Department of Computer Science

Hello Students!

Welcome to CSCI 395.  Please be sure to read through these sections carefully to have a good understanding of classroom expectations and conduct.  Here's to a great semester!

Catalog Description:
Topics include network media, architecture and topology, protocols and layering, client-server models, Ethernet media and hardware, TCP/IP and other protocols, setup and system administration, application protocols and communication, network servers and services, security, data integrity, encryption, and firewalls. This course includes a laboratory and a writing component.  4 credit hours

Objectives of the course:
At the end of this course, a successful student will be expected to:

• understand layered network architectures, specifically the Internet architecture and the TCP/IP protocol stack
• describe the services provided by the application, transport, network, data link, and physical layers of the TCP/IP Reference Model
• describe the key aspects of several protocols including HTTP, SMTP, DNS, TCP, UDP, and IP
• program simple network applications using sockets
• write a reseach paper on a current topic in Networks

Required Textbook:
Computer Networking:  A Top-Down Approach, 4/e  
Authors:  James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross
ISBN: 0-321-49770-8

Prerequisites:
C- or higher in CSCI 362.

Course Outline:

Chapter 1:  Computer Networks and the Internet

Chapter 2:  Application Layer

Chapter 3: Transport Layer

Chapter 4:  Network Layer

Chapter 5:  Link Layer and Local Area Networks

Chapter 7:  Multimedia Networking

Chapter 9:  Network Management

* Chapter 8:  Security in Computer Networks

* Chapter 6:  Wireless and Mobile Networking

* time permitting

Labs:

Lab 1a:  Traceroute  Due:  9/10 at the beginning of class

Lab 1b:  ISPs Due:  9/10 at the beginning of class

Lab 1c:  Phase I of research paper  Due:  9/10 at the beginning of class

Lab 2a: Wireshark Lab:  Packet sniffer  Due: 9/17 at the beginning of class

Lab 2b: IP Finder & Local IP Address programs Due: 9/16 by 11:59 PM

Lab 3: Wireshark Lab:  HTTP  Due: 10/1/08 at the beginning of class

 

 Programs:  

• IPFinder & LocalHost
• Mail user agent (MUA):   implement a mail user agent that sends mail to other users - your task will be to program the SMTP interaction between the MUA and the local SMTP server.  Here is the student code.

• Streaming Video:  implement a streaming video server and client that communicate using the Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) and send data using the Real-time Transfer Protocol (RTP).  Here is the student code,  and the movie.Mjpeg zipped file.

 

Research Paper:
If you have signed up for this course then you know it carries a “W” label.  You are required to complete a research paper in the format of a "real" scientific paper. In each case I will work with you to write it. The choice of the Network topic is flexible. A few possible projects ideas are provided below but you can certainly define your own project on a topic of interest to you.  The paper will be written in 3 phases;  be sure to look over the deadlines. 

Examples of Research Projects (source:  NetworkWorld): 

'Active cookies' to the rescue

Sharing Wi-Fi with your neighbors

Saving VoIP from spam

Fighting spam zombies from outer space

Human beings that live in computers

Spintronics key to small, powerful net devices?

DWT claims to search where Google misses

Researching beyond the constraints of today's Internet

 

Grading:

Exam 1 - 30 %

Exam 2  - 30 %

Programs and Labs - 25 %

Research Paper - 15 %

Final Letter Grades are based on the following weighted scale:

93 – 100:  A      90-92.9:  A-   86 – 89.9:  B+  82 – 85.9  B  79 – 81.9: B-

76 – 78.9:  C+   73 – 75.9:  C  70 – 72.9 C-

66 – 68.9:  D+   63 -65.9:  D    60 – 62.9  D-      <59.9:  Fail

The syllabus is subject to change so be sure to check in occasionally