Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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 type may refer to:
internet protocol (IP) networks:
internet protocol TV (IPTV)
mesh
multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)
online games
video teleconferencing (VTC)
voice over internet protocol (VoIP)
web
packet switched networks
frame relay(FR)
asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)
optical networks:
dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) networks
optical Ethernet
wireless networks:
world interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX)
cellular mobile
general packet radio service (GPRS)
long term evolution (LTE).
Quality of service (QoS) is a measurement of:
customer satisfaction
level of performance
level of quality of service
quality of service by the network
service response times.
Customer may include:
communications consultant
contractor to a major supplier
end users
other divisions of the company
small, medium or large organisations
wholesale service providers.
Network degradation may refer to:
blockages
call drop out
congestion
connection drop out
latency
lockouts
packet loss
poor data transfer rate
poor quality of service
server performance.
Performance tests may include:
grade of service (GoS)
IP systems:
bit rate
data throughput
delay
error probability
jitter
out of order packet delivery
packet dropping
mean opinion score (MOS)
mean time between failures (MTBF)
packet switched network:
cross-talk
echo
frequency response
interrupts
loss
loudness levels
service response time
signal-to-noise ratio
quality of experience (QoE).
Performancecheck list may include:
compression:
disable
firewalls:
disable software types
hardware:
central processing unit (CPU)
modems
routers
network service provider:
port blocking
compression
software:
applications
operating system (OS)
test:
use test tools
trace:
use commands
tunneling:
virtual private network (VPN)
verify:
connectivity
data transfer rate
timings.
Performance analysis tools may include:
network management system
protocol analyser
software:
Linux advanced routing and traffic control
bandwidth arbitrator
Zeroshell.
Monitoring activities may include:
customer perception surveys
feedback from marketing personnel
live tests via alarms
network alarms
network repair
performance levels
periodic updates from network management systems
real-time performance indicators
service levels
temporarily connected test equipment
trend data.
Protocols providing QoS may include:
ATM
FR
next generation home network (G.hn) standard
home phoneline networking alliance (Home PNA) - home networking over coax and phone wires
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards:
IEEE 802.11e
IEEE 802.11p
IEEE 802.1p
IEEE 802.1Q
IP differentiated services (DiffServ)
IP integrated services (IntServ)
multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)
Resource reSerVation Protocol (RSVP)
RSVP traffic engineering (RSVP-TE)
type of service (TOS) field in the IP header (now superseded by Diffserv).

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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:
interpret current network performance data
monitor the integrity of the network
manage the delivery of quality service
conduct performance tests using appropriate performance analysis tools
analyse problems and organise repair applying escalation procedures, if required, within service assurance guidelines
coordinate upgrade of software and hardware.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
site where network performance analysis may be conducted
data from organisations involved in planning initiatives
range of software currently used in industry
relevant regulations, specifications that impact on service measures and forecasting activities.
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:
review of proposed upgrade strategy prepared by the candidate, outlining cost-benefit analysis, equipment compatibility study and proposed testing routine
direct observation of the candidate undertaking a practical monitoring, testing or planning exercise
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of monitoring and testing procedures and types of systems.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplaces and job role is recommended, for example:
ICTTEN6043A Undertake network traffic management
ICTTEN6045A Implement planned network changes with minimal impact to the customer
ICTTEN6047A Manage a common channel signalling 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.