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IMAT1701 Foundations of Computing Portfolio: StudentHub Network Design and Ethics Extract
For information and reference only – not to be submitted as your own work.
This extract illustrates how Unit 1 (computer networks and design) and Unit 2 (ethical analysis) of the IMAT1701 Foundations of Computing portfolio at De Montfort University can be approached. It shows the component and role table, an illustrative IP plan, a short justification, and a condensed ethics analysis on a generic topical case chosen for illustration. The three official Unit 2 cases are not reproduced here, and every address, device and figure below is illustrative. Harvard referencing is used, with the list at the end. The full brief is available on our IMAT1701 question page.
Table of Contents
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Unit 1: StudentHub network design (extract)
Purpose
The network gives staff and students in three computer labs on different floors secure access to shared printing, central file storage, on-campus teaching resources and cloud collaboration tools. It is designed to grow by adding switches or subnets without redesign.
Components and roles
| Component | Role | Connects to |
|---|---|---|
| Edge firewall/router | Filters traffic, provides internet and cloud access | ISP link and core switch |
| Core layer 3 switch | Routes between VLANs, acts as default gateway | Floor switches by fibre |
| Floor access switches (3) | Connect lab PCs and printers | Core by fibre uplink, PCs by copper |
| Wireless access point | Supports laptops and external devices | Floor switch by copper |
| Server: authentication and file storage | Usernames, passwords, permissions and shared files | Core switch |
| Print server and shared printers | Centralised print queues | Core and floor switches |
| Search/web server | Lets users find teaching resources | Core switch |
| Backup storage | Local copy plus remote cloud replica | Core switch and cloud |
| Lab PCs | User workstations | Floor access switch |
Software and users
Lab PCs run a desktop operating system with office, browser and course software. Servers run a server operating system with a directory service for authentication. Utilities include remote desktop for administration, antivirus on all hosts, and a firewall at the edge and on each machine. Three user types are defined: a network administrator who creates and removes accounts, resets passwords, sets access rights and login restrictions, and disables accounts; staff users with read and write access to teaching folders; and student users with read access to resources and a personal storage area.
Illustrative IP plan
| Segment | VLAN | Network | Subnet mask | Gateway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lab A (floor 1) | 10 | 192.168.10.0 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.10.1 |
| Lab B (floor 2) | 20 | 192.168.20.0 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.20.1 |
| Lab C (floor 3) | 30 | 192.168.30.0 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.30.1 |
| Servers and storage | 40 | 192.168.40.0 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.40.1 |
| Staff and administration | 50 | 192.168.50.0 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.50.1 |
| Firewall to core link | 99 | 192.168.99.0 | 255.255.255.252 | 192.168.99.1 |
Private ranges are used internally as set out in RFC 1918 (Rekhter et al., 1996), with network address translation at the firewall for internet access. Example fixed hosts are the authentication and file server at 192.168.40.10 and the print server at 192.168.40.12, while lab PCs obtain addresses by DHCP. In your own work, draw this as a labelled diagram showing each device, the medium on each link, and its address and mask.
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Justification
Topology. Physically the design is an extended star, with each lab connected to a floor switch and each floor switch uplinked to the core. This isolates faults to one branch and makes expansion simple, although the core becomes a single point of failure unless a second uplink or switch is added (Kurose and Ross, 2021). Logically, VLANs separate labs, servers and staff, so a problem or compromise in one lab does not automatically reach another.
Transmission media. Copper twisted pair serves lab PCs over short runs and costs less. Fibre is used for floor-to-core links because it supports higher capacity over longer vertical routes and is not affected by electrical interference. The constraint is the cost of fibre equipment and installation.
Security, reliability and performance. Account-based access, least-privilege folder permissions, antivirus and firewall rules reduce risk, and firewall policy should be reviewed regularly (Scarfone and Hoffman, 2009). Reliability improves through redundant uplinks and backups, while performance depends on switching capacity, cabling grade and keeping broadcast domains small. User experience benefits from single sign-on, consistent drive mappings and simple printer selection.
Unit 2: ethical analysis (condensed illustration)
Illustrative case: a university introduces automated software that monitors students during online exams using camera and behaviour analysis.
1. Facts
The system records video and audio, flags behaviour judged unusual and sends flags to staff for review. The university is responsible for the decision to deploy it and the supplier for how it operates. Stakeholders include students, invigilators, academics, the supplier and the regulator. Students with disabilities or poor home internet may be flagged more often.
2. Ethical principles
- Privacy: recording in private homes goes beyond what is needed for assessment. UK data protection principles of data minimisation and purpose limitation apply (ICO, n.d.).
- Fairness: flagging may disadvantage some groups, which challenges the principle of justice (Floridi and Cowls, 2019).
- Autonomy: students may have no real alternative, so consent is weak.
- Transparency and explicability: students need to understand why they were flagged and how to appeal.
- Security: stored recordings are sensitive and must be protected.
3. How I would address the issues
As CEO, I would have required an impact assessment before adoption, offered an equivalent alternative assessment, limited recordings to the shortest period needed, and made human review mandatory before any penalty. To put it right now, I would publish a plain explanation, create a simple appeals route and audit the supplier for bias and security.
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Related reading: our guide on how to approach the IMAT1701 portfolio. For other computing support, see computer network assignment help and computer science assignment help, or browse De Montfort University briefs.
References
- Floridi, L. and Cowls, J. (2019) ‘A unified framework of five principles for AI in society’, Harvard Data Science Review, 1(1). doi:10.1162/99608f92.8cd550d1.
- ICO (n.d.) A guide to the data protection principles. Available at: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/data-protection-principles/a-guide-to-the-data-protection-principles/ (Accessed: 31 October 2026).
- Kurose, J.F. and Ross, K.W. (2021) Computer networking: a top-down approach. 8th edn. Pearson.
- Rekhter, Y., Moskowitz, B., Karrenberg, D., de Groot, G.J. and Lear, E. (1996) Address allocation for private internets. RFC 1918. Available at: https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc1918 (Accessed: 31 October 2026).
- Scarfone, K. and Hoffman, P. (2009) Guidelines on firewalls and firewall policy. NIST Special Publication 800-41 Revision 1. Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology. Available at: https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/41/r1/final (Accessed: 31 October 2026).
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