CS176A: Introduction to Computer Communication Networks
Spring 2017
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
- Tue/Thu from 11:00am to 12:15pm (Phelps 1260)
- Discussion Times/Places
- Wed at 5:00pm (GIRV 2123) or at 6:00pm (GIRV 2120)
- First discussion is Apr 12
- Last discussion is Jun 7
-
Course WWW Site: there is a web site on GauchoSpace. The link is: https://gauchospace.ucsb.edu/courses/course/view.php?id=16982.
- Course Material
- [Requred Textbook] J.
Kurose and K. Ross, Computer
Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet",
Addison-Wesley, 6th Edition (Mar 2012) or 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, 4th Edition (Aug 2002) or 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: 9:30am-11:00am on Tue/Thu; by appointment, or if my door is
open.
Teaching Assistants
Da Zhang (dazhang@cs.ucsb.edu)
Office Location: Rm 103-104, Trailer #936
Office Hours: 9:30am-11:00am on Fri
Responsibilities: Homework #1, Homework #3, and Final
Abhay Chennagiri (abhay@umail.ucsb.edu)
Office Location: Rm 103-104, CSIL
Office Hours: 3:00pm-5:00pm on Thu
Responsibilities: Homework #2, Homework #4, and Midterm
Student Evaluation (with Partial Preliminary Due Dates)
- 40%: Homeworks
- 08%: Homework #1 [Apr 26 (Wed)--11:59pm]
- 08%: Homework #2 [May 07 (Sun)--11:59pm]
- 08%: Homework #3 [May 24 (Wed)--11:59pm]
- 16%: Homework #4 [Jun 11 (Sun)--11:59pm]
- 25%: Midterm Exam [May 09 (Tue)--in class]
- 35%: Final Exam [Jun 14 (Wed)--12:00pm-2:00pm]
- Notes
- Final due dates will be announced in class and posted on GauchoSpace.
- There are no late homeworks/exams. All missed
homeworks/exams earn a 0.
- All exams are closed notes/books/calculator/etc.
- All assignments are to be done individually.
Course Topics
A schedule of when topics will be covered and what the readings are will be posted
on Gauchospace (see link above). The general topics include:
- Internet Background and History
- OSI Stack
- Physical Layer
- Data Link Layer Overview
- Shared Medium Protocols
- Ethernet and Other Shared Medium Protocols
- Network Layer Overview
- IP
- Routing
- Transport Layer including TCP and UDP
- Sockets
- DNS, HTTP, and the WWW
- NATs, Tunnelling, P2P, and CDNs