The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

Assessment must confirm the ability to select and install a router using predetermined configuration and tests. Basic configuration capability is essential in demonstrating competency.

To demonstrate competency in this unit the person will require access to:

Router specifications

Technical requirements for a network

Router

Cabling

Networked (LAN) computers

WAN service point of presence (or simulated)

Context of and specific resources for assessment

A router connects networks together, controlling the routing of packets from source to destination and providing alternate paths when necessary. Routers are more sophisticated than bridges, connecting networks of different types and making logical routing decisions on the basis of available data. Typically a router hands off packets to another router along the path until the destination is reached.

In the context of the Internet, a router is a device or, in some cases, software in a computer, that directs information packets to the next point toward their destination. A router is located at any juncture of networks, including each Internet point-of-presence. As such, routers are key to the operation of the Internet.

It is essential that this unit covers a broad variety routers ranging from simple SOHO ADSL/CABLE routers, to complex fibre channel multi-routing units designed for backbone capability. Additionally, it is imperative that routers are provided for hands-on experience, particularly SOHO and Fibre channel routers.

The breadth, depth and complexity of knowledge and skills in this competency would cover a broad range of varied activities or application in a wider variety of contexts most of which are complex and non-routine. Leadership and guidance would be involved when organising activities of self and others as well as contributing to technical solutions of a non-routine or contingency nature.

Assessment must ensure:

Performance of a broad range of skilled applications including the requirement to evaluate and analyse current practices, develop new criteria and procedures for performing current practices and provision of some leadership and guidance to others in the application and planning of the skills would be characteristic.

Applications may involve responsibility for, and limited organisation of, others.

Method of assessment

The purpose of this unit is to define the standard of performance to be achieved in the workplace. In undertaking training and assessment activities related to this unit, consideration should be given to the implementation of appropriate diversity and accessibility practices in order to accommodate people who may have special needs. Additional guidance on these and related matters is provided in ICA05 Section 1.

Competency in this unit should be assessed using summative assessment to ensure consistency of performance in a range of contexts. This unit can be assessed either in the workplace or in a simulated environment. However, simulated activities must closely reflect the workplace to enable full demonstration of competency.

The assessment of this unit of competency will usually include observation of router selection and configuration for a variety of scenarios

Assessment will usually include observation of real or simulated work processes and procedures and/or performance in a project context as well as questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills. The questioning of team members, supervisors, subordinates, peers and clients where appropriate may provide valuable input to the assessment process. The interdependence of units for assessment purposes may vary with the particular project or scenario.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

ICAA4047B Determine project specifications and secure client agreement

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating some theoretical concepts

Apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems

Identify and apply skill and knowledge areas to a wide variety of contexts, with depth in some areas

Identify, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources

Take responsibility for own outputs in relation to specified quality standards

Take limited responsibility for the quantity and quality of the output of others

Maintain knowledge of industry products and services

Additionally, an individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Configure and debug routers and routing tables

Select a router for a particular task

Interpret available information and request clarification where needed

Take responsibility for outputs in work and learning

Required skills

Installing peripheral devices

Remote access skills using Telnet

Required knowledge

Basic router commands

Router configuration, clock rate, routing protocol, password protection of router

Router-based network architectures

Effect of a router on delimiting broadcast traffic and on conserving bandwidth

Providing the network with redundant paths for reliability and the way routers manage these paths

How dynamic routing algorithms or protocols create and maintain routing tables

Use of routing tables in intelligent packet routing and switching

Router firewalls

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Network may include but not limited to:

large and small LANs

national WANs

the internet

VPNs

the use of the PSTN for dial-up modems only

private lines

data

voice

Router may include:

Cisco 800 and ISR Series routers

Linksys routers

Cisco wireless access points

Cisco uBR7200 universal broadband routers

3Com OfficeConnect Remote 810 ADSL

3Com SuperStack 400

Netopia routers

D-Link routers

Motorola Vanguard series

Intel Express series

Peripherals may include but are not limited to:

Printers, scanners, tape cartridges

Speakers, multimedia kits

Personal computer fax, modems

Input equipment may include mouse, touch pad, keyboard, pens

Mobile phones, palmtops and personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptops and desktop computers

Bluetooth devices, universal serial bus (USB), Firewire (IEEE 1394)

Routing protocol may include static and dynamic routing:

Cisco discovery protocol (CDP)

Enhanced interior gateway routing protocol (EIGRP)

Routing information protocol (RIP)

NetWare link state protocol (NLSP)

Open shortest-path first interior gateway protocol (OSPF)

Exterior gateway protocol and border gateway protocol (superseded by BGP)

Organisationalrequirements may include but is not limited to:

how and what the organisation wants in regard to work environment

problem solution processes

preventative maintenance and diagnostic policy

roles and technical responsibilities in the IT department

vendor

product service-level support agreements

Requirements may be in reference to:

business

system

network

people in the organisation

WAN protocols may include:

Transmission of IP datagrams over X.25, Frame Relay or ATM. (X.25 now superseded by such technologies as Frame Relay and Asynchronous Transfer Mode.)

Point to point protocol (PPP)

Synchronous data link control (SDLC)

Binary synchronous control (BSC)

High-level data link control (HDLC)

Advanced data communications protocol (ADCP)

Several of these may now be considered as legacy protocols, but, even though they may not be in current use, there is still a need to keep knowledge of the protocols for legacy installations.