Bachelor in Computer Engineering

Study Computer Engineering at La Salle and become a professional with the abilities to work with the latest technologies and new products, designing, implementing and maintaining computer systems for any sector of economic activity

Network Management and Planning

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Description: 

The course revolves around the main topic next-generation Data Centers (DCs) and all the network and systems technologies behind them, in which manufacturers and integrators are strongly investing. In addition, the course includes a practical laboratory component in which students develop a real solution based on one of the technologies or processes commonly found in a data center.

The course is mainly based on expert talks addressing topics related to data centers. Therefore, students will have direct contact with industry and will update their knowledge on the most cutting-edge technologies currently available. There will be no traditional lectures nor a final exam (provided the requirements to waive it are met).

Type Subject
Optativa
Semester
Second
Credits
2.00

Titular Professors

Ramon Martín de Pozuelo Genís
Membre
Previous Knowledge: 

To be able to follow the course at an appropriate pace, it is recommended to have previously taken and passed the subjects Local Area Networks (49063 or 49A63) and Interconnection of Data Networks (GI003 or GIA03). It may also be helpful to have taken and passed Networking Laboratory (TL002) and Computer Network Technologies (CCNA) (TL003).

Objectives: 

The learning outcomes of this subject are:

  1. To distinguish the characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and main applications of circuit-switching and packet-switching strategies.
  2. To understand the concept of Quality of Service (QoS) in networks and its application to voice, data, video, etc.
    • To apply the concept of QoS to a data center-type network
  3. To understand routing concepts and network planning and dimensioning strategies.
    • To master new concepts and technologies applicable to data centers.
    • To understand routing possibilities within a data center and apply them according to requirements.
    • To learn how to plan the design of a data center and become familiar with its life cycle.
    • To correctly dimension a data center according to its needs (internal and external connections).
  4. To master the design, configuration, and deployment of data network equipment.
    • To understand the design differences between campus networks and data center networks.
    • To learn the main functional design blocks of a data center.
    • To understand the complexity of configurations required in a data center.
    • To know the different types of devices required in a data center.

Contents: 

The course is divided into two clearly differentiated parts:

  • Technologies in a Data Center (DC). Technologies, architectures, and processes in a data center, taught through external expert lectures. Based on the acquired knowledge, a data center design will be carried out.
  • Network virtualization, automation, and programmability. Concepts and frameworks for device programming delivered in workshop (laboratory) format.

 

The course syllabus is structured as follows:

BLOCK 1. Data Center Design

1.1. Networks

1.2. Cloud systems

1.3. Storage systems

1.4. Virtualization

1.5. Specific solutions

1.6. Firewalls and security systems

 

BLOCK 2. SDN & DevOps

2.1. Introduction to SDN & DevOps

2.2. Automation solutions for network management

 

To reinforce theoretical content, the following practical activities are included:

  • Data center design project
  • VMware laboratory session
  • DevOps & SDN laboratory session

Methodology: 

The course Network Management and Planning includes the following learning activities:

  • External expert lectures. Lectures given by professionals in the data center sector, covering topics such as data center networks and architectures, security, storage, virtualization, and network programmability and automation.
  • Practical Case Study. Based on the knowledge acquired from the lectures and other information sources, students design a data center meeting specific requirements. The work is carried out in groups of two students and must be defended to the professor and classmates.
  • Network programmability workshop. A guest company conducts workshops to teach the fundamentals of network programmability through practical exercises.

Evaluation: 

The final grade consists of four components:

A. Attendance and participation in classes with external lectures – 10%

B. Technical report (data center design) – 40%

C. Presentation of the practical case – 20%

D. SDN & DevOps workshop – 30%

Evaluation Criteria: 

The final grade for the course is calculated using the following formula:

Final_Grade = 10% · A + 40% · B + 20% · C + 30% · D


 

Considerations

  • In order to calculate the Final_Grade, the minimum grade for each component must be 4 out of 10.
  • There is no midterm exam or June exam. Students who obtain less than 4 in any component or who do not achieve a Final_Grade of at least 5 must take the final exam covering the entire course during the extraordinary call (July).

Basic Bibliography: 

One of the most relevant parts of the course is the self-learning component, in which students focus on searching for information following the guidelines provided by the different speakers in their talks. Some of the key concepts covered include:

  • Network architectures in data centers
  • Communication technologies in data centers
  • Storage technologies in data centers
  • Service provisioning in data centers
  • Cloud computing and virtualization
  • Data center interconnection
  • Data center security

Additional Material: 

Additional bibliography will be provided by the speakers themselves in each of their presentations.