Course Syllabus
Fall 2009
CSCI4345.01/CMPE4345.01 Computer Networks
Department of Computer Science
University of Texas - Pan American
General
Course Information
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Meeting time:
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1:10pm~2:25pm, Tuesday and Thursday.
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Classroom:
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ENGR 1.272
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Class
Webpage:
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Follow the
link to the course from Blackboard at: http://onlinelearning.utpa.edu/
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Instructor
Information
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Name
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Fang Liu
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Office
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ENGR 3.272
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Phone
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(956)
316 - 7923
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Fax
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(956)
384 - 5099
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Email
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fliu AT
cs.panam.edu
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Office
hours
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1:00pm~3:00pm
on Monday and Wednesday, or by appointment
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TA
Information
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Name
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Liang Ding
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Office
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ENGR 1.216
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Email
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adamdingliang_02 AT 163.com
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Office
hours
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Wednesday, 9am-12pm
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Course
Description
This course provides an introduction to
fundamental concepts in the design and implementation of computer communication
networks, their protocols, and applications. Topics to be covered include:
layered network architectures, network applications, network programming
interfaces (e.g., sockets), transport layer services, data link protocols,
local area networks and network routing. Examples of existing networks and
network architectures are studied.
Course
Objective
Upon successful completion
of the course, you are expected to have an understanding of the
fundamentals of network architectures and protocols and be able to apply them
to analyze and design networks. Specifically, you should be able to:
- Understand the layered network architecture.
- Understand the fundamentals of data
communications.
- Understand the principles of media access,
switching, routing and congestion control.
- Understand the basics of network protocol
design and analysis.
- Be familiar with the TCP/IP protocol suite.
- Be familiar with application layer protocols.
- Be able to write network-capable programs
based on the socket libraries.
- Understand the structure of client-server
systems and be able to build client-server programs
Textbooks
"Computer
Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet", by Jim Kurose and
Keith Ross, 5th Edition. ISBN: 013-6079679. -- Required
"Unix Network Programming, Vol. 1: The Sockets
Networking API", by W. Richard Stevens, Bill
Fenner and Andrew M. Rudoff, 3rd
Edition. Addison-Wesley, 2003, ISBN: 0131411551. -- Recommended
"Computer
Networks: A System Approach", by Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S. Davie, 4th
edition. ISBN: 0-12-370548-7. -- Recommended
"Computer
Networks", by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, 4th Edition. ISBN: 0-13-066102-3. -- Recommended
Prerequisites
A rudimentary understanding of operating
systems and computer architecture;
Programming ability in a higher-level
language such as C/C++.
Method of Instruction
The course will be taught
mainly through lectures and in-class discussion. Please visit routinely the class webpage for the class schedule and
up-to-date information.
There will be five homework assignments, two projects, and three major exams.
The exams will be close-book. The written assignments have to be done
individually. The projects can be done in a group of two students.
Grading Policy
Grades will be computed based on the
following weights:
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Homework
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20%
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Project
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20%
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Exams 1-3
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60% (20% of
each)
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Final
letter grade will be curved based on the distribution of the overall scores.
However, you may expect the following tentative grading scale to evaluate your
performance: A's:85-100%, B's:75-84%, C's:65-74%, D's:55-64%.
Make-up
and Late Work Policy:
Do not miss exams!!! - There is no make-up exam. However, if
for some unavoidable and valid (in the judgment of the instructor) reasons you
have to miss an exam, speak with me before the exam.
Please
work on homework assignments early and hand in on time. Late work will be levied heavy penalties.
Penalty: Up to 1 week late 20 points penalty, 2 weeks late 50 points penalty.
No accepted afterwards (Grade is zero).
Course
Schedule
Tentative schedule,
subjective to change.
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Week
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Topic
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Readings
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1-2
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Network Foundation
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Ch.1
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3
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Application Layer
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Ch.2
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4
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Socket Programming
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Exam 1: 10/06/2009,
Tuesday.
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5-6
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Transport Layer
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Ch.3
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7-8
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Network Layer: Part
I
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Ch.4
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Exam 2: 11/03/2009,
Tuesday.
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9
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Network Layer: Part
II
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Ch.4
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10-12
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Link layer
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Ch.5
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Exam 3
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13-14
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Project Presentation
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