CNT5008 Computer Communication Networks Architecture

Fall 2020

Class description: Computer networks, layers, protocols and interfaces, local area networks networking.
Course objectives:
  • The student will be able to develop an understanding of the key principles of computer networks and protocol design for the Internet and wireless networks.
  • The student will understand the tradeoffs and limitations of the different design approaches for network/Internet protocols.
  • The student will attain improved skills of solving and analyzing network design problems
Instructor: Dr. Lotzi Bölöni
Office: HEC - 319
Phone: (407) 823-2320 (on last resort)
E-mail: lboloni@ucf.edu (preferred means of communication)
Web Site: http://www.cs.ucf.edu/~lboloni/Teaching/CNT5008_Fall2020/index.html
The assignments and the other announcements will be posted on the course web site
Classroom: online
Class Hours: Tue, Th 1:30PM - 2:45PM
Office Hours: Mon, Wed 6:00PM - 7:30PM
See webcourse announcement for Zoom link.
Pre-requisites: The class does not depend on the undergraduate computer networks class, however some understanding of computer architecture, such as provided by EEL 4768C is helpful.
Required texts: There is no required textbook.
Recommended readings:
  • Computer Networking - A Top Down Approach by Kurose and Ross (7th edition)
Grading:
  • Only full grades will be used based on the points obtained. A for 90 and above, B for 80-89, C for 70-79, F for lower than 70.
  • Points awarded: Midterm 1: 20 points, Midterm 2: 20 points, Homeworks/Projects: 30 points total, Final exam 30 points.
  • Some midterms, exams and homeworks will have bonus points, but no curve will be applied.
  • The exams will be administered through ProctorHub, and are open book, open notes.
  • Make up exams will be given only in justified cases.
Sample exams Sample Midterm 1
Sample Midterm 2
Sample Final Exam
Note: you should not expect that the new exams will be just variations with different data.
Integrity: The department, college, and University are committed to honesty and integrity in all academic matters. We do not tolerate academic misconduct by students in any form, including cheating, plagiarism and commercial use of academic materials. Please consult the Golden Rule Handbook for the procedures which will be applied.
Verification of engagement: As of Fall 2014, all faculty members are required to document students' academic activity at the beginning of each course. In order to document that you began this course, please complete the following academic activity by the end of the first week of classes, or as soon as possible after adding the course, but no later than August 27. Failure to do so will result in a delay in the disbursement of your financial aid.
To satisfy this requirement, you must finish the first quiz posted online. Log in to Webcourses, choose CAP 5636, and submit your answers online.
Course accessibility: The University of Central Florida is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. Students should connect with Student Accessibility Services (Ferrell Commons 185, sas@ucf.edu, phone (407) 823-2371). Through Student Accessibility Services, a Course Accessibility Letter may be created and sent to professors, which informs faculty of potential access and accommodations that might be reasonable. If you are a deployed active duty military student and feel that you may need a special accommodation due to that unique status, please contact your instructor to discuss your circumstances.
Campus safety: Emergencies on campus are rare, but if one should arise in our class, everyone needs to work together. Students should be aware of the surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.
  • In case of an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.
  • Every UCF classroom contains an emergency procedure guide posted on a wall near the door. Please make a note of the guide's physical location and consider reviewing the online version.
  • If there is a medical emergency during class, we may need to access a first aid kit or AED (Automated External Defibrillator). To learn where those items are located in this building, see the link (click on link from menu on left).
  • To stay informed about emergency situations, sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to my.ucf.edu and logging in. Click on "Student Self Service" located on the left side of the screen in the tool bar, scroll down to the blue "Personal Information" heading on your Student Center screen, click on "UCF Alert," fill out the information, including your e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click "Apply" to save the changes, and then click "OK."
Zoom for Remote Instruction Because of the continued remote instruction requirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this course will use Zoom for synchronous ("real time") class meetings.

Please take the time to familiarize yourself with Zoom by visiting the UCF Zoom Guides at . You may choose to use Zoom on your mobile device (phone or tablet).

Things to Know About Zoom:

  • You must sign in to my Zoom session using your UCF NID and password.
  • The Zoom sessions are recorded.
  • Improper classroom behavior is not tolerated within Zoom sessions and may result in a referral to the Office of Student Conduct.
  • You can contact Webcourses@UCF Support at if you have any technical issues accessing Zoom.

Please see the Zoom housekeeping slide developed by UCF instructional designer, Trudy Trail-Constant.

COVID-19 Statements University-Wide Face Covering Policy for Common Spaces and Face-to-Face Classes

To protect members of our community, everyone is required to wear a facial covering inside all common spaces including classrooms (https://policies.ucf.edu/documents/PolicyEmergencyCOVIDReturnPolicy.pdf. Students who choose not to wear facial coverings will be asked to leave the classroom by the instructor. If they refuse to leave the classroom or put on a facial covering, they may be considered disruptive (please see the Golden Rule for student behavior expectations). Faculty have the right to cancel class if the safety and well-being of class members are in jeopardy. Students will be responsible for the material that would have been covered in class as provided by the instructor.

Notifications in Case of Changes to Course Modality

Depending on the course of the pandemic during the semester, the university may make changes to the way classes are offered. If that happens, please look for announcements or messages in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email about changes specific to this course.

COVID-19 and Illness Notification

Students who believe they may have a COVID-19 diagnosis should contact UCF Student Health Services (407-823-2509) so proper contact tracing procedures can take place.

Students should not come to campus if they are ill, are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID, or if anyone living in their residence has tested positive or is sick with COVID-19 symptoms. CDC guidance for COVID-19 symptoms is located here: (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html)

Students should contact their instructor(s) as soon as possible if they miss class for any illness reason to discuss reasonable adjustments that might need to be made. When possible, students should contact their instructor(s) before missing class.

In Case of Faculty Illness

Depending on the course of the pandemic during the semester, the university may make changes to the way classes are offered. If that happens, please look for announcements or messages in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email about changes specific to this course.

Course Accessibility and Disability COVID-19 Supplemental Statement

Accommodations may need to be added or adjusted should this course shift from an on-campus to a remote format. Students with disabilities should speak with their instructor and should contact sas@ucf.edu to discuss specific accommodations for this or other courses.


Syllabus

Date
Topic
Lecture Notes, Readings, Homeworks
Aug. 25
Introduction
  • What is the internet?
  • Protocols
[slides] 01 - Introduction
Aug. 27
Introduction (cont'd)
  • Network edge
  • Network core
  • Delay, loss, throughput

Sep. 1
Introduction (cont'd)
  • Protocol layers, service models
  • Security
  • History

Sep. 3
The application layer
  • Application layer protocol features
  • The world wide web: HTTP
[slides] 02-ApplicationLayer
Sep. 8 The application layer (cont'd)
  • Email: SMTP

Sep. 10
The application layer (cont'd)
  • The domain name system (DNS)

Sep. 15
The transport layer
  • Multiplexing and demultiplexing
  • UDP
[slides] 03-TransportLayer
Sep. 17
The transport layer(cont'd)
  • Creating a reliable communication channel

Sep. 22
The transport layer(cont'd)
  • Go-back N
  • Selective retransmission

Sep. 24
Midterm 1 (intro+app+transport layer)
Sep. 29
The transport layer(cont'd)
  • TCP segment structure
  • TCP reliable data transfer
  • TCP flow control
  • TCP connection management
Oct. 1
The transport layer(cont'd)
  • TCP congestion control

Oct. 6


Oct. 8
The network layer - the data plane
[slides] 04-NetworkLayer-DataPlane
Oct. 13
The network layer - the data plane (cont'd)
Oct. 15
The network layer - the data plane (cont'd)

Oct. 20
The network layer - the control plane
[slides] 05-NetworkLayer-ControlPlane
Homework 2: Application layer protocols. Due November 6rd
Homework 3: Wireshark, network and link layer protocols. Due December 3rd
Oct. 22
The network layer - the control plane (cont'd)
Oct. 27
The link layer
[slides] 06-LinkLayer

Oct. 29
The link layer (cont'd)
  • Ethernet
  • Switching

Nov. 3
Midterm 2 (network+link layer)

Nov. 5
The link layer (cont'd)

Nov. 10
Wireless networks
  • Elements of wireless networks
  • Spectrum consideration
  • CDMA
[slides] 07-WirelessNetworks
Nov. 12
Wireless networks (cont'd)
  • 802.11 WiFi intro
  • CSMA/CA

Nov. 17
Wireless networks (cont'd)
  • Addressing in 802.11 WiFi intro
  • Mobile IP

Nov. 19
Network security
  • Challenges of network security
  • Cryptography intro

[slides] 08-NetworkSecurity
Nov. 24
Network security (cont'd)
  • Symmetric key cryptography
  • Public key cryptography

Nov. 26
Thanksgiving break - no class

Dec. 1
Network security (cont'd)
  • Authentication
  • Digital signatures and message digests

Dec. 3
Network security (cont'd)
  • Securing email, PGP
  • Securing the WWW, SSL/TLS

Dec. 8
Final exam
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
1:00 PM - 3:50 PM