Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Computer Networks

Code

8149

Academic unit

Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Department

Departamento de Informática

Credits

6.0

Teacher in charge

José Augusto Legatheaux Martins

Weekly hours

5

Total hours

70

Teaching language

Português

Objectives

Learning goals:

  • Introduction to computer networks: terminology, organization, services, components and structuring principles
  • Application and protocols: applications requirements and models of communication and coordination
  • Fundamentals of communication channels and switched networks
  • Transport protocols: specifications and implementation techniques
  • Security at the transport level
  • Routing: principles, addressing and algorithms
  • Data-link layer issues of shared wired and wireless channels

Know-how

  • Analyze a protocol and understand its details
  • Usage of communication interfaces and their usage
  • Structure and implement small distributed applications
  • Transport protocols and network analysis and modeling
  • Protocol simulation

Prerequisites

Good acquaintance with programming and operating systems.

Subject matter

Introduction to computer networks: terminology, organization, services, components and structuring principles

Application and protocols: applications requirements and models of communication and coordination

Fundamentals of communication channels and switched networks

Transport protocols: specifications and implementation techniques

Security at the transport level - a short introduction

Routing: principles, addressing and algorithms

Data-link layer issues of shared wired and wireless channels.

Bibliography

James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, "Computer Networking - A Top-Down Approach," Addison Wesley — Pearson Education, 2012, ISBN-10: 0136079679, 6th Edition

Ivan Marsic, “Computer Networks – Performance and Quality of Service,“ Rutgers University, 2013 — available at  http://www.ece.rutgers.edu/~marsic/books/CN/ 

Kenneth L. Calvert and Michael Donahoo, “TCP/IP Sockets in Java: Practical Guide for Programmers,” Morgan Kauffman, 2002, ISBN 1-55860-685-8, 72 pages

There are many other computer networks text books — ask the instructor for a ful list

Teaching method

Lectures are intended to support the instructor’s presentation of fundamental issues, as well as discussion of such topics with students. In some lectures, standard problems are solved and discussed and protocols are analyzed.

Laboratory sessions take place in a computer laboratory and their aim is to solve problems and learn how to build network applications and protocols. These exercises, protocols and applications use the principles presented during lectures. 

Evaluation method

Assessment rules

2 intermediate closed-book tests or final exam (the exam is the recovery path for those who fail the tests) each one accounting for 30% of the final grade.

Several mandatory laboratory small projects (final average grading of 6.5/20 in these small projects is required for course success) accounting for 15% each of the final grade. 

Laboratory small projects are executed in groups of up to 3 students but are evaluated by individual assessments.

Intermediate grading is approximate to 0.1 grades.

Courses