Course Description

Basic concepts in networking, the OSI model, error detection codes, flow control, routing, medium access control, and high-speed networks.

Course Objectives

• Understand the challenges of network communication.
  
• Understand the basics of network communication.
  
• Understand the operation of protocols used in the Internet.

Course Objectives and Department Mission

Because the Internet is such an important part of the communications infrastructure, understanding how it works is of benefit to everyone. Understanding the Internet in detail is especially critical for Computer Science students. Not only do students learn how communication takes place, but the Internet serves as an excellent example of a highly distributed and complex computer system. As a consequence, understanding the Internet fits well with the CS Department's Mission and Program Objectives.

Course Information

• Lecture Time/Place
  • No specific lecture time this quarter!!!

• Discussion Times/Places
  • No specific discussion times this quarter (more on this as we get organized)

• Course WWW Site: https://gauchospace.ucsb.edu/courses/course/view.php?id=94015.
  
  
• Course Material
  • [Requred Textbook] J. Kurose and K. Ross, Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet", Addison-Wesley, 7th Edition (May 2016).
    
    • Good descriptive text, but top-down instead of bottom-up. That's fine, we'll just work in reverse.
      
    • A bit light on detail in some places, so you should expect to have to occassionaly look elsewhere for more detail.
      
    • The 7th edition is the current version, but in general, earlier versions are probably fine (though, the earlier the version, the less likely it will have all of the new stuff we cover).

  • [Optional/Additional/Alternative Textbook] Andrew S. Tanenbaum: Computer Networks, Prentice Hall, 5th Edition (Jan 2010).
    
    • Terse but thorough. Some of the explanations can be quite confusing, but still quite useful as a secondary reference.
  • http://www.google.com/
    • There is tons of additional information on the web about topics we will be covering.
• Required Prerequisites: PSTAT120A or ECE139.
  

• Recommended Prerequisites: PSTAT120B and CS170.

Instructor Information

Kevin Almeroth (almeroth@cs.ucsb.edu)
Office Location: 2113, Harold Frank Hall (Engineering I)
"Office" Hours: Since we are asynchronous, send me email to set up a Zoom call.
FYI: We will both do audio (obviously), I will do video, and video for you is optional.

Teaching Assistants

Jiamo Liu (jiamoliu@ucsb.edu)
Responsibilities: Homework #1

Laboni Sarker (labonisarker@ucsb.edu)
Responsibilities: Homework #2 and #4

Justin Hemphill (jjhemphill@ucsb.edu)
Responsibilities: Homework #3 and the Midterm

Kalyan Garapaty (kalyan@ucsb.edu)
Responsibilities: Project

Student Evaluation (with Partial Preliminary Due Dates)

• 40%: Homeworks
  
  • 10%: Homework #1 [Oct 22 (Thu)--11:59pm] [Jiamo]
  • 10%: Homework #2 [Oct 29 (Thu)--11:59pm] [Laboni]
  • 10%: Homework #3 [Nov 19 (Thu)--11:59pm] [Justin]
  • 10%: Homework #4 [Dec 04 (Sun)--11:59pm] [Laboni]
• 20%: Midterm Exam [Nov 10 (Tue)--12:00am to 11:59pm] [Justin]
  
• 20%: Project [Dec 13 (Thu)--11:59pm] [Kalyan]
• 20%: Final Exam [Dec 14 (Mon)--12:00am to 11:59pm] [Kevin]
  

Course Topics

A schedule of when topics will be covered and what the readings are will be posted on Gauchospace (see link above).