This new course replaces both COMP 2658 and COMP 2665 and covers the basics of designing, supporting and managing computer networks. Learn all about network data communications systems, concepts and terminology. Understand communications systems, business networking requirements based on the Internet, and the hardware and software needed. Students will work in groups to design networks, understand LAN cabling issues, addressing, connectivity options, network monitoring and how to make use of troubleshooting techniques.Topics include; data communication, network protocols, protocol implementations, LAN switching, virtual LANs and wireless networking. Upon successful completion, participants will understand how to interconnect computers, have a basic understanding of LAN theory, network design and be prepared to move on to COMP 3821, Enterprise Network Design. As an added benefit, some topics in this course will help in the preparation for the CompTIA Network+ exam. This course consists of one face to face meeting each week, group work, a significant online component and home work. Prerequisites: COMP 1002

This hands-on course covers the theory, design and implementation of large scale and enterprise size networks. The functions and limitations of network layer protocols and design issues of the TCP/IP Network Layer protocol are discussed. This course focuses on the TCP/IP protocol; students learn how computers exchange data over the Internet and how network communication relates to network configuration and administration. Topics include: Selection criteria required to create, expand or improve a network, implementation of the TCP/IP protocol suite within a network and surrounding routing issues. Students will work in groups to study the theory and design of router operation, network performance, scalability and basic router security issues. Upon successful completion, participants will have an in-depth knowledge of TCP/IP, network masking; and how to plan and build a routed network. This course consists of one face to face meeting each week, group work, a significant online component and home work. Prerequisites: (COMP 2658 and COMP 2665) or COMP 2654

First level in a series of core Linux/Unix courses, designed to cover basic Linux/Unix concepts using the GNU/Linux operating system on the Intel platform. Topics include login procedures, the Linux/Unix shell, file and directory management, text editing, printing, e-mail, pipes and process control. Provides a solid foundation in a Linux/Unix environment. Prerequisites: COMP 1002

This hands-on course follows on from COMP 3821. Students work in teams to plan, install and administer a Microsoft Windows Server 2008, as part of a Windows server environment on PC network. Participants will gain an understanding of the best practices used in network server administration. Topics include: creating and maintaining users and groups, roaming profiles, DHCP, DNS, Virtual Private Network (VPN), Terminal Services, disk management, backups, print servers, group policies and Active Directory in the MS Windows Server 2008 environment. There is an overview of troubleshooting, performance monitoring and the fine-tuning of MS Windows Server 2008 for optimum performance. In addition this course provides some preparation for the MCSE exam 70-646. Upon successful completion students will be prepared to continue on to COMP 3701 Active Directory and COMP 3705 Applied Network Security. Prerequisite: COMP 3821 Enterprise Network Design with TCP.

This hands-on course follows on from COMP 3821 and introduces network security to those who already understand LAN design and TCP/IP networks. Students work in a lab environment to learn the concepts and technologies required to design and maintain secure computer networks. Topics include: risk analysis and security policy development, network protocols, architecture security, types of attacks and hacker techniques, authentication and encryption, Viruses, Worms and Trojans, and e-commerce security. There is an overview of firewalls; plus VPNs and IDS which are covered in greater depth in COMP 4707 -Applied Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and COMP 4708 -Applied Virtual Private Networks (VPN). Participants will use best practises and available tools to analyse traffic, and study attacks, plus understand how to protect networks against intrusions and denial of service situations. As a side benefit, many of the Security+ domains are covered for preparation towards the CompTIA Security+ certification. Prerequisites: COMP 2765 and COMP 3700 and COMP 3821

This hands-on course was designed to provide students with the ability to create and manage enterprise level mixed networks using virtual machines. Students who already understand;  LAN design, TCP, Linux, Microsoft Windows Server technologies, and Network Security will work in teams to create and manage virtual infrastructures in a multi-OS environment. Topics include: cloning, virtual networking, automation and post provisioning, virtual memory and swap considerations, resource pools, I/O considerations and optimization, baselining and best practices. Group discussions and projects start from the planning stage, with virtual networking, to the design stage of infrastructure planning using MS Visio. Students will learn best practices: snapshot management and uses, template creation and deployment, timing considerations, backup and disaster recovery strategies, SAN and storage management. Documentation, reporting template creation, monitoring and alert escalation are also discussed. The goal of this course is the rapid deployment of modular and scalable appliances, applications and services (firewalls, web servers, database servers, file servers, messaging servers). Labs and exercises use virtual machines with vendor and open source solutions.   Upon successful completion, participants will understand how to use best practices with virtual environments to build secure, enterprise level mixed networks. Prerequisites: COMP 2765, COMP 3821, COMP 3700, and COMP 3705. This is the final course in the Applied Network Administration and Design Associate Certificate. Students must have completed all core courses plus electives.

CompTIA A+ is a vendor independent industry certification aimed at technicians who work in PC Support or Help Desk. Students learn to perform tasks such as: component installation, software configuration, diagnosing problems, preventive maintenance and basic networking. This hands-on course is aimed at School of Computing students and prepares them to challenge two current CompTIA certification exams which are separate from BCIT credit. In order to be awarded the A+ designation, students must pass both CompTIA `A+ Essentials? and `A+ Practical Application' exams which are delivered through third parties, at an additional cost. The A+ designation is recognised by industry as validation for professional computer support skills with current PC hardware components and MS Windows operating systems. Prerequisite: COMP 1002 or equivalent knowledge of MS Windows.

This hands-on, introductory course is for information technology students who want to learn how to develop and implement an IT project plan. Project Management (PM) discipline, best practices and decisions apply to various IT sectors including: Web Development, Databases and Networking. Topics include: identifying project stakeholders and defining roles and responsibilities of the team, defining scope, devising risks and quality plans, mapping-out a schedule, determining a budget and defining a communication strategy. Participants use MS Project 2010 and learn techniques to help them deliver IT projects on time, on budget and within the original project scope. Students receive an overview of common PM concepts and MS Project software. They are prepared to move on to COMP 1285 Using MS Project which goes into much greater depth in the use of the MS Project application. Successful participants are encouraged to learn more about industry standards and Project Management Institute (PMI) certifications. Prerequisites: COMP 1002

This course is the second level in a series of core Linux/Unix courses, and introduces system administration using the GNU/Linux operating system. Topics include custom installation, file system, software, service, and local account management under Linux/Unix. Fundamental system administration principles and basic security concepts are also covered. Prerequisites: COMP 2765

This course is the third level in a series of core Linux/Unix courses, which builds on the fundamentals covered in the previous courses to automate tasks and develop administrative tools using shell scripts. Shells covered include Bourne, Korn, and C shells, with emphasis on the Bourne shell. Topics include structured shell scripts, and an overview of sed, awk, and Perl. Please note: *This course will be offered once each year in the fall term.* Prerequisites: COMP 2770

This fast track, six-week course follows on from COMP 3821 and is aimed that students who already understand LAN theory, data communication, large scale network design and TCP. Participants focus on a Network Administrators perspective to design and set-up wireless networking systems. Beginning with a study of wireless LAN hardware and software components, the focus is on wireless network planning, WAN Design models, installation and management. Topics include: radio frequency (RF) technologies, spread spectrum technologies, antenna concepts, 802.11x wireless regulations, standards and organizations, 802.11x protocols and devices, network architecture and implementation. Wireless LAN security, WEP, WPA, WPA2, TKIP, FSK implementation and troubleshooting will be discussed. Successful participants will be prepared to write the Certified Wireless Network Administration (CWNA), PW0-104 Exam which is part of the CWNP, Certified Wireless Network Professional series. These exams are available through third parties for additional fees. Students learn use tools to perform site surveys and implement a wireless network design in the lab. Prerequisites: COMP 3821

This hands-on course continues from COMP 3700 MS Windows Server 2008 Administration. Students plan, implement and troubleshot a Microsoft Windows 2008 Active Directory Infrastructure on a PC network. Participants work in labs that focus on the directory service environment to increase efficiency and minimize administrative load. Topics include: forest, tree, domain and organization unit structure, Domain Name System (DNS), site topology and replication, domain administration and delegation, Group Policy Object development and implementation. In addition this course provides preparation for MCSE exam 70-640. Upon successful completion students will have an understanding of how to deploy a secure MS Windows 2008 Active Directory environment. Prerequisite: COMP 3700 MS Windows Server 2008 Administration.

Shell scripting is a powerful way to automate and control systems, programs and files. This hands-on course is aimed at two main audiences; 1) Administrators of Networks and Databases will learn how to create and use scripts to automate, monitor tasks and perform routine maintenance. 2) Software developers will learn to use scripts for building, updating and testing programs with objects, for more rapid application development. Scripts may be applied to solve problems and reduce effort, in all aspects of Windows computing. Topics cover the three major shell scripting technologies in Windows: Command Line, Windows Script Host, and Windows Powershell, with primary emphasis on the latter. Participants will learn how to reduce effort through automation by creating both scheduled and interactive scripts. Prerequisites: COMP 1409 or COMP 1630 or COMP 3700

This intensive 2 day workshop follows on from COMP 3705 and allows students to explore Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and to detect attacks that get past firewalls. The focus of this hands-on workshop is to configure and install an IDS, set-up email alerts and design useful policies to deal with false-positives and ongoing maintenance. Topics will also include heuristic, anomaly, signature and misuse detection systems and how to choose the best solutions. Students will examine various intrusions and discuss how to analyze logs for patterns. The goal of this workshop is to provide network administrators with a higher level understanding of the most common IDS tools and methodolgies available for network security. Prerequisites: COMP 3705

This intensive 2 day workshop follows on from COMP 3705 and allows students to explore Virtual Private Networks (VPN) as another measure to provide network security. The focus of this hands-on workshop is to design, implement and maintain a VPN. Topics will also include L2TP, PPTP and IPSec. Students will examine various tunneling protocols, authentication and encryption mechanisms. There is a group project setting up site-to site as well as remote access, providing network administrators with a functional understanding of the role of VPNs in network security. Prerequisites: COMP 3705