Course Objectives and Description

A primary goal of this class is to introduce students to topics on the principles, design, implementation, and performance of computer networks. The course has three important compoents

1. learn fundamental Computer Network principles,
2. train students to explore these network technogies using hands on experiments and
3. introduce students to critically read and evaluate topical research.

Computer Networks is field rife with acronyms. The course will enable students to deeply understand the concepts behind these terms and their implications for real systems. For example, we would learn about the implications of ADSL network assymetry for TCP web traffic (and not just how ADSL, TCP work).

Topics covered will include: Internet protocols and routing, congestion control, switching and routing, mobile IP and ad-hoc networks, network security, the end-to-end arguments, peer-to-peer systems and other current research topics. We will augment networking technologies from the course text book with topical research issues in computer networks with special emphasis on wireless and energy-aware networking. We will read and evaluate research papers selected from the literature. The students will be asked to evaluate a research paper as the basis for further discussion. Class participation is fundamental for productive discussions.

Course Organization

We will follow the text book closely. I will augment the lecture materials with technology trends. During the last few lectures, the students will be asked to evaluate topical research papers as the basis for further in class discussions. Class participation is fundamental for productive discussions.

Course text

• Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, Third Edition Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S. Davie

Recommended reference:

• Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet, 2/e James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross
• The Design and Implementation of the 4.4 BSD Operating System Marshall Kirk McKusick, Keith Bostic, Michael J. Karels, John S. Quarterman

We will read research papers to supplement the course text.

Prerequisites

Systems programming and an operating systems/computer networks course (preferred). The course includes a significant course projects; background in programming is necessary.