NAD710

Introduction to Networks - Using Linux

Professor:

NAD710 is taught by Raymond Chan (Fall 2008).

Weekly Outline

See the Fall 2008 NAD710 Weekly Schedule for specific dates and topics.

Subject Description

This subject is an introduction to TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) as it is implemented, configured and used in a Linux environment. Students will learn fundamental TCP/IP principles and basic Linux network configurations.

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Describe basic TCP/IP Networks using the layered network model
• Discuss IPv6 and the future of IP
• Configure a TCP/IP network
• Understand the difference between hubs, routers and switches
• Install and Configure SAMBA
• Setup a Nameserver using BIND
• Use basic Linux networking commands
• Understand routing and routing protocols
• Understand the 802 protocols and their relationship to networking
• Configure an NFS server

Topic Outline

Overview of TCP/IP - 10%

• TCP/IP Layer Model (OSI and DOD)
• UDP and TCP protocols
• Network addresses and subnet masks
• Using subnets to further divide a network
• Reducing network traffic by using switches or routers

Installing networking hardware - 10%

• The network interface card (NIC)
• The difference between ethernet, FDDI, and token ring NIC
• Network drivers and loadable kernel modules

Basic TCP/IP Networking - 20%

• Using ifconfig, route, netstat, ping, traceroute, nslookup, dig, and ip to troubleshoot networks
• Using a network protocol analyzer (wireshark) to diagnose problems
• Using a port scanner (nmap) to find open ports on your machine
• Using a network monitor to visually check on its status

Configuring a TCP/IP network - 15%

• Assigning IP addresses
• Connnecting the machines
• Network configuration
• Testing/Debugging the network
• Securing the network
• Setting static and dynamic route

Setting up a Nameserver - 10%

• Introduction to BIND
• Internet Domain Namespace
• Name servers and resolves
• Forward and reverse lookup zones
• Setup, configure and maintain an authoritative name server for a registered domain

Connecting Windows to Linux - 20%

• Windows and Server Message Block (SMB) Protocol
• Setup a SAMBA server
• Network File System (NFS), its strengths and weaknesses
• NFS server configuration - the exports file

Security of Network Applications - 10%

• POP3, FTP and telnet - why they are not secure
• APOP, SSH and SSL - why they are more secure
• Exploiting the weakness of TCP and Wireless

IPv6 and the future of Networking - 5%

• IPv6 Header
• IPv6 Address
• Extension Headers
• Transition to IPv6

Modes of Instruction

2 hours of interactive lecture per week and 2 hours lab time per week

Prescribed Text

None specific to this course but our Seneca library has access to many on-line texts

Reference Material

Web links given out during course

Supplies

Having your own laptop and/or desktop PC will help. M ost likely at least a 4GB usb key will also be useful

Promotion Policy

To obtain a credit in this subject, a student must

• Achieve a grade of 55% or better on the final exam
• Satisfactorily complete all assignments
• Achieve a weighted average of 55% or better for the tests and final exam
• Achieve a grade of 55% or better on the overall course

Modes of Evaluation

• 1 final exam worth 40%
• 1 midterm test worth 30%
• 10 labs worth 10%
• 1 major project worth 20%
  • pre-report worth 5%
  • in-report worth 5%
  • post-report worth 10%

Resources

• 2008 Fall Instructor Web Page
• Freenode IRC network
• Course Web Page
• Questions which you may want to know the answers
• Add you NAD710 Questions Here
• NIST Special Publications