BSc: Networks

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Networks

  • Course name: Networks
  • Code discipline: —
  • Subject area:

Short Description

This course covers the following concepts: Computer networking; TCP/IP layered structure; Addressing; Routing; Applications; Transport and application protocols.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite subjects

Prerequisite topics

Course Topics

Course Sections and Topics
Section Topics within the section
Application layer
  1. Application layer functionality
  2. Application layer protocols
  3. Domain name system
  4. Web
  5. File transfer
Transport layer
  1. TCP and UDP
  2. Transmission control
  3. Quality of service
  4. Delay-tolerant networking
Network layer
  1. IP addressing
  2. Subneting
  3. Routing
  4. Inter-networking
  5. host-to-host networking
Physical and data link layer
  1. Layered structure of network
  2. Physical layer
  3. Data link layer
  4. Medium access control
  5. Congestion
  6. Swiching
  7. Sliding window protocols and other protocols in physical and link layer

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

What is the main purpose of this course?

This is an introductory course to Computer Networks. During the course, we will introduce the fundamental principles behind modern computer networks, including the OSI reference model, the fundamental communication protocols, network topologies, and peer-to-peer and client-server architectures for network applications. We will also cover the basic C functions for network programming, as well as software tools to monitor data packets in a network, the configuration of routers and routing algorithms. We will conclude the course with covering the modern problems of existing computer networks, including the security aspects.

ILOs defined at three levels

Level 1: What concepts should a student know/remember/explain?

By the end of the course, the students should be able to ...

  • Layered structure of a computer network
  • Topologies in computer networks
  • Addressing schemes in networks
  • Routing algorithms
  • Security at different TCP/IP layers
  • Nuts and bolts of applications in networks

Level 2: What basic practical skills should a student be able to perform?

By the end of the course, the students should be able to ...

  • How a network is formed
  • How addressing is done at different layers of the networks
  • How subnets are created
  • How different routing protocols work and which one is better in which scenario
  • How medium is accessed on a network
  • How different networks operate
  • And Demonstrate the knowledge and discuss the overal functioning of a computer network

Level 3: What complex comprehensive skills should a student be able to apply in real-life scenarios?

By the end of the course, the students should be able to ...

  • Configure networks
  • Configure routing
  • Perform TCP and UDP connections
  • Create networks and subnets
  • Write simple network applications through sockets

Grading

Course grading range

Grade Range Description of performance
A. Excellent 90-100 -
B. Good 70-89 -
C. Satisfactory 60-69 -
D. Poor 0-59 -

Course activities and grading breakdown

Activity Type Percentage of the overall course grade
Regular Quizzes (During lectures, tutorials, or labs) 5 (excluding 3 worst)
Midterm Exam 20
Final Exam 60
Labs/seminar classes 15

All labs must be delivered by a specified date, before the exam date, otherwise the course is failed; late labs delivery without justifying reasons is penalised.

Failing any part of the evaluation (that is scoring less than 60%) will trigger a failure in the entire course (midterm is an exception). If there are no failed components, then the final grade is computed as a weighted average of the components listed above approximated at the highest second digit and then rounded to the closest integer.

Recommendations for students on how to succeed in the course

Resources, literature and reference materials

Open access resources

  • Lecture material
  • Computer networking: A top-down approach / James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross.—6th edition (or later ones)
  • Optional reading: Computer Networks / Andrew S. Tanenbaum, David J. Wetherall - 5th ed.
  • Online resources

Closed access resources

Software and tools used within the course

Teaching Methodology: Methods, techniques, & activities

Activities and Teaching Methods

Activities within each section
Learning Activities Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4
Homework and group projects 1 1 1 1
Midterm evaluation 1 1 1 1
Testing (written or computer based) 1 1 1 1
Reports 1 1 1 1
Discussions 1 1 1 1

Formative Assessment and Course Activities

Ongoing performance assessment

Section 1

Activity Type Content Is Graded?
Question How application layer protocols work? 1
Question How DNS work with the transport layer protocols? 1
Question How does http and https work? 1
Question How does ftp work? 1
Question How security is incoporated at application layer? 1
Question Which applications need TCP and UDP at the lower layer? 1

Section 2

Activity Type Content Is Graded?
Question How does TCP 3-way handshake work? 1
Question How reliability is achieved in TCP? 1
Question What are the pros and cons of connectionless and connection-oriented protocols in transport layer? 1
Question How security is provided at transport layer? 1
Question Implement TCP connection through sockets 0
Question Develop simple application incorporating TCP and UDP 0

Section 3

Activity Type Content Is Graded?
Question What are different classes of IPv4 address? 1
Question Why do we need IPv6? 1
Question How different routing protocols work and why do we need different routing algorithms? 1
Question How quality of service is provided at network layer? 1
Question How to create different subnets? 1
Question Configure routing table 0
Question Create subnets 0
Question Work on quality of service, congestion and related topics 0

Section 4

Activity Type Content Is Graded?
Question How do different protocols work at physical and link layer? 1
Question How does a switch and a hub work? 1
Question How does different medium access control mechanisms work? 1
Question How to detect and correct errors in transmission? 1
Question What are different transmission media? 1
Question Configure switches 0
Question Detect errors in transmission 0
Question Play with different protocols, e.g., ARP 0

Final assessment

Section 1

  1. As above

Section 2

  1. As above

Section 3

  1. As above

Section 4

  1. As above

The retake exam

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4