Course Outline

4 credits, 3 lecture, 1 laboratory
Semester taught: Fall
Prerequisite: CS 223 or CS 302

How computer systems are organized into networks and how communication over networks is organized. Communication protocols and their design with an emphasis on current technology and implementation of software.

Course Objectives

The objectives of this course are:

1. Understand the fundamentals of network architectures and be able to apply basic principles to analyze and design computer networks.
2. Be familiar with the fundamentals of data communications and understand the application of those fundamentals in analyzing the design and performance of computer networks.
3. Understand the basics of network protocol design and the analysis or protocols.
4. Understand the security issues involved in networked computer systems.
5. Know the structure of the TCP/IP protocol stack and be familiar with the use of those protocols.
6. Understand the basics of switching and routing in networks and the application of those principles in practical networks.
7. Be able to write network-capable programs using the Unix socket layer libraries.
8. Understand the structure of client-server systems and be able to build client-server programs of moderate size.

The assessment of how well these objectives were met will be based on:

1. Quizzes and a final exam over lecture material will be used to determine the level of understanding of fundamental concepts. (1,2,3,4,5,6).
2. In-class assignments will be used to improve understanding of materials and to verify that students are progressing satisfactorily (1,2,3,4,5,6).
3. Assigned programs will be used to evaluate the progress of the students in implemnting network-capable programs (4,5,7,8).
4. In-lab assignments will be used to improve understanding and verify that students are making satisfactory progress in understanding of implementation methods (4,5,7,8).
5. A final exam over the laboratory material will verify student mastery of programming concepts (7,8).

ABET Discussion

Syllabus:

• Part I - An overview of network services

• An overview of networking, including a discussion of the current network at Montana State University.
  
• How the Web works - http, web servers and browsers.


• Part II, Network organization and physical communications

• Network standards - who, what, why, how.
• Data communications - how electronic communication works.
• Ethernet, WiFi modems and other physical layer mechanisms.


• Part III, Protocols and messaging systems, TCP/IP

• TCP/IP Protocol architecture.
• Switching and forwarding
• Routing - distance vector and link state methods
• Name services

Spring 2004 Details

Room & Time:

Lecture:

Section 02, MWF, 9:00 - 9:50 am, EPS 108


Laboratory:

Section 03, Thur, 8:00 - 9:50 am, EPS 254
Section 04, Thur, 10:00 - 12:00 pm, EPS 254


Final Exam

Section 01   -   December 16, 8:00   -   9:50 AM
Section 02   -   December 17, 8:00   -   9:50 AM

Computer networks is a huge body of material - far more than can reasonably be covered in one semester. Rather than attempting to discuss every section of the book, the course will be organized into larger bodies of material, possibly covering parts of several chapters and outside materials. The lectures will concentrate on conceptual issues, and may jump around the textbook occasionally. If you want a particular topic discussed, feel free to suggest it either in class or by email.

Material from outside the textbook will be common in lectures and in homework assignments.

• Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, Third Edition, Peterson and Davie