Activity reference No.4
Year(s) in which the activity takes place: 1996/97
Type of activity: Provision of The Computer Networks Laboratory

Description of the activity:

The main concept of the Computer Networks laboratory is to create infrastructure for education in computer communication technology. The laboratory should provide resources to build experimental LANs and WANs working with different protocols integrated within one system using multiprotocol routers. There should exist conditions for testing microsegmentation technique and estimating its influence on the overall network system performance. The practical experiments with virtual LANs, as new techniques for network management taking advantage of switching and routing technology, should be possible. The laboratory should also create a testbed for ATM networking technology as the most suitable for multimedia applications. The experiments in this area require an advanced testing equipment, such as ATM traffic load generator and analyzer. It is necessary to study how switches' parameters and communication protocols influence a quality of services under different load conditions. This part of the laboratory may be investigated as a part of the multimedia lab. On the system level the students should have opportunity to work with integrated networking system management software. The Laboratory will complement the lectures on computer networks (see activity 1). This activity will be carried in cooperation with Cambridge University, which has a profound knowledge and long-term experience in designing and teaching computer networks. That resulted in establishing there a pioneer ATM network called the Cambridge Backbone Ring. However, the experience of the University of Westminster and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven will also be resorted to. The Olivetti Research Limited and MARI Ltd. will be consulted about graduate profile and lab's organization. At the aim of providing Computer Networks laboratory the following steps are going to be taken:
  1. Visiting similar laboratories of EC cooperators A person responsible for organizing Computer Networks laboratory will visit the Olivetti Research Limited. He is expected to gain knowledge of how such a lab should be organized. He should become acquainted with the newest technology and how it can be applied to teaching students. This will be consulted with MARI Ltd., as well.
  2. Acquainting with educational process at EC partners' Universities Different labs will be visited at Cambridge University, the University of Westminster and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. It should result in acquaintance with labs' organizations and educational processes. At this stage the Olivetti Research Limited and MARI Ltd. as well as Polish enterprises will be consulted about the most demanded graduate profile and directions of industry development, since it is necessary to fulfill the goals of UMM's restructurizing.
  3. Discussing the lab organization with lecturers and professors The lab organization will be discussed with didactic and technical staff of the UMM in order to adapt it to the UMM's reorganizing goals.
  4. Detailing lab's syllabus
  5. Completing lab's hardware and software
  6. Configuring and starting the new equipment in the way related to the syllabus
  7. Preparing presentations and teaching aids for students
The laboratory exercises will be conducted in small groups (approx. 8 people) by two assistants, who will be selected by the project's management body based on their merits. Their experience as well as educational and research activity will be crucial factors. Computer Science students (over 100 each year) will be the main beneficiaries of the lab. It is, however, expected that the course will be an advantage for over 50 students (yearly) from other faculties, too.

Outcome of the activity: