Computer Networks

Announcements

• January 25: Our textbook has, in fact, arrived at the book store. I have already had photocopies made of Chapter 2 and will provide these to any students waiting for a textbook to arrive in the mail.
• January 21: The bookstore reports that our textbook, Peterson and Davie's Computer Networks (3rd ed.), is on backorder at the publisher with no expected arrival date.  However, new and used copies are in stock at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and Powell's Books. I'll provide photocopies to those who need them for the first few weeks.

About this course

Welcome to the spring 2007 session of CSC 364, Computer Networks.  In this class, I hope you learn not only how the Internet works, but why it is designed the way it is. Although the Internet has been a remarkable success, we'll also consider the limitations of its design.

We'll consider the following problems:

• Reliability: How can we communicate reliably over a network of unreliable components?
• Resource sharing: How can we share scarce resources without centralized control?
• Heterogeneity, scale, and evolution: How do different networks work together to form the Internet? How have we coped with growth and change?
• Cooperation and conflict: How do different players cooperate to their mutual advantage? How can we protect ourselves from those with conflicting and often adversarial interests?

Alongside these problems, we are concerned (as ever in computer systems) about the goals of functionality (what does the network do?) and performance (how fast or efficiently does is it done?). However, as suggested by the problems above, the players are many and trade-offs are complex. Our central concern is the design and implementation of protocols: sets of rules that network components follow so they can work together. 

My goals are for you to

• learn what makes the Internet work (including the details of important protocols),
• practice thinking like a protocol designer,
• face some of the sticky issues of protocol implementation,
• learn the context behind some pressing issues of today, and
• gain experience reading and discussing literature from both research and practice.

Learning activities

Rather than spending precious class time telling you what you can read in the text, I want to use class time to go beyond the text: making clarifications, working through examples, considering context, weighing design trade-offs, debating goals, questioning assumptions, and so forth.  So we can work at this higher level, it is imperative that you come to class on time and prepared to participate.

In reviewing the schedule for the course, you'll note that there is one or more reading for most class meetings. These readings come from our textbook, the research literature, and a variety of other resources available on the Web. To facilitate the effective use of class time, I expect you to do the reading and submit discussion questions before class.

In addition to daily reading and discussion, you'll apply what you have learned in written homework. You'll engage in the design and implementation of network protocols though a significant programming project. You'll demonstrate what you have learned in two exams and a technical presentation.

I will also suggest activities for extra credit throughout the term. You may propose activities for extra credit as well.

Grading policies

Each type of assignment has its own late policy and collaboration policy.

I will use the following scheme as a base for weighting grades for individual activities in the final grade:

I do not believe in "grading on a curve"; I would be pleased if you all earned A's in this course.

Accomodations

If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accomodations, let me know early in the semester so that we can work together to meet your learning needs.  You will also need to provide documentation of your disability to the Academic Advising Office, located on the third floor of the Rosenfield Center (x3702).

Janet Davis (davisjan@cs.grinnell.edu)