Computer Communication Networks

Time:

Mon and Wed 6.15pm - 7.30pm

Room:

104

Office:

258

Telephone:

(216) 672-4004 ext 258

Text:

Tanenbaum, Andrew S. Computer Networks, 2nd edition, 1988, Prentice Hall.

References:

• Stallings, William Data and Computer Communications, 2nd edition, 1988
• Schwartz, Mischa, Computer Communication Networks Design and Analysis, 1977
• Hunt, Craig, TCP/IP Network Administration, O'Reilly and Associates, 1994
• Schwartz, Mischa, Telecommunication Networks Protocols, Modeling and Analysis, 1987

Prerequisites:

Operating Systems or Computer Architecture.
Knowledge of Calculus including sequences and series and elementary probability.

Objective:

To discuss the analysis and design of computer networks in particular their architecture and the lower layers of the OSI standard model for networking. The emphasis will be on the theoretical aspects aand on some actual networks and protocols in particular TCP/IP and the Internet. Concentration will be on the lower layers but mention will also be made of aspects of other layers.

Topics:

• Introduction and overview, the need for networks and interconnection networks.
• OSI model of computer networking
• The history of networks, example networks
• Physical layer - encoding, media, analog & digital transmission, multiplexing and switching, ISDN
• Medium Access sublayer - LANs, WANs, protocols, IEEE 802, fiber optic nets, FDDI, examples
• Internet - historical perspective
• Internet Addressing
• TCP/IP Architecture - layers
• Internet Network Access Layer, Ethernet IEEE 802.3, ARP,RARP,BOOTP packets
• Internet layer - IP, ICMP packets
• Transport layer - TCP, UDP
• Application Layer - protocols, ports and sockets, ftp, telnet, finger etc.
• Routing - LAN and WAN devices, protocols
• Name Service - Domain Name Systems (DNS)
• Routing and Gateway Protocols (*)
• OSI Data Link Layer - error correction and detection, sliding window (*) protocols
• OSI The Network and Transport layers - layers 4 and 5 (*)

Exams and Class activities:

Note that the final examination is on Wed not Mon, since there is a class clash with Operating Systems.

Notes:

The homeworks may involve either theoretical questions, survey work or possibly programming assignments.

There will possibly be a term project which could be either theoretical or a practical programming project.