Computer Networks: 2010-2011
Information
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Lecturer |
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Degrees |
Part A Options — Honour School of Computer Science Schedule B1 — Honour School of Computer Science Schedule B1 — Honour School of Mathematics and Computer Science |
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Term |
Trinity Term 2011 (16 lectures) |
Overview
This course examines the science underpinning computer communications, such as the basic architectural principles of computer networking and specifically how the Internet works today. Covered topics include data representation, how errors in transmission can be detected and dealt with, the way information is routed over a large network, how congestion can be avoided, aspects of network security, and socket programming.Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the students should:
- Understand the architectural principles of computer networking and compare different approaches to organising networks.
- Understand good network design: simplicity, scalability, performance, and the end-to-end principle.
- Understand how the Internet works today.
- Judge the effectiveness of existing or similar network protocols.
- Be conversant with primitives of network application programming.
Synopsis
Network architecture: Packetization, Protocol layers and services (OSI vs. TCP/IP), End-to-end principle, Internet structure
Link and access technologies: Multiple access protocols, Sliding window protocols, Wireless LANs (access, security), LANs (Ethernet), Error detection and correction
Network layer: IP Addressing, Routing algorithms, Packet handling, IPv6, tunnelling, mobile IP
Network services: DNS, Address assignment (DHCP and PPP), Address resolution (ARP)
Traffic: Queuing models, packet dropping models, workloads
Switch architecture: routers and switches
Transport layer: Ports, TCP (handshake, windowing, congestion control), UDP, SCTP
Socket programming: Socket model, options, performance
Security: Authentication, Encryption, Denial-of-Service, Firewalls, VPN (Virtual Private Networks), Securing email, Securing TCP (SSL).
Syllabus
The need for computer networks; layered models; Ethernet; IP; network routing and congestion control; network security.
Reading list
- Peterson and Bruce S. Davie "Computer Networks: A systems approach (4th ed)", Morgan Kaufmann, 2007
- S. Tanenbaum, Computer Networks (3rd ed), Prentice-Hall International, 1996.