Access Networks-METT

T - Theoretical; TP - Theory and practice; PL - Laboratory; S - Seminar; OT - Tutorial.

• Learning outcomes of the curricular unit

  Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Describe the various technologies, protocols and relevant aspects of multiservice broadband networks of the operators that provide Internet services (ISP), including triple play (TV, phone and data), both as regards to the access and to the core networks.
  2. Understand policies of QoS, traffic engineering, security and others, used in the context of multiservice networks.
  3. Do the conception of (plan, implement and configure the equipment) multiservice networks.
• Syllabus

  Multiservice networks in its various components.
  Reference models ETSI and ITU-T.
  TDM - TDM hierarchy. PDH.
  SDH / SONET - Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH). IP over SDH.
  xDSL - Family xDSL (ADSL/ADSL2 + / VDSL).
  DOCSIS - Data transmission at high speed on CATV networks.
  ATM - Reference Model, topology and UNI and NNI interfaces. ATM Adaptation Layers (AAL). Quality of Service (QoS). Traffic classes, and AAL: AAL type 1, 2, ¾ and 5. QoS in ATM. IP over ATM.
  Optical fiber networks:
  WDM – WDM, DWDM and CWDM variants. Use in PON. IP over WDM. Internetworking IP / WDM.
  AON and PON - active and passive optical networks (EPON, GPON, WDM-PON)
  Carrier Ethernet - Ethernet in wide area networks (WAN).
  IP / MPLS (LDP, RSVP) - MPLS. Distribution of labels LDP and RSVP. Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE). IP / MPLS.
  Multicast VPN - Multicast Protocols, use in, for example, VPLS and IPTV.
  Network-based services - IES, VPN (EPIPE, VPLS, VPRN)
  Quality of service (QoS).

• Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the curricular unit's objectives

  The networks of operators (ISP - Internet Service Providers) have to provide high quality services to its customers, whether domestic or business. These networks have evolved from traditional telephone networks (POTS) using xDSL, passing over the coaxial cable networks of incumbent television operators (CATV) using DOCSIS, to those that are supported by fiber to the home (FTTH), or nearly, using mostly passive optical network (PON). The evolution has been constant and at an high rate. The future tends to services based networks and their provision of Internet access (IES), to support various types of VPN (ex: ePIPE, VPLS, VPRN) and other advanced services.
  It is intended that students who finish this course can master the technologies involved in this kind of networks and can work with them, either to define the required topologies, either to configure network equipment and to support it.

• Teaching methodologies (including evaluation)

  Theoretical and practical teaching along 30 lectures that correspond to 67.5 contact hours (15 lectures of 3 hours and 15 of 1.5 hours). The total time for student work is 160 hours. The theoretical lectures serve to discuss the topics of the main syllabus, encouraging interactivity and asking questions. The main topics are further explored by performing computer-based projects and the design and implementation of physical networks through routers (problem-based learning).

  Learning outcomes (1) - (3) are individually assessed through written tests or final exam, laboratory assignments during the semester.

• Demonstration of the coherence between the teaching methodologies and the learning outcomes

  The objective (1) of the course unit is achieved through lectures and the support material (slides and other bibliography), by performing practical exercises and case studies selected by the teacher. The objective (2) and (3) are achieved through laboratory work, where students do the configuration of the network equipment. The completion of the laboratory work is accompanied by the teacher during the contact hours to ensure correct knowledge and that the skills of the students are achieved.

• Main Bibliography:
  • “Connection-oriented networks: SONET/SDH, ATM, MPLS and optical networks”, Harry G Perros, Wiley, 2005
  • “Deploying Next Generation Multicast-enabled Applications: Label Switched Multicast for MPLS VPNs, VPLS, and Wholesale Ethernet”, Vinod Joseph, Srinivas Mulugu, Elsevier, 2011
  • Slides da unidade curricular