Networks-- CS 125

Computer Science 125
Computer Networks
Syllabus -- Spring 2014

Professor: Mike Erlinger
Office: Olin 1262
Phone: x-18912
E-mail: mike@cs.hmc.edu

Lecture Times: Tuesday & Thursday, 2:45pm, Beckman B126
Lab Times: Tuesdays, 4:15PM, Beckman B 105
Graders:: Joe Agajanian
Lab TAs:: Joe Agajanian
Secretary: Joyce Greene, Olin 1260, 621-8225

Course Description
Computer Networks covers the principles of computer networking especially protocols and analysis techniques for computer networking. The course has a significant laboratory requirement. The course prerequisite is CS 105 Computer Systems.

Course Text

I ordered texts through Huntley Bookstore, but as usual the numbers may not be correct. There are obviously many places to purchase books, e.g., Amazon, bookpool. Do what is best for you.

Computer Networks, A System Approach, 5th Edition, by Larry Peterson & Bruce Davie, Morgan Kaufmann, ISBN 1-55860-832-X.

Other Related Texts

UNIX Network Programming: The Sockets Networking API, 3rd Edition - by W. Richard Stevens, Bill Fenner, Andrew M. Rudoff Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0-13-141155-1-X.
TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1: The Protocols by W. Richard Stevens, Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-63346-9
Internetworking with TCP/IP Vol 1: Principles, Protocols, and Architecture, Fourth Edition. by Douglas Comer, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-018380-6.
Hands-on Networking with Internet Techologies, 2nd Edition by Douglas Comer, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-148696-9.

What Is This Course About?

There are many ways to approach the subject of computer networks. In early years, the course was centered on the analysis of the individual protocols in the TCP/IP protocol stack. Besides protocol particulars, the current text, Peterson and Davie, considers computer networking from a systems perspective, investigating some of the questions related to the general concept of networking (protocols are still a significant undertaking). Peterson and Davie are strongly oriented towards TCP/IP, but their presentation has a more global view of the interaction of various protocols. The text focuses on networking protocols and paper analysis of actual networks. The lab will be used to move from paper analysis to practical analysis of networks. I will teach the course at 3 levels:

First, the systems approach of P&D will provide the basis of the lectures.
Second, TCP/IP protocols will be used as examples of the resulting network architecture.
Finally, implementation and measure of actual TCP/IP networks will be investigated for the practical aspects of computer networking - the Labs.

My lectures WILL ASSUME that you have read related material from one of the above books or other material (e.g., RFCs) and thus that you come to class with questions and some knowledge. I plan on starting each lecture section with some questions and concepts that you should be thinking about.

Requirements and Grades

I have no idea as to the best approach to encourage you to submit material on time, except to use the calendar and laboratory to control your activities.

Also, for a change I have a grader who will help in the lab, hwks, etc. But, I do plan on using the class to do some grading and to present in class. I plan on giving everyone a turn. Thus, you will also be responsible for some critical evaluation of your classmates' work.

Make sure to read the late policy. There will be two exams!! Your grade will be determined on your performance on all assignments, but historically it is the exams that determine grades. The relative weighting scheme will be as follows:

Abstracts: and Homeworks: 15%

Labs : 60%

Tests : 25%

Abstracts

Do them or lose the points. There will be NO course grade of 'A' without all abstracts being completed.

Laboratory

The laboratory aspect of this course continues under development. The various Web pages will be updated as the semester progresses. The labs focus on network investigation and code development. Labs will have a statement about grades such as: "Do parts 1 and 2 for a B; Do parts 1, 2, and 3 for an A". Just make sure in your writeups that you indicate what work you think you have done.
One thing that is certain is that each of you will be part of a team that will give a lecture on a protocol. The various Web pages will be updated as the semester progresses.

Collaboration Policy

Collaboration is encouraged. This means that you may discuss approaches to solving problems with anyone in the class, including myself, graders, and other students. However, copying solutions from any source (person or book) is disallowed, e.g., googling for information is fine, googling for the answer is not. All students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Harvey Mudd Honor Code. If you have any questions about what is appropriate or inappropriate collaboration, please talk to Me.

Course Web Page

You should check the course Web page no less than every Monday afternoon. My plan is to keep it updatedly weekly, i.e., by Sunday night the next week should be complete and subsequent weeks partially completed. Things way out may move, but they do show you direction. NOTE: Everything is driven from the course Calendar, so keep checking it.

List of Topics

Course Overview - Intro to Network Architectures, Internet, IETF, Course Overview
Readings: P&D - 1,
Intro to Network Management & Performance
Readings: P&D - Netstat, Snoop
Direct Link Networks - Media concerns, Ethernet, FDDI
Readings: P&D - 2,
Packet Switching
Readings: P&D - 3,
Internetworking
Readings: P&D - 4, RFCs
End-to-End Protocols
Readings: P&D - 5, RFCs
Congestion Control & Resource Allocation
Readings: P&D - 6,
End-to-End Data
Readings: P&D - 7,
Network Security
Readings: P&D - 8,
Applications
Readings: P&D - 9,

Mike Erlinger

Last Modified Tuesday, 21-Jan-2014 16:33:48 PST