Syllabus

Description: Computer and communications networks provide a wide array of services in a variety of different ways. This course considers packet-switched networks that provide services using the transmission control protocol (TCP) and the user datagram protocol (UDP). It includes an overview of hardware, topology and design, and protocols. It consider both theoretical and applied topics.

Textbook: The primary textbook for this course is:

Kurose, J.F. and K.W. Ross (2012) Computer Networking, Addison Wesley.
(Order from amazon , order from Barnes and Noble , compare at bigwords , compare at CampusBooks4Less , order from Chegg , or search eFollett )

Additional readings will be available (to members of the JMU community) on-line.

You are expected to complete all reading assignments before the first day they are discussed in class.

Outline: This course is organized as follows, though specific topics and dates may change. (Readings are listed in the right-most column.)

Part I: Introduction

8/27

Communication and A Layered View of Networks

8/29

Communication Protocols

K&R 1

9/3-9/5

Probability and Queueing Theory

B (1998) ch. 6,8

Part II: The Application Layer

9/10-9/12

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) , Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) , WebDAV and Electronic Mail and Instant Messaging

K&R 2.1-2.4

9/17-9/19

Names and Addresses: The Domain Name System (DNS) , DNS Poisoning , Directory Services and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

K&R 2.5 and S (2009) ch. 21

9/24

Caching and Peer to Peer Networking

K&R 2.6

9/26

The X Protocol and XWindows and Network File Services

10/1

Examination 1

Part III: The Transport Layer

10/3-10/8

Overview , Multiplexing , User Datagram Protocol (UDP) , Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) , Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) and Multipath TCP (MPTCP)

K&R 1.3.2, 3.1-3.3, 3.5

10/10-10/15

Flow Control , Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) , TCP Congestion Control and Persistent HTTP Revisited

K&R 3.4,3.6-3.7

Part IV: The Network/Internetwork Layer

10/17

An Introduction to Graphs and Telecommunications Networks

K&R 4.1

10/22

Routers , The Internet Protocol (IP) and The Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)

K&R 4.2-4.4

10/24

Routing on Graphs

K&R 4.5

10/29

Classless Interdomain Routing (CIDR) and Private Networking

10/31

Routing Protocols , Broadcast and Multicast

K&R 4.6-4.7

11/5

Examination 2

Part V: The Physical and Link Layers

11/7

Telecommunications Basics: Waves , EM Waves and Data/Signals

B (2011) ap.D and K&R 1.4-1.5,6.4

11/12

Media , Ethernet and IEEE 802.3 and The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)

K&R 5.1-5.4

11/14

IEEE 802.11 Wireless Networking and Bluetooth Wireless Networking

K&R 6.1-6.3

Part VI: Putting It All Together

11/19

The Protocol Stack Revisited

K&R 5.4,5.7

11/21

IP Tunneling , Mobile IP and Network Reliability

K&R 6.5-6.8

Part VII: Network Security Basics

12/3

Introduction , Encryption , Integrity and Authentication and An Aside (for the HW): GPS

K&R 8.1-8.5

12/5

Transport Layer Security , Network Layer Security , Kerberos , Filtering and Application Gateways

K&R 8.6-8.9 and T sec. 8.7

Attendance at lectures is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged. You are expected to come to class prepared to ask and answer questions. Hence, you should complete the readings on a topic before it is discussed in lecture.

Grading: Final grades will be based on your performance on: 2 in-class exams (25% each) , 1 final exam [during the exam period] (35% total) and several homework assignments (15% total).

Homework Assignments: 10 homework assignments will be assigned during the semester. Note that their due dates are subject to change. Note also that the links to asssignments on Canvas will only work if you first login to Canvas.

Make sure you read and understand all of the policies related to homework assignments.

Office Hours: You may meet with Prof. Bernstein during his scheduled office hours or you may schedule an appointment with him.