Course Objectives and Description

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

1. learn fundamental Computer Network principles, and
2. train students to explore these network technogies using hands on experiments

This course will provide the Computer Networking foundation necessary for more advanced CSE courses in Network Management, distributed systems etc. 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 and peer-to-peer systems.

Course text and Organization

We will follow the text book closely. When appropriate, I will augment the book chapter materials with more recent research paperss and articles.

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, 3/e James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross

Prerequisites

The course includes a significant programming projects; background in programming is necessary.