DC31 04 Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks in the Organisation (Microsoft)
Assessment exemplars for Higher National Units
D3C1 04 Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks in the Organisation (Microsoft)
1st edition September 2000
Price: £15.00
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Published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority
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© Scottish Qualifications Authority 2000
Contents
1Introduction
2Summary of unit
3Exemplar assessments
SQA Assessment exemplars for Higher National Units
DC31 04 Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks in the Organisation (Microsoft)
1Introduction
This pack supplements the original unit specification. It aims to provide examples of assessments that are valid, reliable and practicable.
The examples provided are intended for guidance only. They may be used in a variety of ways including, for example:
to exemplify the standard expected of candidates achieving the unit ie as a benchmark
to help you develop your own assessments for the unit
to help you develop valid and practicable assessments for other units in the same curricular area
- to give you new ideas
as a staff development tool.
It is very important that you note that using assessments based on these examples does not automatically guarantee successful external moderation. It is still your responsibility to make sure that all the appropriate internal quality assurance procedures are satisfactorily completed. For example, a valid, effective and approved internal moderation system must be in use at your centre.
Before using this material, you might find it useful to look at some other publications, in particular:
Guide to Assessment and Quality Assurance for Colleges of Further Education (A0841)
- Guidance on Special Assessment and Certification Arrangements for Candidates with Special Needs and Candidates whose First Language is not English (A0645).
Details of these and other SQA publications are available in the SQA Information catalogue, updated and printed quarterly (tel 0141 242 2168 to obtain a copy). The SQA Information catalogue also lists all published HN Exemplar assessments. You could also visit our website at
A free copy of this pack is available to all SQA centres. Additional copies can be obtained, price £15.00 from the Sales Section, Scottish Qualifications Authority, 24 Douglas Street, Glasgow
G2 7NQ (tel: 0141 242 2168 or fax 0141 242 2123).
2Summary of unit
Target audience and entry requirements
This unit is designed as part of the Advanced Certificate in Networking (Microsoft) and should be read in conjunction with the notes for that group award. Note that the exemplars provided cover only those parts of the unit not assessed by observation of the Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) course material.
Contextualisation
The unit is delivered in conjunction with D3BY 04 Network Technology (Microsoft), D3C0 04 Multi User Network Systems Administration (Microsoft) and D3C0 04 Stand Alone Computer System Support (Microsoft). As this unit is assessed partially using the MOC material and since this does not map directly to individual units a list of the topics covered in the Microsoft courses is provided in the course notes to allow cross referencing.
Content
Outcome 1
This outcome is designed to test the candidates' ability to relate raw theory to practical situations in particular the connections involved in ‘organic’ networks of multiple operating environments.
Outcome 2
This outcome tests the candidates' ability to configure a server for use in an Internet or Intranet environment. The practical section (PCs (a) and (b)) is part of the MOC material and PC (c) is covered in Written Submission 5.
Outcome 3
This outcome is concerned with the detection of faults and the generation of performance statistics of a server. Software tools and log files are covered by the MOC material and the written submissions cover the hardware tools and hardware devices for enhancing systems availability.
3Exemplar assessments
Written Submission.
Background.
During your course you will have been exposed to many different theories and practical situations. This assessment will test your understanding of how these theories relate to real world networks.
Item 1
The OSI Model.
You are required to produce a table showing all 7 layers of the OSI model and to insert the following components at the correct level.
Router
Bridge
Hub
Repeater
Server
Item 2
Internetworking.
Describe the software and services you would need to install to allow a Windows NT 4.0 workstation to connect to ALL of the following systems (this may include installing software on the servers)
NT 4.0 server
Novell print server
Unix print server
Unix file server
Item 3
Network diagnostic tools.
Explain how the following items can be used to diagnose or trace faults in a network environment. Your explanations should include a simple explanation of how the device operates and the types of problems it can be used to highlight.
Time-Domain Reflectometer
Multimeter
Protocol Analyser
Item 4
Routing
You have been asked to help an organisation with providing connectivity within their network. The organisation has two networks one running Novell 4.0 on a 10 Mhz thin Ethernet and the other running Windows NT Server 4.0 on 100 Mhz UTP. The organisation has just had an internet connection installed and has a lucent router.
Your task is to specify the hardware and software required to allow both networks to access the internet and to allow a user logged on to one network to access file or print resources on the other. Internet access should be through a local cache to improve speed. You should also explain to the organisation which services and protocols will be used and assure them of security from hacking via the internet.
Item 5
Dial up Access.
The organisation mentioned in Item 4 has now implemented your suggestions and is now interested in providing access to their sales force users to file resources in their servers when they are at a customer's premises. The organisation wishes you to specify the hardware and software required to do this and an overview of how the system will be set up to ensure security and to minimise the telephone charges to the user.
Item 6
Systems availability.
The organisation mentioned in Item 4 has been in touch with you following a failure of their NT server. The problem was very minor (a circuit breaker tripped depriving the server of power) and was repaired and the server was available again within 2 hours, however this has highlighted to the organisation how dependant they are on their network. They would like you to provide them with an explanation of the hardware and software choices available to them to minimise the risk of the organisation being left without their server in the future. The report should offer a range of alternatives and indicate the types of failure they will protect against. Typical failures will include power loss, hard drive failure and component failure within the server itself.
Sample Responses.
Item 1
The OSI Model
Application Layer / ServerPresentation Layer
Session Layer
Transport Layer
Network Layer
Data Link Layer / Router, Bridge
Physical Layer / Repeater, Hub
Item 2
NT 4.0 Server - A machine account and user account need to be created on the server.
Novell print server - IPX Protocol & client for Microsoft networks required on the workstation.
UNIX print server - SAMBA or similar required on the server also Server Message Block (SMB) protocol if using NetBuie.
UNIX file sever - As above.
Item 3
Time Domain Reflectometer - Used to locate cable breaks in co-axial cables and gives an approximate distance to the break. Note there is also an optical TDR used in a similar way for fiber optic cable. Operates by measuring the time taken for a pulse to be reflected from the break in the cable.
Multimeter - Continuity testing of cables, checking terminators. Operates by measuring the resistance in a component (may be used in other modes to check voltage current etc)
Protocol Analyser - Mismatched protocols, routing errors, congestion/collisions. Operates by decoding the actual packets on the system and interpreting what they are trying to do.
Appendix AChecklists
Cross reference checklist : Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks in the Organisation
Note the evidence reference points to either an item in the exemplar pack for written submission or a reference to one or more of the topics covered by the MOC course material (in the form 12.4). As the MOC material does not map to a particular unit the full topic list in included as appendices to the Group Award Requirements document.
OUTCOME 1
DESCRIBE INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN DIFFERENT NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEMS
Performance Criteria /Evidence Reference
/Pass
Correlate the OSI network model to actual system implementation. / Written Item 1Describe operating system software and services for simultaneous connection to multiple network operating system resources. / Written Item 2
Describe the functions of a multiprotocol router. / Written Item 4
OUTCOME 2
Install and describe Internet and Intranet systems and servicesPerformance Criteria /
Evidence Reference
/Pass
Install and configure a Web server to provide HTTP services to a range of operating systems. / 25.5Install and configure a FTP server to provide file delivery services to a range of users. / 25.5
Describe the hardware and software required to allow remote access from a range of client computers. / Written Item 5
OUTCOME 3
Strategies for troubleshooting enterprise wide networksPerformance Criteria /
Evidence Reference
/Pass
Configure and use system log file and reporting facilities. / 6.7Configure and use system diagnostic software tools. / 10.2, 10.3
36.3
43.3
Describe the selection and use of hardware diagnostic tools. / Written Item 3
Describe strategies and components to enhance systems availability. / Written Item 6
SQA Assessment exemplars for Higher National Units1