- Communications Networks and Services - Systems Architecture

The objective of this course is to go deeper and complement the knowledge adquired in the Access Networks and Shared Media, and Communications Networks and Services courses by means of communication protocol development and the configuration of network equipment. This course has been designed with a strong applied component. The student should meet the following specific objectives: - Know the practical implications of developing network and link layer protocols. - Know the configuration requirements and go deep into the knowledge of intra-domain routing protocols. - Develop a simple network stack. - Design and deploy a communications network composed by multiple heterogeneous systems. - Configure intra-domain routing protocols in the deployed network. - Validate the correct operation of the network deployed and configured previously. Additionally, it is expected that the student will be acquire the following: - An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, statistics, science, telecommunication technologies and engineering. - An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems - An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice. - Ability to access technical literature and understand it.

CB1: Students have demonstrated possession and understanding of knowledge in an area of study that builds on the foundation of general secondary education, and is usually at a level that, while relying on advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting edge of their field of study CB2: Students are able to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the competences usually demonstrated through the development and defence of arguments and problem solving within their field of study. CG1: Ability to write, develop and sign projects in the area of telecommunications engineering aimed at the design, development and utilization of telecommunications and electronic networks, services and applications, in accordance with the competences acquired in the degree program, as set out in Section 5 of the corresponding mandate. CG11: Basic concepts on the use and programming of computers, operating systems, databases and IT programs with engineering applications. ECRT1: Ability to learn and acquire autonomously the requisite new knowledge for the design, development and utilization of telecommunication systems and services. ECRT12: Knowledge and use of the concepts of network architecture, protocol and communications interfaces. ECRT13: Ability to differentiate the concepts of network access and transport, circuit switching and packet switching networks, fixed and mobile networks as well as systems and applications of distributed networks, voice services, audio, data, video and interactive services and multimedia. ETEGT1: Ability to construct, develop and manage telecommunication networks, services, processes and applications, such as systems for capture, transport, representation, processing, storage, multimedia information presentation and management, from the point of view of telematics systems. ETEGT2: Capacity to apply techniques on which telematics networks, services and applications are based. These include systems for management, signaling and switching, routing, security (cryptographic protocols, tunneling, firewalls, payment mechanisms, authentication and content protection), traffic engineering (graph theory, queuing theory and tele-traffic). tarification and service reliability and quality, in fixed, mobile, personal, local or long distance environments, with different bandwidths, including telephone and data. ETEGT3: Ability to construct, develop and manage telematics services using analytical planning, sizing and analysis tools. ETEGT4: Ability to describe, program, validate and optimize communication protocols and interfaces at different levels in a network architecture. ETEGT5: Ability to follow transmission, switching and process technological progress to improve telematics networks and services. ETEGT6: Ability to design network architectures and telematics services. RA1: Knowledge and Understanding.  Knowledge and understanding of the general fundamentals of engineering, scientific and mathematical principles, as well as those of their branch or specialty, including some knowledge at the forefront of their field. RA3: Design. Graduates will have the ability to make engineering designs according to their level of knowledge and understanding, working as a team. Design encompasses devices, processes, methods and objects, and specifications that are broader than strictly technical, including social awareness, health and safety, environmental and commercial considerations. RA4: Research. Graduates will be able to use appropriate methods to carry out detailed research and studies of technical aspects, commensurate with their level of knowledge. The research involves bibliographic searches, design and execution of experiments, interpretation of data, selection of the best proposal and computer simulation. May require consultation of databases, standards and security procedures. RA5: Applications. Graduates will have the ability to apply their knowledge and understanding to solve problems, conduct research, and design engineering devices or processes. These skills include knowledge, use and limitations of materials, computer models, process engineering, equipment, practical work, technical literature and information sources. They must be aware of all the implications of engineering practice: ethical, environmental, commercial and industrial.

This is a communication networks course, which is based on Internet technologies, and covers the development and configuration of communication protocols, with a strong practical component. The program is divided in two parts: 1. Development of a RIPv2 daemon over an UDP/IPv4/ARP/Ethernet protocol stack: 1.1. Review of IPv4 routing. 1.2. Development of an ARP client. 1.3. Development of an IPv4 networking layer. 1.4. Development of an UDP transport layer. 1.5. Development of a RIPv2 daemon. 2. Configuration of intra-domain routing protocols: 2.1. Configuration of static routing. 2.2. Configuration of RIP routing. 2.3. Configuration of OSPF routing. 2.4. Configuration of RIP+OSPF routing.

The teaching methodology includes: (1) Theoretical classes, that introduce or review the topics related to the program objectives. This knowledge is later consolidated by means of classes in the laboratory. (2) Laboratory classes, where students -- grouped in different teams -- will carry out complex configurations on network nodes and end systems. The correct operation of the developments and applied configurations is also validated, by means of sniffers and network analysis tools.