Operate Computer Hardware.....I cant remember if that was an elective or a compulsory unit. But i know it definately did it.
Look I think it SHOULD be a compulsory unit though. There is nothing worse than seeing people later in life in IT related studies that dont know what to do when their PC/laptop wont turn on properly (I see it all the time in Computer Science even!).
If you havent already done it or you are sitting around doing nothing in IT and you are interested in further IT studies, PLEASE read through this unit and make sure you understand this material very well.
Im sure networks is a part of Operate Computer Hardware but I dont think it goes as in depth as you are suggesting there. It depends what your teacher thinks is in depth enough as they are the ones who are assessing you. But i think this unit should only go as deep as understanding what a network is and how to plug a computer into a basic Windows TCP/IP network (or maybe a Novell NetWare IPX-TCP/IP network if your school goes that way
).
I wouldnt worry too much about needing to write a report on how to set up a network though that is a bit extreme for this course I would have thought. It might get asked as deep as this...
"In a report to the manager, what server and desktop components would you suggest for a small business network needing only bare-basic IT requirements on a small technology budget?"