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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

ECE 423 Computer Networks Fall 2006

Instructor: Dr. Xidong Deng
Office Hours: ECC-257, TWR 10:00am-2:00pm or by appointment
Email: xdeng@stcloudstate.edu
Phone: 308-5183

Course website: http://web.stcloudstate.edu/xdeng/ece423

Lectures: TR 2:00-3:30pm, ECC 126 Open Lab: ECC 222
Prerequisite: Programming Skills (C/C++), Basic Operating System, Computer Architecture, Statistics and Probability knowledge
Required Textbook: Computer Networking - A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet, third edition, James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross

References and Resources:

Description: Network architecture and protocols, fundamental of computer and communications network. The design of system software to support computer networks, layered protocol architecture. A programming project is required.

Objectives:

  • Learn fundamentals of modern computer networks
  • Gain hands-on experience with network software and hardware

Outcome: After the successful completion of this course, the students should, at a minimum, be able to

  • Apply their knowledge of math, software and hardware to computer network engineering problems (department outcome a)
    • Understand principal conceptual models of computer networks, packet switching, network protocols, and the value of a layered approach.
    • Be able to apply mathematical and software principles to understand the design issues of popular application protocols such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and DNS,
    • Be able to build client-server application using socket API.
    • Be able to apply mathematical and software principles to understand the basic functionality of transport protocols, error detection and recovery, flow and congestion control, and get a grasp of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).
    • Be able to apply mathematical and software principles to understand network routing algorithms and protocols, and be familiar with routing protocols used in operational networks, and get a grasp of the Internet Protocol (IP).
    • Be able to apply mathematical and physical principles to understand link-layer protocol functionalities such as framing and media access control, be familiar with commonly used layer-2 protocols including Ethernet and IEEE 802.11.
  • Demonstrate the proper use of the selected tool (department outcome b)
    • Be familiar with the unix socket API library and be able to build operational client-server applications using it.
    • Be able to use packet-sniffer software (Ethereal) to capture network traffic and identify various protocol components from the captured traffic.
    • Be able to construct and configure a small local area network using selected networking and computing devices.
  • Demonstrate the ability to design a network application protocol to meet certain system and time constraints, including: (department outcomes c and e)
    • Message type and format
    • Control and data flow
    • User-friendliness
  • Demonstrate the ability to design various components in an operational and efficient network transport protocol to achieve reliable data transfer: (department outcomes c and e)
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze a given network architecture, both qualitatively and quantitatively, including (department outcome d)
    • Bandwidth/throughput.
    • Latency/Response time.
    • Scalability and Robustness
  • Produce professional lab reports (department outcome f)
    • Demonstrate full knowledge of the subject of the experiment
    • Present work in a logical and easy to follow manner

Course Schedule:

Week

Lecture

1-2

Chapter 1: Introduction

2-3

Chapter 2: Application Layer

3-4

Chapter 2, Introduction to Socket Programming

4-6

Chapter 3: Transport Layer

6-7*

Chapter 3: Introduction to Network Simulation Tools

8-10

Chapter 4: Network Layer

10-12

Chapter 5: Data link and Physical Layer

13-14

Advanced Issues: Wireless, Security, Research Topics, etc.

* Will also include one lecture for midterm review.

Lab: The lab projects provide opportunities to practice and learn what is taught in the classroom and gain hands-on experiences. More information about the lab assignments will be made available on the course website at web.stcloudstate.edu/xdeng/ece423/lab.html

Grading:

  • Prereq. Check 5%
  • Homework: 20%
  • Lab Projects: 30%
  • Midterm: 20%
  • Final exam: 25%

Policies:

  • Homeworks and labs are due in class on the date specified. They will be accepted after the due date until the start of the next class period with a 20% penalty. No submission will be accepted after this time (i.e., one class after the due date). Any one caught cheating will get an F.
  • There will be one midterm and one final exam, both of them will be open-book and open-notes. The exams can only be made up if an excused absence is obtained from the instructor before the exam or accident. In case of a severe illness, a written note from the doctor must be handed over.

    Please check the course website regularly for ANNONCEMENTS, GRADES, LECTURE NOTES, LAB ASSIGNMENTS and SOLUTIONS to homework and exam problems.