NETWORK AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL - 2020/1

Module code: EEEM023

Module Overview





Expected prior learning:  (1) Basic knowledge of the functioning of the Internet. Students might have acquired this through study of EEE3007-Data and Internet Working (6-din).  (2) Working knowledge of Java, C or C++.




Module purpose:  This module covers both basic and advanced management/control principles and technologies for modern computer and communication networks.





 

Module provider

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Module Leader

WANG Ning (Elec Elec En)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 117

Lecture Hours: 33

Laboratory Hours: 24

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes the following.

Network Management Models and Technologies (6 hours)

Network and service management and control principles. The management functional areas. Layered management architectures.

The manager-agent model: managed objects, structure of management information, the management information base, management services and protocols, communication and awareness principles. 

Detailed examination of the relevant characteristics and comparison of (1) Internet Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and (2) OSI Systems Management (OSI-SM) and CMIS/P. Command-Line Interface (CLI)-based management and NetConf.

Traffic Engineering (6 hours)

Introduction to Traffic Engineering (TE), configuration/provisioning cycle, offline/dynamic TE.  Expected utilisation optimisation, load balancing.  The limitations of shortest-path routing.  MPLS-based TE through explicit paths.  IP-based TE through link weight setting. Content based traffic engineering.

Inter-domain Internet structure.  Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) principles.  Inbound and Outbound TE, and how BGP can be used to influence them. 

 QoS management and network measurement (6 hours)

 Basic concepts in service management, including service level agreement/specification, service subscription and invocation. Quality of Service management and provisioning strategies and approaches.

 Introduction, the IETF IPPM framework, commonly used network measurement tools, deep packet inspection (DPI), dealing with measured results.

 Fault Management and security management (6 hours)

 Characteristics of operational network failures, IP and MPLS fast reroute (FRR) mechanisms, resilience-aware traffic control, routing disruption avoidance, fault management in BGP configuration.

 Network intrusion and denial of services (DoS) overview, classification of DoS attacks, IP spoofing, BGP prefix hijacking, network address translation (NAT) and firewalls.

Energy management and Policy based network management [3 hours]

Introduction to the emerging network management paradigms for network energy efficiency and policy based network management (PBNM).

New Trends – Software Defined Networking and Network Function Virtualisation (3 hours) [NW]

Separation of control and data planes, introduction to software defined networks (SDN) and network function virtualisation (NFV).

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Coursework ASSIGNMENT 20
Examination EXAMINATION - 2HRS 80

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable: students failing a unit of assessment resit the assessment in its original format.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy for this module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the learning outcomes.  The exam will assess students’ knowledge and assimilation of the concepts and details of the algorithms and protocols associated with network and service management technologies, as covered in the module.

 

Thus the summative assessment for this module consists of the following:

·         2-hour, closed-book written examination

·         Programming based assignment, assessed by written technical report to be returned by week 10.

 

Any deadline given here is indicative. For confirmation of exact date and time, please check the Departmental assessment calendar issued to you.

 

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will receive formative assessment / feedback in the following ways.

1.    During lectures and labs, by informal question and answer sessions.

2.    By means of unassessed tutorial problem sheets (these will be discussed in the revision class, and answers/model solutions will be made available to the students).

Module aims

  • This module aims to introduce and explain in some depth the principles, functions, frameworks and approaches used for the management and control of telecommunications and packet networks and services, including network configuration for resource optimisation and service fulfilment.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
1 Explain network and service management/control principles, information models and protocols.
2 Apply and assess techniques, mechanisms and protocols used for resource optimisation in intra- and inter-domain traffic engineering.
3 Apply and assess fault management and security management techniques for respectively dealing with specific failure and denial of service attack scenarios.
4 Explain advanced network and service management paradigms including Quality of Services, energy-aware management and policy based network management (PBNM).

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning





The learning and teaching strategy is designed to provide students with the knowledge and understanding defined in the module learning outcomes.  Students will develop their cognitive skills by developing a clear understanding of the algorithmic approach to the course material, through demonstration of the algorithms in lectures and by self-practice of the algorithms.

Learning and teaching methods include the following:


  • Lectures: 30 hours (3 hrs per week x 10 weeks)

  • Discussion of tutorial problem sheets: 3 hrs (in Week 11)

  • Programing assignment with lab based support sessions.



 





 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: EEEM023

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Satellite Communications Engineering MSc 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering MSc 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Communications Networks and Software MSc 2 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
5G and Future Generation Communication Systems MSc 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Mobile and Satellite Communications MSc 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Computer and Internet Engineering MEng 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Communication Systems MEng 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering with Communications MEng 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering with Audio-Visual Systems MEng 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems MEng 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering MEng 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering with Professional Postgraduate Year MSc 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.