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
- Reliable data transmission
- Quality of service
- Information diffusion
- Names and addresses
- Routing: principles and algorithms
- Fundamentals of TCP/IP networks
- Fundamentals of communication channels in general and Ethernet switched networks
Know-how
- Understand the architecture and the internals of computer networks
- Performance indicators and their estimation and measurement
- Understand the transport and network layers impact in networked applications
- Understand how content is diffused
- Transport interfaces and their usage
- Analyze, structure and implement small distributed applications
Prerequisites
Good acquaintance with programming and operating systems.
Subject matter
- Introduction to computer networks: terminology, organization, services, components and structuring principles (what is a computer network, links, statistical multiplexing, store & forward, packet switching, network structures, layers, …)
- Application and protocols: applications requirements and the available transports, and models of communication and coordination (client / server, P2P, …)
- Reliable data transmission: specifications and implementation techniques (Stop & wait, Quality of Service, TCP, Forward error correction)
- Information diffusion (HTTP, performance and scalability, content distribution networks, multimedia information, RTP, Adaptable Video over HTTP)
- Naming and addressing (Layers, DNS, IP addresses, Mac addresses)
- Routing: principles, addressing and algorithms
- Fundamentals of TCP/IP networks and protocols (ARP, DHCP, NAT, IP, routing with IP
- Fundamentals of communication links in general and Ethernet switched networks
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 2 students but are evaluated by individual assessments.
Intermediate grading computation uses 0.1 grades approximation.