Course Outline
CSC306 Software Defined Networking
Course Coordinator:Keyvan Ansari (kansari@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
2026Semester 2
UniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
The modern age is built on seamless and seemingly limit-less networks of technology. In this course you will learn how to build, evaluate and maintain the software defined networks (SDN) that make that possible. Covering topics including data and control plane abstraction, network extensibility, automation, security, and scalability, you will gain hands-on experience in SDN, network function virtualisation (NFV) and network application development. You will also develop sought after skills applied in cutting edge technologies including 5G.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Lecture | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
Course Topics
Introduction to SDN
Why SDN?
Genesis of SDN
How SDN Works
The OpenFlow Specification
Alternative Definitions of SDN
Emerging Protocol, Controller, and Application Models
SDN in the Data Centre and other Environments
Network Functions Virtualization
Players in the SDN Ecosystem
SDN Applications
SDN Open Source
SDN Futures
What level is this course?
300 Level (Graduate)
What is the unit value of this course?
12 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
| 1 | Demonstrate advanced knowledge of networking concepts and practice extended into software defined networking. | Knowledgeable |
| 2 | Select, develop and adapt programming constructs (built to coding and documentation standards) to create solutions to complex computer networking challenges. |
Creative and critical thinker Empowered |
| 3 | Analyse and evaluate ethical, privacy, security and safety concerns in a software defined networking context. |
Creative and critical thinker Empowered |
| 4 | Communicate software defined networks through writing reports, design documentation and specifications. | Engaged |
| 5 | Work as part of a team to produce quality computing artefacts and outcomes. | Engaged |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
ICT220 and ICT221
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Not applicable
Microcredential Information
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
Students will complete individual weekly workshop activities under the guidance of the workshop facilitator, providing opportunity for rapid formative feedback throughout the semester. Moreover portions 1 and 2 of Task 1 will be submitted, marked and returned with detailed feedback prior to census date.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Portfolio | Individual | 20% | Less than 200 words per submission |
Refer to Format | Online Submission |
| All | 2 | Case Study | Group | 40% | 3000 words |
Week 13 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 3 | Practical / Laboratory Skills | Individual | 40% | 90 minutes |
Exam Period | Exam Venue |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Networking Activity Multiplex | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | In networking, multiplexing is the combining of multiple analog and/or digital signals onto a single medium. In this task, you will complete a number of activities submitted over the course of the semester to form a portfolio of software defined networking artefacts. These tasks will develop your ability to design, develop, document and debug software defined networking problems and approximate tasks a networking consultant may do in industry. |
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| Product: | Portfolio | ||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||
| Format: | You will submit weekly responses to stimulus materials provided in the BB Learning Materials. Activities will include theoretical problem solving as well as programming, debugging and/or documentation to solve a series of small case study problems. Each submission will be the equivalent of less than 200 words of text, code or documentation (note some code or documentation may be supplied) Due Weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | |||||||||||||
| All - Assessment Task 2:Connection Mastery | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | This task will provide a real-world experience solving a software defined networking problem for an industry case study. |
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| Product: | Case Study | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | You will submit weekly responses to stimulus materials provided in the BB Learning Materials. Activities will include theoretical problem solving as well as programming, debugging and/or documentation to solve a series of small case study problems. Each submission will be the equivalent of less than 200 words of text, code or documentation (note some code or documentation may be supplied) |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| All - Assessment Task 3:SDN Skills Demonstration | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | The final practical exam will develop your ability to independently apply your skills and knowledge to solve familiar problem-based questions with confidence within a set time limit just like a networking consultant working at a client’s office. |
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| Product: | Practical / Laboratory Skills | ||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||
| Format: | Practical examination composed of a small set of SDN programming and documentation problems that the student must solve. Material based on tutorial activities and lecture questions. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | |||||||||||||
Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.
| Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
| Required | Paul Goransson, Chuck Black, Timothy Culver | 2017 | Software Defined Networks: A comprehensive Approach, 2nd Ed. | n/a | Morgan Kaufmann |
Specific requirements
Not applicable
How are risks managed in this course?
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconductAssessment: Submission penalties
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
- In person:
- UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
- UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
- UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
- UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
- UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
- UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
- Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
- Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au