data unit, addressing scheme, functions)

2. UDP and TCP (characteristics and applications)

3. Access Control Lists

4. Firewalls (security threats, firewall principles and applications)

5. Functional design specification (key elements and their impact on the project)

Topics 8, 9, and 10

Security

1. Security Principles (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability)

2. Cryptosystems (hash functions, authentication, encryption)

3. Authentication, Authorization, Accounting (AAA)

4. Intrusion Detection (characteristics, types, attack responses)

5. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

6. Wireless security

7. Security planning, implementation, and documentation

Topic 11

Secure SCADA systems

1. International standards and best practices.

2. Evaluation, audit checks, surveys, ‘red’ teams

3. Risk management, strategies, defense-in-depth

Topic 12

Unit Review

In the final week students will have an opportunity to review the contents covered so far. Opportunity will be provided for a review of student work and to clarify any outstanding issues. Instructors/facilitators may choose to cover a specialized topic if applicable to that cohort.