COURSE INFORMATION

Course: CS436, Principles of Computer Networks, 3 credits (Fall '07).

Lecture: Tue. Thu 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., SL206.

Instructor: Xukai Zou (278-8576, xkzou@cs.iupui.edu).

Instructor Office Hours: Tue., Thu. 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (in Rm SL280F)) or by appt.

GA:  Mingrui Qi (qianeasy@hotmail.com)

GA's  Office Hours: TBA.

Prerequisite: Operating System, Strong programming skills, and sound undergraduate level mathematics.

Grading: homework assignments (30%), project (15%), Quizzes (15%), Exam I (20%), Exam II (20%).

Course Description: This is an introductory level course on the concepts, architecture, and principles of computer networks.

The topics to be covered:

  1. Communication networks and services (Chapter 1)
  2. Applications and layered architectures (Chapter 2)
  3. Digital Transmission Fundamentals (Chapter 3)
  4. Circuit-switching networks (Chapter 4)
  5. Peer-to-peer protocols (Chapter 5)
  6. Local area networks and medium access control protocols (Chapter 6)
  7. Packet switching networks (Chapter 7)
  8. TCP/IP (Chapter 8)
  9. Network security (in Chapter 11)
  10. ATM, Advanced network architecture, Multimedia information (in Chapters 9, 10, 12) (depending on time available)

Oncourse Account: Be familiar with oncourse and the grades will be posted via oncourse. However, all the communication will be conducted via class email account. Please send an email to majordomo@cs.iupui.edu from your university or department account with both subject and body being subscribe cs436.

Homework handin: Both hard copy and soft copy are required. Hard copy is handed in class and soft copy should be submitted via submitd before class.

Textbooks

A. Leon-Garcia and I. Widjaja, "Communication Networks - Fundamental concepts and key architectures", McGraw-Hill, 2004, second edition (ISBN: 0-07-119848-2) (Required).

Douglas E. Comer, "Computer Networks And Internets", (4th edn.), Prentice Hall, 2004 (ISBN 0-13-143351-2). (Recommended) (Author's page for the book).

Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Larry Peterson et. al. ISBN: 1-55860-832-X (Recommended)

Andrew S. Tanenbaum, "Computer Networks" (3rd edn.), Prentice Hall, March 1996 (ISBN: 0-13-349945-6). (Recommended) (Author's page for the book).

Homework Assignments: There will be 6-7 homework assignments in this class which will each have equal weightage. There will usually be a programming part in each assignment.

Team Project: 2-3 students, Implement a network protocol or application in Java, C++, Perl, Tcl/Tk etc. (any one is OK)

Exams:   Exam I, Thur, Oct. 11; Exam II, Thur, Dec. 6

Examination must be taken at the time above; there are no make-up examinations, except for a good reason with verification documentation.

Academic Integrity: All submitted work must be your own contribution (your team contribution for the team project) and nobody else's! Collaboration in homework and exams are not allowed.
Please See IU Code of Student Ethics and ACM's Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for standards of ethical conduct.

Late assignments: No late submitted assignment is accepted except for a good reason, in addition, 10% discount for each late day.

Add and Drop class: please look at the IUPUI Academic Calendar for the deadline of adding and dropping class.

Questions? Please send e-mail to me, xkzou@cs.iupui.edu or to the GA, qianeasy@hotmail.com.

Note: This page can be accessed on the World Wide Web at http://www.cs.iupui.edu/~xkzou/teaching/CS436/cs436.course.outline.html