CPS 472/572 Computer Networking

This course will teach the fundamentals of data networking. This is a senior/graduate level course that is part of a two class series in computer communications. The first course, CPS 470/570 Data Communications, introduces the problems and solution techniques of the communications field. It focuses primarily on the ``lower-layer'' protocols: physical, data-link, and network. The second course, CPS 472/572 Computer Networking, focuses on the ``upper-layer'' protocols starting with routing in the network layer and covering transport and application protocols.

Instructor

Readings

• Week 1 : Halsall 7.5 - 7.7
• Week 2 : Halsall 9.1 - 9.4
• Week 3 : Halsall 9.5 - 9.6
• Week 4 : Halsall 9.7 - 9.8
• Week 5 : Exam 1
• Week 6 : Halsall 11.1; Comer Chs. 4 & 5
• Week 7 : Halsall 11.2
• Week 8 : Comer Chs. 10,11 & 12;
• Week 9 : Halsall 14.1
• Week 10 : Exam 2
• Week 11 : Halsall 13.1
• Week 12 : None
• Week 13 : Comer Chapter 20
• Week 14 : Comer Chapter 21, 22

Available Documents

Spring 1997

• Course Syllabus
• Homework 1
• Homework 2
• Homework 3
• Homework 4
• Homework 5
• Homework 6

Spring 1996

• Examination 1
• Examination 2
• Final Examination

Useful Links

• "Programming in C" A C tutorial by David Marshall.
• Source Code examples from the Comer Book.

Prerequisites

Textbook

Fred Halsall, Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems 4th Edition, Addison-Wesley, 1996.

Douglas E. Comer and David L. Stevens, "Internetworking with TCP/IP: Volume 3 (BSD Socket Version)" Prentice-Hall, 1996.

Course Objectives

My primary objectives for the students in this class are:

• To learn the terminology of networking/communications.
• To understand the fundamental problems and solution techniques that arise in the network and transport layers as well as the management of networks and network applications.
• To understand the details of some specific protocols. This includes identfying which fundamental solutions techniques are incorporated into these protocols.
• To evaluate different protocol solutions using performance evaluation techniques.

Grading

Grades will be computed on a 90-80-70-60 scale. The weights assigned to various items are:

• Programs/Homework: 100 points
• 2 Exams: 200 points
• Final Exam: 100 points

Topics Covered

• Overview, terminology, standards
• Bridging Protocols: Transparent Bridging, Spanning-Tree
• Network Layer Protocols
• Routing Protocols: Unicast, Multicast, Broadcast
• Transport Layer Protocols
• Presentation Layer Services
• Network Services: Directory Services, distributed file services
• Network Application design: Client/Server, Remote Procedure Calls
• Network Management
• Multimedia Networking

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