Assessor Resource

ICTNPL4113A
Plan the deployment of core network

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Technical staff and their subcontractors from private and public organisations apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. They combine technical design skills with organisational skills to plan and deploy core network technologies for a service provider such as a major carrier or a rail service provider.

Technical officers or engineers may be responsible for projects and for operational and engineering work in deployment or conversion to IP based technologies of the telecommunications network in general.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to plan the deployment of core network for a telecommunications service provider. It includes use and consideration of core network deployment data, technology, equipment, capacity management and network management information sources. Core networks use convergent internet protocol (IP) based technologies with conventional technologies.

The plan may be for a new installation or upgrade of capacity or technology for existing network or subsystem for convergence to Next Generation Networks (NGN).

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.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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:

gather data from information sources and evaluate how the data relates to the core network

source major equipment and technologies used in a core network and detail their compatibilities

plan the deployment of a core network including management and monitoring techniques

produce a deployment plan for a core network with recommendations for the customer.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

network design documentation and other site related documentation

equipment specifications

live network or training facilities

organisational guidelines

networked computers

networked telecommunications components.

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 planning the deployment of a core network

review of reports completed by the candidate for different core networks

review of final deployment plan prepared by the candidate outlining recommendations for the customer

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of planning various core networks.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICTNPL4112A Evaluate core network architectures.

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.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

communication skills to analyse, evaluate and present information

group facilitation and presentation skills to transfer and collect information and gain consensus on concepts

problem solving skills to:

address a defined range of unpredictable problems, for example, when predicting line traffic and the impact on input and output devices and processors from current and future demand requirements

address a predictable range of network problems

project planning skills to:

scope, time and cost when reviewing client user requirements and network requirements

set benchmarks and identified scope

research skills to specify, analyse and evaluate broad features of current security issues and best practice in security devices, products and procedures

technical skills to:

evaluate and compare a range of complex technical data

research, identify, analyse and evaluate features of core network architecture

Required knowledge

MPLS and IP architectures across a core network environment

protocols such routing information protocol (RIP), enhanced interior gateway routing protocol (EIGRP), open shortest path first (OSPF), border gateway protocol (BGP) operations

virtual local area networks (VLAN) and virtual private network (VPN) tunnels and how it is implemented in an ethernet and multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) environment

overview knowledge of:

client business domain, business function and organisation

current industry-accepted hardware and software products

networking technologies incorporating substantial depth in some areas

transmission technologies and protocols

theoretical concepts of three or more current industry network development and design methodologies

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.

Core network may include:

billing

broadband

data

Ethernet

media and content

network management

NGN delivering multiple services:

broadband access

data transfer

IPTV

mobile data

mobile telephony

multimedia

video

VoIP

switching

transport - synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH)

voice.

Core network architecture components may include:

Ethernet network:

gateways

LAN switch

layer 3 switches

routers

servers

transmission equipment

VLANS

HFC cable edge network:

ADM

broadband amplifier

cable modems

DSLAMS

fibre network

multiplexer

IP networks:

gateways

routers

servers

switches

media and content network:

central processing unit (CPU)

media managers

multiplexers

routers

servers

MPLS network:

access

backbone

edge routers

L2 and L3 switches

MPLS protocols

routing protocols

SDH transport:

add-drop multiplexers (ADM)

SDH switch

STM-1

VoIP and wireless voice network:

access points

adapters

antennas

gateways

routers

servers

switches

voice managers.

Equipment type may include:

IP based

IP networking

multiplexers

network management

optical

protocol analysers

switching

transmission

transport

virtual

wireless.

Technologies may include:

adaptive

digital

IP technologies

NGN

optical

self healing

wireless.

Resources may include:

diagnostic tools

equipment

hardware equipment

installation manuals

installation platforms

labour

materials

PC tools

safety equipment

software

test equipment

tools.

Enterprise procedures may include:

asset registration

compliance

preferred suppliers

preferred vendors

procurement agreements

purchase requisition

service level agreements.

Parameters of the core network may include:

for an ADSL network:

bandwidth utilisation of broadband remote access server (BRAS)-digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) trunks

bandwidth utilisation of BRAS- layer2 network protocol network server (LNS) trunks

BRAS memory and CPU load

number of available BRAS ports

number of IP addresses in use

number of point-to-point protocol (PPP) sessions in use

for a HFC cable broadband network:

cable modem termination system (CMTS) memory and CPU load

IP address availability

number of services connected to a segment

upstream and downstream bandwidth utilisation

for an IP or MPLS Data network:

available and utilised bandwidth and ports

network latency

packet loss rates

router or switch card slots available

router or switch CPU load

router or switch memory

for a media and content hosting and distribution network:

available and utilised bandwidth

available and utilised ports

router CPU load

router memory

router slots available

for a metropolitan Ethernet network:

available and utilised bandwidth

available and utilised ports

available and utilised VLANs

packet loss rates

switch card slots available

switch CPU load

switch memory

for an SDH network:

bandwidth provisioned

number of ADMS connected to a ring

number of card slots and ports available

number of circuits provisioned

for a voice network:

echo cancellation considerations

quality of service (QoS) and measure of service (MOS)

network jitter

network latency

packet loss rate

signalling capacity

traffic:

available and utilised bandwidth

available and utilised ports

number and duration of calls.

Network monitoringtechniques may include:

alarms

customer complaints

databases

fault reports

network management

network operations reports

network performance reports

traffic monitoring.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Prepare for work according to site specific safety requirements and enterprise occupational health and safety (OHS) processes and procedures 
Determine the type of core network by accessing and using network information sources 
Produce a brief showing how core network architecture components relate to the larger network and their impact on the work 
Evaluate the equipment type and technologies to be considered to determine availability and compatibility with existing network equipment 
Obtain resources and equipment needed for the work according to enterprise procedures and check for correct operation and safety 
Assess the capacity limitation of platforms in the context of the work to ensure maximum network performance 
Determine product capability and calculate allowable capacity of the core network to allow for network growth 
Assess demand for the core network using key geographic, demographic, forecast and bandwidth data 
Identify key parameters of the core network to be measured for capacity management 
Produce a preliminary deployment plan for the core network using architectural principles and assessed demand to maintain integrity of the core network 
Assess the additional planning requirements for voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and wireless voice networks from voice networks, and for hosting and content distribution networks from media and content network 
Create a financial business case for the deployment of the core network based on assessed demand to justify a return on investment (RoI) and operational costs 
Discuss unexpected situations with appropriate personnel, with consideration to job specifications, safety and enterprise procedures to establish a solution 
Produce final deployment plan including recommendations agreed with the customer 
Provide a report on network monitoringtechniques used to manage the network to ensure the network is performing at optimum level 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICTNPL4113A - Plan the deployment of core network
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ICTNPL4113A - Plan the deployment of core network

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