MODULE DETAILS

Module 17: Practical Wireless Ethernet and TCP/IP Networking

Nominal duration: 3 weeks (36 hours total time commitment)

This time commitment includes the preparation reading, attendance at each webinar (1 hour plus 15-30 minutes for discussion), and the time necessary to complete the assignments and further study.

MODULE PURPOSE

This module covers the ability to construct, configure and troubleshoot wired and wireless Ethernet networks suitable for industrial control applications.

PRE-REQUISITES MODULE, UNITS /

CO-REQUISITES

Module 16

ASSESSMENT STRATEGY

To evaluate the achievement of the learning outcomes; written assignments, group projects and practical exercises are set.

SUMMARY OF LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Design and troubleshoot Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) LANs

2. Perform configuration and troubleshooting for TCP/IP

3. Examine wireless and antenna fundamentals

4. Perform configuration and troubleshooting for Wi-Fi

(IEEE 802.11) WLANs

5. Examine wireless industrial automation standards and their application

Learning Outcome 1

Design and troubleshoot Ethernet (IEEE803.3) LANs

Assessment Criteria

1.1

Perform capture and analysis of Ethernet headers

1.2

Demonstrate the set-up of a VLAN on an IEEE

802.1p/Q-compliant switch

1.3

Perform verification or modification of speed and duplex settings for Ethernet NICs

1.4

Examine the concepts of: (a) CSMA/CD

(b) Full duplex

(c) Auto-negotiation

(d) Determinism

Learning Outcome 2

Perform configuration and troubleshooting for TCP/IP

Assessment Criteria

2.1

Perform configuration of an IPv4 host, specifically in terms of:

(a) IP address

(b) Subnet mask

(c) Default gateway

2.2

Outline the basics of IPv4 routing, specifically the issues of:

(a) NetID (b) HostID

(c) Subnet masks

(d) Default gateways

(e) Routing tables

2.3

Outline the concept of IPv4 private networks, specifically:

(a) Private IP addresses

(b) NAT

(c) IP masquerading

(d) Port forwarding

2.4

Compare TCP and UDP

2.5

Perform capture and analysis of the following protocol headers:

(a) IPv4, IPv6 (b) ICMP

(c) ARP (d) TCP (e) UDP

2.6

Perform capture and verification of TCP connections between a client and a server

2.7

Apply DOS- and Windows based diagnostic utilities for the purpose of:

(a) IP address scanning (b) TCP port scanning (c) Route tracing.

Learning Outcome 3

Examine wireless and antenna fundamentals

Assessment Criteria

3.1

Examine the concepts of:

(a) Frequency bands and allocations

(b) ISM bands

(c) Phase-shift modulation techniques

(d) Spread-spectrum techniques

3.2

Perform basic calculations involving dB (decibels)

3.3

Examine the antenna-related concepts of: (a) Isotropic antennas

(b) Gain

(c) Beam width

3.4

Select appropriate antennas for wireless applications

Learning Outcome 4

Perform configuration and troubleshooting for Wi-Fi

(IEEE 802.11) WLANs

Assessment Criteria

4.1

Perform basic set-up (excluding security parameters) on an industrial IEEE802.11 Access Point (AP)

4.2

Compare the following Wi-Fi variants: (a) IEEE802.11b

(b) IEEE802.11a (c) IEEE802.11g (d) IEEE802.11n in terms of:

(i) Data rate

(ii) Physical range

(iii) Channel separation requirements

(iv) Interoperability

4.3

Examine the concepts of: (a) BSSIDs and SSIDs

(b) Bridging (c) Roaming (d) CSMA/CA

4.4

Examine the following security concepts for WLANs: (a) AES encryption

(b) RADIUS Authentication

(c) PSK Authentication

4.5

Outline the procedures followed during a wireless

Site Survey

Learning Outcome 5

Examine wireless industrial automation standards and their application

5.1

Examine and discuss Wireless HART(IEEE802.15.4)

5.2

Examine and discuss ISA100.11a

Delivery mode

A combination of asynchronous and synchronous e-learning delivery comprising a judicious mix of interactive online web conferencing, simulation (virtual labs) software, remote online labs, online videos, PowerPoint slides, notes, reading and study materials (in PDF, HTML and Word format) accessed through the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS).