This unit applies to individuals required to network a small or home office. The unit covers the development of a suitable network design, the identification of relevant network components to meet the design brief and the installation, configuration and securing of the network to meet client requirements.
Not applicable.
1. Confirm client requirements and identify relevant network equipment | 1.1 Identify and clarify the client requirement for the small office home office network 1.2 Identify the most suitable network design to meet the client requirement 1.3 Develop and document the network design 1.4 Identify the most suitable network technologies, devices and protocols and network cables and connectors to meet the network design 1.5 Review the available network technologies, devices and protocols and determine the most appropriate to meet the client requirements 1.6 Source vendors and service suppliers to obtain specifications, availability and cost of identified components 1.7 Ensure client sign-off for proposed network design and associated components |
2. Install and configure hardware and software | 2.1 Develop installation plans, with prioritised tasks and contingency arrangements, for installation of components with minimum disruption to client 2.2 Liaise with appropriate person to obtain approval for the plans, including security clearance and timing 2.3 Confirm and review supplier documentation that network cables and connectors have been installed according to industry standards, client requirements and building requirements 2.4 Install and configure computer and other hardware according to the network design and industry standards using knowledge of relevant installation and configuration tools 2.5 Install and configure network software according to network design and industry standards 2.6 Install and configure other software according to network design and industry standards |
3. Configure and test network | 3.1 Troubleshoot client-side connectivity using appropriate networking settings to review relevant network tools 3.2 Test the installed software and hardware, using available networking tools to ensure that components are functioning as expected 3.3 Test the network settings to ensure the network is functioning according to specification 3.4 Resolve problems identified through the testing process |
4. Secure network | 4.1 Identify possible security concepts and technologies relevant to securing the network 4.2 Apply specific protection using identified security features to protect against possible network attacks 4.3 Troubleshoot different types of security intrusion symptoms and issues |
5. Document completed work, hand over to client and obtain client approval | 5.1 Document final network design and associated hardware, software and security features 5.2 Document installation, bootup and configuration procedures as per client requirements 5.3 Complete handover and secure sign-off from client |
Required skills
analytical skills to evaluate hardware, software and network specifications against client requirements
communication skills to deal with clients and vendors
literacy skills to:
review technical documentation
write detailed technical notes
planning and organisational skills to:
set benchmarks and identify scope
develop plans, prioritise tasks and apply contingency strategy
problem-solving skills to predict the range of network problems
research skills to identify, analyse and evaluate technical information
technical skills to:
identify and install components of hardware, software, cabling and wireless equipment
use network system software.
Required knowledge
current industry-accepted hardware and software products
current industry-accepted network hardware and software products
data and voice transmission technologies and protocols
hardware and software installation procedures
local area network (LAN) capabilities and characteristics, including network type, such as ethernet, Appletalk IP addressing, switch or hub operation
network connections, both wired and wireless
networking technologies, incorporating substantial depth in areas relating to network operating systems and cabling standards
operating system, such as Mac, Linux, Novell, Windows, to enable basic installation
set-up and configuration procedures
small business and home office networking requirements
software packages supported by the organisation.
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 ability to: identify the most relevant network hardware and software equipment to meet client requirements install, configure and test the network according to client requirements, and produce appropriate documentation identify possible security threats and secure the network. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure access to: current industry standard software, hardware, and networking technologies server and workstation hardware and software internet connection live network network components, hardware and software networked computers technical documentation and installation manuals vendor hardware and software components appropriate learning and assessment support when required modified equipment for people with special needs. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: verbal or written questioning to assess candidate’s knowledge of: current industry-accepted network hardware and software products hardware and software installation procedures direct observation of candidate: configuring LAN equipment in a variety of scenarios troubleshooting security issues review of candidate’s: documented installation process documented security settings. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate. Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed. Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support. In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. |
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.
Client requirements may relate to networking a: | small business small club small home office small network. |
Small office home office network may refer to: | a single or small number of rooms linking a small number of personal computers (PCs) or laptops and associated peripherals having or not having a server sharing peripherals, files and other information using single type or combination of wired or wireless connections: category 5 (or similar) cabling ethernet network hub ethernet network switch wi-fi wireless network. |
Network design may include: | Bluetooth broadband: cable digital subscriber line (DSL) fibre satellite cellular dial-up wireless: all 802.11 types dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) settings MAC filtering service set identifier (SSID) wi-fi protected access (WPA) wired equivalent privacy (WEP). |
Networking technologies, devices and protocols may include: | bandwidth and latency basics class identification basics of configuring IP addressing and transmission control protocol or internet protocol (TCP/IP) properties (DHCP, DNS) basics of workgroups and domains common ports: file transfer protocol (FTP) hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) post office protocol (POP) simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) Telnet full-duplex and half-duplex hub, switch and router identify virtual private networks (VPN) internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) versus internet protocol version 4 (IPv4): address conventions address length differences local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) protocols, such as: TCP/IP network basic input/output system (NETBIOS) status indicators. |
Network cables and connectors may include: | cables: plenum or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shielded twisted-pair (STP) fibre coaxial cable unshielded twisted-pair (UTP), such as CAT3, CAT5, 5e, and CAT6 connectors: RJ11 RJ45. |
Appropriate person may include: | authorised business representative client supervisor. |
Industry standards may include: | Australian Standards (AS) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) organisational standards project standards. |
Computer may include: | iPAD (or similar) laptop notebook personal digital assistant (PDA) Mac or PC server thin client workstation. |
Installation and configuration tools may include: | basics of hardware and software firewall configuration: port assignment or setting up rules (exceptions) port forwarding or port triggering connection types: basic VoIP (consumer applications) Bluetooth (1.0 versus 2.0) broadband: cable DSL ISDN satellite cellular dial-up LAN (10, 100, 1000BaseT, Speeds) routers or access points: change default username and password change SSID from default disable DHCP disable SSID broadcast firewall MAC filtering update firmware use static IP wireless: all 802.11 DHCP settings MAC filtering service set identifier (SSID) wired equivalent privacy (WEP) wi-fi protected access (WPA) physical installation: cable length wireless router placement. |
Network settings may include: | characteristics of TCP/IP: automatic IP addressing loopback addresses firewall settings: open and closed ports program filters FTP settings: exceptions IP addresses ports programs mail protocol settings: internet message access protocol (IMAP) POP SMTP proxy settings: exceptions IP addresses ports programs TCP/IP settings: DHCP (dynamic versus static) DNS gateway NAT (private and public) subnet mask. |
Networking tools may include: | secure connection protocols: HTTPS secure shell (SSH) tools to use and interpret results: ipconfig Net use Netstat Nslookup Ping Telnet Tracert. |
Security concepts and technologies may include: | authentication technologies: biometrics password smart cards user name basics of data sensitivity and data security: classifications compliance social engineering data wiping or hard drive destruction or hard drive recycling encryption technologies software firewall: exceptions port security. |
Security features may include: | biometrics: fingerprint scanner bios security: drive lock intrusion detection passwords TPM locking workstation: hardware operating system malicious software protection: adware grayware spam spyware trojans viruses worms password management or password complexity wireless encryption: client configuration, such as service set identifier (SSID) WEPx and WPAx. |
Common security intrusion symptoms and issues may relate to: | operating systems: encryption (Bitlocker, EFS) local users and groups: administrator, power users, guest, users new technology file system (NTFS) versus share permissions: allow versus deny difference between moving and copying folders and files file attributes shared files and folders: administrative shares versus local shares inheritance permission propagation system files and folders user authentication Vista or Windows 7 User Account Control (UAC) system: network basic input/output system (BIOS) security: drive lock passwords intrusion detection TPM virus and malware tools: educate end user identify malware symptoms quarantine infected systems remediate infected systems repair boot blocks research malware types, symptoms and solutions (virus encyclopaedia) scan and removal techniques: boot environment safe mode schedule scans update antivirus software: automatic versus manual signature and engine updates use antivirus software. |
Systems administration and support
This unit contains employability skills.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.