Officers who carry out installation, maintenance and upgrade of ICT networks apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. They would be employed by telecommunications companies and IT networking provisioning companies.

They will gain knowledge of routing protocols and routing diagnostics required for integrating new and converging functionalities to the network.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare to install a router

1.1. Prepare for given work according to relevant legislation, occupational health and safety (OHS), codes, regulations and standards

1.2. Arrange access to the site according to required procedure

1.3. Ascertain network topology from technical requirements

1.4. Determine the internet protocol (IP) addressing scheme for the network topology

1.5. Evaluate network management and security requirements, with reference to current and future requirements

1.6. Select a router with appropriate features according to technical requirements

1.7. Choose cables, wireless application protocol (WAP), wide area network (WAN) connectors and other peripherals according to network and router specification, and WANprotocols

2. Install and configure a router

2.1. Assemble router and peripherals according to manufacturer's requirements, enterprise guidelines and protocols

2.2. Connect communications cables and WAN connectors to the router and to the network

2.3. Configure router according to manufacturer's instructions and technical requirements, taking into account interoperability requirements with network components

3. Test the router and reconfigure the network

3.1. Test the router for connectivity across the network and for routing protocol functions

3.2. Adapt or modify the predetermined router configuration, depending on outcome of tests

3.3. Review router in line with organisational requirements

3.4. Test router and peripherals according to manufacturer's instructions and technical requirements

3.5. Test hardware and router to ensure full functionality and interoperability

3.6. Reconfigure additional hardware as required

3.7. Make adjustments to network depending on test results

4. Complete documentation and clean up worksite

4.1. Tabulate test results and complete all user reports

4.2. Complete report and notify client of status of the network

4.3. Clean up and restore worksite to client's satisfaction

4.4. Secure sign off from appropriate person

Required skills

communication skills to liaise with internal and external personnel on technical, operational and business related matters

literacy skills to interpret technical documentation and write reports in required formats

numeracy skills to take test measurements, interpret results and evaluate performance and interoperability of network

planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work and coordinate the process in liaison with others

problem solving and contingency management skills to adapt configuration procedures to requirements of network and reconfigure depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

research skills to interrogate vendor databases and websites to implement different configuration requirements to meet security levels

technical skills to select and use router test software and hardware to suit different network applications

Required knowledge

Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics

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

how dynamic routing algorithms or protocols create and maintain routing tables

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

router:

basic router commands

configuration:

clock rate

password protection of router

routing protocol

dynamic routing

firewalls

functions

routing protocols and how they operate

tables

router-based network architectures

use of routing tables in intelligent packet routing and switching

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:

plan and prepare for the router installation task

select a router to meet the client business specifications

install and test the router that ensures interoperability within the network and applying router principles and technologies

report on the status of the completed installation and seek sign off and customer satisfaction

use routers

apply solutions to defined routing problems.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

site where router installation may be conducted

use of field measurement equipment currently used in industry

relevant router specifications

technical requirements for a network

router

cabling

networked (LAN) computers

WAN service point of presence

relevant equipment and organisational documentation.

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:

direct observation of the candidate installing, configuring and testing a router

oral or written questioning of underpinning skills and knowledge

evaluation of report prepared by the candidate outlining testing procedures, results, recommendations to network changes and completion records.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICTTEN4198A Install, configure and test an internet protocol network.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

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:

data

internet

internet protocol private branch exchange (IP PBX)

internet protocol TV (IPTV)

large and small LANs

national WANs

radio frequency identification (RFID)

storage area network (SAN)

voice

voice over internet protocol (VoIP)

virtual private network (VPN).

Requirements may be in reference to:

application

business

network

employees in the organisation

system.

Router may include:

3Com OfficeConnect Remote 810 ADSL

3Com SuperStack 400

Cisco 800 and ISR Series routers

Cisco uBR7200 universal broadband routers

Cisco wireless access points

D-Link routers

Intel Express series

Juniper routers

Linksys routers

Motorola Vanguard series

Netopia routers.

Cables may include:

Category 5e, 6 or 7

crossover

fibre

shielded twisted pair (STP)

straight through

unshielded twisted pair (UTP).

Peripherals may include:

Bluetooth devices

fax

Firewire (IEEE 1394)

input equipment:

keyboard

mouse

pens

touch pad

laptops and desktop computers

mobile phones

modems

multimedia kits

palmtops and personal digital assistants (PDAs)

personal computer

printers

scanners

speakers

tape cartridges

universal serial bus (USB).

WAN protocols may include:

advanced data communications protocol (ADCP)

binary synchronous control (BSC)

high-level data link control (HDLC)

point to point protocol (PPP)

synchronous data link control (SDLC)

transmission of IP datagrams over X.25, Frame Relay or ATM.

Protocols may include:

AppleTalk protocol - Phase 2 (1989)

dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)

novell protocol suite:

internetwork packet exchange (IPX)

NetBIOS emulator

netware core protocol

sequenced packet exchange (SPX)

TCP/IP:

internet control message protocol (ICMP) see router protocols above

Net BT

WAN protocols (encapsulations):

advanced data communications protocol (ADCP)

binary synchronous control (BSC)

high-level data link control (HDLC)

point-to-point protocol (PPP)

synchronous data link control (SDLC).

Routing protocol may include:

Cisco discovery protocol (CDP)

dynamic routing

enhanced interior gateway routing protocol (EIGRP)

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

netWare link state protocol (NLSP)

open shortest-path first interior gateway protocol (OSPF)

routing information protocol (RIP)

static routing.

Hardware may include:

DSL modems

modems and other connectivity devices

networks

personal computers

remote sites

servers

workstations.

Appropriate person may include:

authorised business representative

client

supervisor.

Unit sector

Telecommunications

Telecommunications networks engineering

This unit contains employability skills.