Lecturer	Geraint Jones
Degrees	Schedule S1(CS&P)(3rd years) — Computer Science and Philosophy Schedule S1(3rd years) — Computer Science Schedule B1 — Computer Science Schedule B1(M&CS) — Mathematics and Computer Science
Term	Trinity Term 2017  (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, End-to-end principle, Internet structure

Link and access technologies: Multiple access protocols, Sliding window protocols,  LANs (Ethernet), Error detection and correction

Network layer: IP packet switching, IP addressing and forwarding, Routing

Network services: Address assignment (DHCP), Address resolution (ARP), Error reporting and monitoring (ICMP), DNS

Traffic: Queuing models, packet dropping models, workloads

Switch architecture: Routers and switches

Transport layer: Ports, TCP (handshake, windowing, congestion control), UDP

Socket programming

Security: Elements of cryptography, Denial-of-service attacks and vulnerabilities at various layers (TCP spoofing, ARP poisoning, DNS cache poisoning), IPsec, DNSsec, SBGP, Firewalls, VPN, Securing TCP

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.

Feedback

Students are formally asked for feedback at the end of the course. Students can also submit feedback at any point here. Feedback received here will go to the Head of Academic Administration, and will be dealt with confidentially when being passed on further. All feedback is welcome.

Taking our courses

This form is not to be used by students studying for a degree in the Department of Computer Science, or for Visiting Students who are registered for Computer Science courses

Other matriculated University of Oxford students who are interested in taking this, or other, courses in the Department of Computer Science, must complete this online form by 17.00 on Friday of 0th week of term in which the course is taught. Late requests, and requests sent by email, will not be considered. All requests must be approved by the relevant Computer Science departmental committee and can only be submitted using this form.