COMM 439 - Business Telecommunications

Business telecommunications is one of the fastest growing areas in industry today. The use of local- and wide-area networks has become common place. Data communications technology provides the necessary infrastructure for client-server architecture, the internet, intranets and extranets, groupware, and any e-business applications.

The course begins with an introduction to the data communications concepts and technologies, followed by a technical review of the network architectures, protocols and services, including LANs, WANs, wireless networks and internetworking. We then turn to look at some issues relating to network planning and development, network security and management.

Students will be involved in some hands-on projects including the setting up of a small PC LAN using Microsoft Windows Server, Linux Server, VMWare and some Open Source Software, and the installation of a firewall and VPN for connecting the PC LAN to the Internet. These projects also provide an opportunity for students to learn and discuss the issues concerning the management and security control of organizational network resources.

Learning objectives

Upon completing this course, students will be able to:

• explain the technologies underlying data communications and discuss the ways they can help organizations to be more effective, efficient, and competitive.
• assess the security and risks aspects of data communications and recommend the ways to conduct secure transactions over communication networks.

Credit will be granted for only one of COMM 439 and CPSC 317.

Prerequisite: COMM 335.